Results 23,621-23,640 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (18 Oct 2011)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 102 together. In the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2011 published in July, the Fiscal Advisory Council was provided with an allocation of €300,000 for 2011. As the Council was established at the end of June, this covers the six month period of July to December 2011 and covers a number of costs associated with establishing the Council. The...

Written Answers — Betting Regulations: Betting Regulations (18 Oct 2011)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 113 together. 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 extension of the opening hours of retail betting shops over the...

Written Answers — Betting Regulations: Betting Regulations (18 Oct 2011)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 112 together. I will not be amending the betting legislation to allow for the introduction of gaming or any other type of gambling other than that of bookmaking into betting shops. The Deputy may be aware that the Minister for Justice and Equality is currently preparing a comprehensive Bill on gambling; however, the Minister has stated that new...

Written Answers — Betting Regulations: Betting Regulations (18 Oct 2011)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 114 together. 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...

Written Answers — Customs and Excise: Customs and Excise (18 Oct 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Revenue participation in operations in Smithfield are part of our ongoing efforts to counteract the shadow economy with a focus on tax, customs and excise duty evasion. Many of the personnel participating on the operations did so as part of their normal duties. Some staff who took part in the operations were eligible for overtime and travel and subsistence payments. In 2011 these payments...

Written Answers — Financial Transactions Tax: Financial Transactions Tax (18 Oct 2011)

Michael Noonan: The European Commission recently published its proposal for a Financial Transactions Tax, or FTT. My Department is analysing the detailed proposals contained in the draft Directive. The draft Directive will now be subject to detailed discussions at EU level and, as always, we will participate constructively in those discussions. There is no consensus as yet among European Member States on...

Written Answers — Civil Service Staff: Civil Service Staff (18 Oct 2011)

Michael Noonan: On resignation from the Civil Service, the person will take up a post with the European Court of Auditors. Given that he is being assigned to a position abroad, he will not be entitled to the enhanced superannuation provisions under the TLAC retirement terms for Secretaries General provided for in the Government decision of 5 March 1987. He will in due course be eligible for the standard...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Remuneration: Banking Sector Remuneration (18 Oct 2011)

Michael Noonan: The assessment of the report into bonus payments at Anglo Irish Bank has taken longer than expected. However, the assessment has now been finalised and I will be in a position to make the information available to the Deputy within the next week. I regret the delay in this instance. I can assure the Deputy, however, that details of the report have not been leaked by anyone in my...

Written Answers — EU-IMF Programme: EU-IMF Programme (18 Oct 2011)

Michael Noonan: The fourth quarterly review of the EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland is still under way and is due to finish on 21st October 2011. The review comprises a series of meetings to evaluate all the elements of the programme covering fiscal developments including the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure and potential asset disposal, the macroeconomic outlook, progress on commitments...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (18 Oct 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Central Bank has informed me that there are no formal proposals from the European authorities or otherwise in this regard. They have also advised me that as agreed in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies (MEFP) with our external partners, a further Prudential Capital Assessment Review (PCAR 2012) will be carried out in 2012 to assess...

Written Answers — National Asset Management Agency: National Asset Management Agency (18 Oct 2011)

Michael Noonan: I stated in the Seanad recently that I do not propose to change the NAMA legislation yet and that in the last three months, NAMA has been working more efficiently than was previously the case. The Deputy will also be aware that a senior international banker has been examining NAMA. I will consider his advice before deciding whether to initiate any changes to the objectives of NAMA.

Written Answers — Croke Park Agreement: Croke Park Agreement (18 Oct 2011)

Michael Noonan: Under the Public Service Agreement 2010-2014, detailed action plans have been developed across each sector of the public service to underpin the change and reform process envisaged by the Agreement. The Action Plans were first developed in October 2010 and subsequently revised in January 2011. Public service bodies in each sector were required to prepare their first detailed report on the...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (18 Oct 2011)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 94 together. These questions relate to the flexible options on retirement first introduced in Finance Act 1999. Prior to that Act, any person taking a pension under a defined contribution (DC) scheme or a Retirement Annuity Contract was required to purchase an annuity with their remaining pension pot after drawing down the appropriate tax-free lump...

Written Answers — National Pensions Reserve Fund: National Pensions Reserve Fund (18 Oct 2011)

Michael Noonan: The National Pensions Reserve Fund (NPRF) was established on 2 April 2001 under the National Pensions Reserve Fund Act 2000 for the purpose of meeting as much as possible of the cost to the Exchequer of social welfare pensions and public service pensions to be paid from the year 2025 until the year 2055, or such other year as may be specified by order. Subsequent amendments to the National...

Written Answers — Banking Sector: Banking Sector (18 Oct 2011)

Michael Noonan: As the Deputy is aware the Board of the bank is responsible for the day to day operation of the bank, including the appointment of and assignment of staff within the bank. The Minister's approval is required in relation to the appointment of senior management at the bank. The person to whom the Parliamentary Question refers is not or and has never been a member of the senior management team...

Written Answers — Public Service Pensions: Public Service Pensions (18 Oct 2011)

Michael Noonan: In response to the Deputy's question, based on 2011 figures there would be a saving of €638,000 per annum to the Exchequer if pension payments to former employees of the National Treasury Management Agency, National Pensions Reserve Fund, National Development Finance Agency, National Asset Management Agency and State Claims Agency were capped at €35,000 per year.

Written Answers — State Investment Fund: State Investment Fund (18 Oct 2011)

Michael Noonan: Following a decision by the Government, I, along with my colleagues Mr Brendan Howlin, TD, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, and Mr Fergus O'Dowd, TD, Minister of State for NewERA, announced on Thursday, 29 September, the establishment of NewERA and the Strategic Investment Fund under the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA). The Strategic Investment Fund, which will be the...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (18 Oct 2011)

Michael Noonan: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that, based on records available, no tax rebate is due to the person concerned as no tax has been paid during the tax years 2007 to date.

Written Answers — Tax Reliefs: Tax Reliefs (18 Oct 2011)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the taxpayer had previously claimed, and was granted, rent tax credit for all years from 2007 to 2010 inclusive. No claim has been submitted for 2011.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (18 Oct 2011)

Michael Noonan: The stamp duty levy of 0.6% applies to the market value, on the valuation date, of assets under management in pension funds and pension plans approved under Irish tax legislation. I cannot say what the precise impact of the levy will be on individual funds, schemes or members as this depends on whether and to what extent pension fund trustees and Life Offices decide to pass on the levy to...