Results 22,141-22,160 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Written Answers — National Asset Management Agency: National Asset Management Agency (28 Feb 2012)

Michael Noonan: The most recent estimate of the accounting value of the NAMA loan portfolio is as provided for in the NAMA accounts for the third quarter of 2011. This is available on the NAMA website, www.nama.ie. I am advised by NAMA that due diligence on all of the acquired loans is not yet complete so it is not in a position to provide the final breakdown of the data requested. However, based on a...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (28 Feb 2012)

Michael Noonan: The value of IBRC's remaining loan book, broken down by geographic region, will be reported in the Bank's Annual Report & Accounts which are due for release at the end of March this year. IBRC is working to generate options for the efficient work out of its loan books in accordance with the Bank's approved mandate. This includes examining accelerated disposal where this makes economic...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Feb 2012)

Michael Noonan: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the person concerned and his wife are entitled to the same income tax treatment as an Irish married couple. The person is entitled to the married person's tax credit, which is €3,300 for 2012. In addition, on the basis that he is the sole income earner, he is entitled to a standard income tax rate tax band of €41,800 for 2012, that is,...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Feb 2012)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that provisions covering the Travel Agents Margin Scheme are contained in Section 88 of the VAT Consolidation Act 2010. This scheme, which is provided for in Articles 306 to 310 of the EU VAT Directive, with which Irish VAT law must comply, was introduced with effect from 1 January 2010. Detailed discussions with the travel industry were carried out...

Written Answers — Motor Vehicle Registration: Motor Vehicle Registration (28 Feb 2012)

Michael Noonan: The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and VRT (up to a certain limit) on the purchase of a car adapted for the transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities, to those who meet certain disability criteria. The disability criteria for eligibility for the tax concessions under this scheme are set out in...

Written Answers — Tax Reliefs: Tax Reliefs (28 Feb 2012)

Michael Noonan: Sections 472A and 88A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provide tax incentives for both employers and employees, to help the long-term unemployed to return to employment. The relevant information available in relation to employees who availed of the Revenue Job Assist scheme is for the income tax years 2003 to 2009 inclusive, the latest year for which the necessary detailed information is...

Written Answers — Tax Reliefs: Tax Reliefs (28 Feb 2012)

Michael Noonan: Sections 472A and 88A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provide for the Revenue Job Assist scheme which provides tax incentives for both employers and employees to help the long-term unemployed return to employment. Both incentives apply in respect of individuals who have been unemployed for at least 12 months and are in receipt of a specified social protection payment or who are in a...

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (28 Feb 2012)

Michael Noonan: In the time allowed it was not possible to provide a detailed answer for the Deputy with regard to my Department. The Public Appointments Service (PAS) is an independent body established under the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004, to provide recruitment, assessment and selection services for the civil service. The PAS will provide data regarding competitions...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (28 Feb 2012)

Michael Noonan: In response to the Deputy's question the following table outlines the position in relation to boards under the aegis of my Department. While no appointees have volunteered to waive their fee or expenses a number have made voluntary reductions in relation to the fees paid. Details in respect of board members voluntary reduction in fees. Board/Body Name Name of current board members...

Written Answers — Ministerial Transport: Ministerial Transport (28 Feb 2012)

Michael Noonan: In the period in question I undertook a number of commercial flights to attend meetings in Paris, the US, Luxembourg and London. The total cost for these flights amounted to €6,972.14. In addition €2,695.61 was spent in relation to car hire for meetings attended by me in Brussels, the US and Paris. In relation to the use of my car for Ministerial travel, the total cost has been...

Written Answers — Stadium Projects: Stadium Projects (23 Feb 2012)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 69, 75 and 81 to 84, inclusive, together. The questions raised by the Deputy in relation to the Campus Stadium Ireland Development, the National Aquatic Centre and Dublin Waterworld Ltd are a matter for the Minister for Transport Tourism and Sport. With regard to the application of VAT, the Minister for Finance and the Government decide tax policy and the...

Written Answers — National Asset Management Agency: National Asset Management Agency (23 Feb 2012)

Michael Noonan: NAMA has a commercial remit and a statutory objective to generate a return for the taxpayer. However, within the context of its commercial remit and consistent with section 2 of the National Asset Management Agency Act 2009, NAMA is at all times open to considering proposals aimed at contributing to broader social and economic objectives. Thus NAMA is open to facilitating the work of public...

Written Answers — National Asset Management Agency: National Asset Management Agency (23 Feb 2012)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 72 together. Properties under the control of receivers or other insolvency professionals appointed by NAMA are listed on its website at http://www.nama.ie/PropertiesEnforced.php. The site includes properties located in Meath, including Ashbourne, Drogheda, Dunshaughlin, Enfield, Navan, Rathmoylan, Duleek, Kilcock and Trim. In each instance,...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (23 Feb 2012)

Michael Noonan: My Department received 258 Freedom of Information (FOI) in 2011 and there were 17 cases where a search and retrieval fee was paid. The highest fee paid in 2012 was €83.80. Unfortunately, we do not currently hold the other information sought by the Deputy in a format which can readily answer the queries, but we are currently in the process of capturing this information so that it can be...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (23 Feb 2012)

Michael Noonan: Twenty people left the Department of Finance during 2011. The cost of lumps sums in respect of those retirees was €2.2m and of severance payments was €127k. The annual pension cost for these people is of the order of €0.725m. The pension related deduction which was paid by these staff while in employment was approximately €99k per annum and their pension contribution was...

Written Answers — EU-IMF Programme: EU-IMF Programme (23 Feb 2012)

Michael Noonan: I would not agree with the conclusion outlined above. Ireland's Programme of external support, which is a three year programme designed to return us to market based financing, is on track. We are meeting our targets under the Programme and continuing to do so is the best means of ensuring that we emerge successfully from this programme. A substantial number of actions - over 90 - have...

Written Answers — Banks Recapitalisation: Banks Recapitalisation (23 Feb 2012)

Michael Noonan: The Government is acutely aware of the increasing financial stress that some households are facing arising from difficulty in meeting their mortgage commitments. The Government, therefore, has established a Steering Group to oversee and drive the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Inter-Departmental Working Group on Mortgage Arrears across Government. The...

Written Answers — Banks Recapitalisation: Banks Recapitalisation (23 Feb 2012)

Michael Noonan: I am informed by NAMA that full due diligence and final loan valuations have been completed on the first five tranches of loans to be transferred (with nominal loan balances of €59 billion) and that the due diligence and valuation process is close to completion on the residual tranches. On the first five tranches, NAMA paid consideration of €26.363 billion for loans that are secured by...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (23 Feb 2012)

Michael Noonan: I am informed that NAMA, as a contracting authority, is subject to EU Directive 2004/18/EC as implemented in Ireland by the European Communities (Award of Public Authorities' Contracts) Regulations 2006 (the "Regulations"), in respect of the procurement of goods, works and services above certain values (the "EU Thresholds"). The principles underpinning the Regulations are equal treatment,...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (23 Feb 2012)

Michael Noonan: NAMA informs me that it cannot provide all the details requested by the Deputy in the time available. NAMA has undertaken to provide me with this information within the next week and, accordingly, I will issue a reply to the Deputy at that stage.