Results 21,821-21,840 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Written Answers — Economic Statistics: Economic Statistics (28 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: In early January, my Department reported on the cash Exchequer deficit for 2011 and this was slightly better than anticipated at Budget time last December. Currently, my Department in conjunction with the CSO is updating the 2011 budgetary outturn in the context of the excessive deficit notification, which all EU27 Member States participate in. In this context, the outturn for the general...

Written Answers — Economic Statistics: Economic Statistics (28 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: In relation to economic growth, GDP developments are the internationally accepted metric. Last December, on the basis of existing published CSO data for the first half of last year, my Department projected that the economy would expand by 1 per cent for last year as a whole. This figure was in line with the prevailing consensus at the time. Preliminary data from Central Statistics Office...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (28 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: Under the Investment Intermediaries Act 1995, all investment firms must have their accounts audited. It is also a requirement that their auditors submit a Statutory Duty Confirmation. At least six weeks before the firm's return is due, the Central Bank sends an email to the firm requesting the auditor's details and the firm must provide these details. While there are sound reasons for this...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (28 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 to 105, inclusive, together. My Department has not made any payments to external property consultants, surveyors or estate agents during the last three years.

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (28 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: In response to the Deputy's question the Office of Public Works is involved in most purchases and leasing of buildings by the State including buildings leased by my Department. In respect of bodies under the aegis of my Department I am not aware of any such leases being entered into where the body concerned is the landlord.

Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (27 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: I wish to share my time with Deputies Corcoran Kennedy and Spring. I thank Deputy Michael McGrath for proposing this important Bill, for his obviously thorough preparation and the presentations made by him and his colleagues tonight. Before I deal with the specifics of the Bill, I will emphasise the important role played by the Financial Services Ombudsman. The Irish Financial Services...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (27 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: The disability criteria for eligibility for the tax concessions under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme are set out in the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994. To get the Primary Medical Certificate, an applicant must be severely and permanently disabled and satisfy one of the following conditions: a) be wholly or...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (27 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: As Minister for Finance I meet with a wide range of individuals and firms from various sectors. These interactions provide a useful forum for exchanges of views. It allows me to set out for investors the steps we have taken to stabilize and promote growth in the economy and the measures we have taken to restructure the Irish banking system. It also provides me with important feedback on...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (27 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: I am informed by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) that NTMA employees are members of the NTMA defined benefit superannuation scheme or else have Personal Retirement Savings Accounts (PRSAs). The pension benefits of members of the NTMA superannuation scheme prior to 1 January 2010 are based on final salary. The pension benefits of members who joined the scheme on or after 1...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (27 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: The position is that an individual liable to income tax on his or her social welfare pension is entitled to the PAYE tax credit against the tax due on that pension providing, of course, that the PAYE tax credit is not utilised against the tax due on another source of PAYE income that an individual may have. Regarding the example provided by the Deputy, if an individual has a social welfare...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (27 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they have contacted the employer concerned and have been advised that the delay relates to technical problems with the production of the forms. The employer has also advised that form P60 will be issued to the person concerned next week. Your enquiry about the government's intention to impose further pay cuts to teachers' salaries...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (27 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they have contacted the employer concerned and have been advised that form P60 will be issued to the person concerned next week.

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (27 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: I am advised that staffing levels in permanent tsb bank stood at 2,243 (headcount) as at 29th February last. This figure includes staff that were recently transferred from Irish Nationwide Building Society and Northern Rock but excludes Career Break staff and other Long Term Absences. I am further advised that a total of 688 staff have been made redundant since 2008 in permanent tsb. Detail...

Written Answers — National Treasury Management Agency: National Treasury Management Agency (27 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: NAMA has a commercial mandate to obtain the best achievable financial return on behalf of the State. It has emphasised repeatedly that one of its objectives is to instigate the sale of properties by its debtors and in order to facilitate this, it approves the sale of properties by debtors at realistic current market prices. In terms of determining an appropriate current level of pricing for...

Written Answers — Betting Regulations: Betting Regulations (27 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: The proposed Betting (Amendment) Bill, which is being drafted at present, will amend the 1931 Betting Act to inter alia establish the regulatory framework for the licensing of remote bookmakers and betting exchanges, including measures to enforce the regulatory framework. The drafting of the Bill, which is fairly complex, is well advanced and it is my intention to publish the Bill in the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the breakdown of Mineral Oil Tax, Carbon Tax and VAT out of €10 of petrol and auto-diesel at average prices is as follows: Petrol Diesel € € Mineral Oil Tax 3.25 2.67 Carbon Tax 0.27 0.33 VAT 1.87 1.87 Total Tax 5.39 4.87 The Mineral Oil Tax and Carbon Tax amounts were calculated using an average price of 166.9 cent per litre for...

Written Answers — Departmental Strategies: Departmental Strategies (27 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: A report setting out a Strategy for Financial Inclusion was published on my Department's website in June 2011. The main operational recommendation from the report was the proposed introduction of a basic payment account. An implementation group, which is chaired by my Department, has been established to manage the implementation process and a basic payment account is expected to be rolled out...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: In response to the Deputy's question no staff in my Department serve as directors of companies arising from their employment. I understand from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform that the Office of the Attorney General has advised that people working for the State are entitled to be indemnified for such work. The indemnification would cover any reasonable legal fees and/or...

Written Answers — Ministerial Expenses: Ministerial Expenses (27 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: In response to the Deputy's question the following table gives details of mileage and subsistence claimed by me since March 2011. Month Amount Claimed March 2011 €335 April 2011 €203 May 2011 €3,353 June 2011 €1,621 July 2011 €1,890 August 2011 €1,929 September 2011 €2,558 October 2011 €1,947 November 2011 €1,786 December 2011 €1,671 January 2012 €3,231...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (27 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 134 to 136, inclusive, together. The transfer of an occupational pension scheme member's pension fund benefits or a Personal Retirement Savings Account (PRSA) contributor's PRSA assets to an overseas pension arrangement is permitted, subject to the transfer complying with the Department of Social Protection's "Occupational Pension Schemes and Personal...