Pat Rabbitte is the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and a Labour Party TD for the Dublin South West constituency. Rabbitte was first elected to the Dail in 1989 when he ran as a Worker's Party candidate, he was re-elected as part of the Democratic Left five years later, the Democratic Left then merged with the Labour Party in 1998 and Rabbitte led the party from 2002 until 2007.
The Minister for Communication and Natural Resources has said a Norwegian-style 80 per cent tax on oil finds would not work, saying: “We’re comparing apples with oranges.”
Debates, meetings, touching base with constituents, heading up to Meath East by-election, organising sand bags, reading the newspapers and having words with his colleagues – Kevin Humphreys recounts his busy schedule this week.
It would be foolish to overlook the amazing opportunities social networks and other digital tools present for young people just because older generations are intimated by change, writes Dr Stephen Brennan.
Breaking via The Mire wire: SIPTU president wins Oscar; hopes rise of a politicians’ strike; Pope quits over Croke Park II; Lift chaos leads to primary care centre.
You have been and will be hearing a lot about promissory notes in the coming weeks but what’s it all about? We’ve taken your questions, come up with some of our own and asked the experts…
Leo Varadkar and Pat Rabbitte have both insisted that the discussions on reducing the burden of Ireland’s bank debt will continue despite a report that the ECB had rejected a key Irish government proposal.
Up to 30,000 jobs could be created under new plans but they could lead to hundreds of wind turbines being built in the midlands. Do you welcome the plans?
Pat Rabbitte siad that he would have preferred if Angela Merkel had not made the remarks she made but insisted that an agreement to deal with Ireland’s bank debt still stands.
Initial investigations suggest there could be a major gas reserve in the north-west of the country – but the possible use of fracking to extract the gas is highly controversial.
Most current government ministers entitled to pensions from previous ministerial posts surrendered them last year but Finance Minister Michael Noonan didn’t. Bertie Ahern handed back some of his annual pension.
Fianna Fáil’s decision to table a motion of no confidence in Health Minister James Reilly tonight drew criticism from the government benches during a heated debate.
AT A HIGH-profile US Senate meeting, technology giant Apple was accused of using Ireland as a ‘tax haven’.
The multinational firm, which employs 4,000 people in Ireland, reportedly avoided paying €34 billion in US taxes by negotiating a tax rate of less than 2 per cent with the Irish government – significantly lower than that nation’s 12.5 per cent statutory rate.
The Senate heard that American children are losing out on education because Apple is transferring profits to Irish subsidiaries.
However, the Taoiseach Enda Kenny has denied that Ireland is a tax haven and rejected claims that authorities had negotiated deals with multi-national companies.
So, today we want to know, what do you think? Should Ireland be tougher on multi-national companies when it comes to tax?
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