Results 24,161-24,180 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

European Financial Stability Facility and the Euro Area Loan Facility (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (20 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I thank the House for agreeing to discuss the European Financial Stability Facility and the Euro Area Loan Facility (Amendment) Bill 2011 today at short notice. The Bill is needed urgently to allow Ireland ratify the changes to the European Financial Stability Facility and Greek Loan Facility as agreed by the Heads of State or Government on...

European Financial Stability Facility and the Euro Area Loan Facility (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (20 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: There are some downsides that we have not yet seen.

Programme for Government (20 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: Micheál will deal with those.

Leaders' Questions (20 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: What we are doing is as plain as a pikestaff.

Leaders' Questions (20 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Deputy still does not recognise the court.

Written Answers — National Asset Management Agency: National Asset Management Agency (15 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: 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 East Cork, including Midleton, Youghal, Carrigtwohill and Cobh and, in each instance, information about the firm dealing with the insolvency and its contact details are provided. Potential...

Written Answers — Exchequer Savings: Exchequer Savings (15 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: Budget 2012 will then be presented to the Dáil in early December, as is the usual practise. The Budget will set out revenue and expenditure measures to deliver the required adjustment.

Written Answers — Personal Debt: Personal Debt (15 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: I would like to inform the Deputy that there are measures in place to assist mortgage holders who are in genuine difficulties with regard to the payment of their mortgages. The Deputy will be aware of the work of the Expert Group on Mortgage Arrears and Personal Debt. This Group published its final report in November 2010. All of the Group's recommendations are listed in Chapter 2 of the...

Written Answers — National Asset Management Agency: National Asset Management Agency (15 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: NAMA approves the sale of assets by debtors or by receivers acting on its behalf. Given that the bulk of sale approvals to date, by value, have been commercial properties and that a large proportion of these have been located in the UK, the purchasers are likely to have been commercial investors. In the case of sales approvals for residential houses or apartments, NAMA informs me that it...

Seanad: Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (15 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: I would like to deal with the background to the Bill and elaborate on the main reasons for it. This has arisen as a result of the announcement of the sale of Quinn Insurance Limited to Liberty Mutual Direct Insurance Company Limited, LMDI, on 28 April. At the time the joint administrators indicated that Quinn Insurance Limited had suffered losses of €905 million in 2009 due largely to...

Seanad: Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (15 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: I thank the Senators who contributed to the debate on the Bill. I am not seeking to use the guillotine. The request was to take all Stage in the House together. The time pressure on us arises from the fact that the Liberty group will conclude the purchase of the Quinn Group on 4 October. It has to go to the High Court on 4 October where certain questions will be asked. One of the...

Seanad: Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: It is proposed to amend sections 3B(1) and 3B(2). This amendment provides that where the insurer concerned is in an equivalent of liquidation in another member state, the accountant of the insurance compensation fund, who manages the fund on behalf of the High Court, can apply on behalf of the persons concerned for payment to be made once in every six months. The limitation on the frequency...

Seanad: Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: I thank all Senators who contributed to the debate on the Bill and all those who attended. I thank them for facilitating the passage of the Bill.

Seanad: Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (15 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: I welcome the opportunity to address Seanad Éireann on the Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2011 which was published on Tuesday, 13 September. Owing to changes in EU law dealing with the non-life insurance sector since the fund was last used, it was necessary to get legal advice on the existing legislation. The Attorney General advised that our existing legislation was not compatible with EU law...

Leaders' Question (15 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: Who sold out the country?

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (14 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: The EU/IMF Programme provides for a 1% increase in the standard VAT rate to 22% with effect from January 2013, and a further 1% increase in the standard VAT rate to 23% with effect from January 2014. The Programme for Government continues this VAT policy by limiting the top rate of VAT to 23%, but does not specify the timeframe for this increase. The level and timeframe of any increases in...

Written Answers — Liquor Licences: Liquor Licences (14 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 48 together. The Revenue Commissioners are responsible for the issue or renewal of public house licences. A licence may only be issued when the appropriate certificate has been issued by a District Court. The licensing year runs from the 1st October to the 30th September. The most recent period for which statistics are available is 2009/2010 when 914...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (14 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: The VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law with which Irish VAT law must comply. Under the VAT Directive Member States may only apply the reduced VAT rate to those goods and services which are listed under Annex III of the VAT Directive. I understand that the major sectors within the Irish craft industry are pottery, glass, jewellery, textiles and...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (14 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: The tax affairs of a particular company are a matter for the Revenue Commissioners and the company concerned. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that their obligation to observe confidentiality in relation to the tax affairs of individual taxpayers or companies precludes them from providing the information requested by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (14 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: A total of €10,710 has been spent on taxi fares by my Department since the start of 2011. Taxis should only be used for official business purposes only. While it is not Departmental policy to pay taxi fares for outsiders, occasionally a journey, which begins from this Department, will include outsiders along with a Departmental official. This would be done as a means of reducing overall...