Results 24,601-24,620 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Written Answers — Financial Services Sector: Financial Services Sector (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: I would like to inform the Deputy that I, as Minister for Finance, have no responsibility with regard to the provision or refusal of a mortgage to a particular individual. The Central Bank's Consumer Protection Code is a set of general principles combined with more detailed requirements in certain areas. It requires financial institutions to act in the best interests of their customers by...

Written Answers — Property Valuations: Property Valuations (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the exercise of his duties under the Valuation Act 2001 and the making of valuations for rating purposes is his sole prerogative. The statute does not accord me, as Minister for Finance, any function in this regard. The Valuation Act 2001 provides for the exemption from rates of land that is developed for sport such as playing pitches, land on...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: I should point out that the question of awarding of individual contracts is a matter for each contracting authority. However, I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that they have not outsourced the typing of documents and transcription of digital dictation to the Philippines.

Written Answers — Financial Services Sector: Financial Services Sector (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: As Minister for Finance, I have no statutory role in the setting of interest rates charged or paid by regulated financial institutions, including the institution mentioned by the Deputy. The Central Bank of Ireland has responsibility for the regulation and supervision of financial institutions in terms of consumer protection and prudential requirements and for ensuring ongoing compliance...

Written Answers — State Bodies: State Bodies (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: I am aware that last November, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance and the Public Service published a report entitled Macroeconomic Policy and Fiscal and Economic Governance. As part of a number of recommendations, the report proposed the establishment of an independent Economic Advisory Council. However, as the Deputy may be aware, the Government is committed to significant reform...

Written Answers — Semi-State Bodies: Semi-State Bodies (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 138 together. My Department does not hold this information. Information on performance related payments for chief executives and second tier management in Commercial State Companies is appropriate to the relevant Department. In relation to CEO's the information is published in the annual reports of such Companies.

Written Answers — Semi-State Bodies: Semi-State Bodies (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 185 together. It is my intention to seek a 15% voluntary pay adjustment from incumbent Chief Executive Officers in Commercial State Companies who are in receipt of salaries in excess of €250,000. Where an adjusted salary figure is less than or equal to the €250,000 salary cap that lesser sum would be sufficient. The Government's decision is that I...

Written Answers — Financial Services Sector: Financial Services Sector (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: According to statistics published by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government on 1 June 2011, approximately 790,000 mortgages were approved by banks and building societies in Ireland between and including the years 2001 to 2010. This information relates to loans for the purpose of financing the purchase of a home (houses and apartments) including residential investment...

Written Answers — Financial Services Sector: Financial Services Sector (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: Each mortgage provider is responsible for evaluating the capacity of the borrower to manage and repay the loan and it would be normal that the employment status of the applicant would be one factor taken into account. The mortgage provider must have regard to the Central Bank's Consumer Protection Code (the Code) which is a set of general principles combined with more detailed requirements in...

Written Answers — Financial Services Sector: Financial Services Sector (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: I do not plan to introduce an independent appeals mechanism specifically for applicants who have been refused home mortgages by Irish banks. I believe that mortgage lending must be undertaken on a sustainable and prudential basis by financial institutions and conform fully with regulatory requirements both in relation to the financial institution itself and also the safeguarding of the...

Written Answers — EU-IMF Programme: EU-IMF Programme (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: The assessment of the impact of changes in the interest margin on our EU loans is based on a number of assumptions about the level of the reduction, the date on which it applies and the amount of the loan to which it applies. Each of these elements has been changing in the past number of months. Because of this, the figures provided for any interest rate reduction are qualified as being...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: As the Deputy is aware, the case which he raises has been the subject of lengthy correspondence with my officials. The retiree concerned was informed in replies of 29th December 2010 and 4th January 2011 from my Department that there were no grounds for his retirement to be cancelled and for him to be reinstated, and the basis for the introduction of the Public Service Pension Reduction...

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: The terms and conditions governing the appointment of the Chairperson of the National Asset Management Agency are as determined by the Minister in accordance with the relevant provisions of the National Asset Management Act 2009. The terms attaching to the present incumbent to the position are that his appointment is for a period of five years from 22 December 2009 at an annual fee of...

Written Answers — Public Service Remuneration: Public Service Remuneration (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: The pay rates and expense allowances in respect of civil service grades, for which my Department is responsible, are publicly available for consultation on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's website (at www.per.gov.ie/pay-and-other-circulars) and the civil service personnel code website (www.personnelcode.gov.ie).

Written Answers — Social Welfare Fraud: Social Welfare Fraud (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that they have over 2,000 staff engaged in activities that are dedicated to target and confront non-compliance. These activities include audit assurance checks, anti-smuggling, investigations, prosecutions and anti avoidance. Revenue has close working relationships with other agencies, especially the Department of Social Protection, to support a...

Written Answers — EU-IMF Programme: EU-IMF Programme (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: Future disbursements are kept under constant review and are the subject of discussion in the quarterly reviews. Disbursements in each quarter can only take place after the IMF Executive Board, the Eurogroup and ECOFIN have approved the compliance reports prepared, respectively, by IMF Staff and the European Commission Services. The actual disbursements take place in the period following the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: In response to the Deputy's question, the Secretary General of the Department of Finance is a member of the Advisory Committee of the National Assets Management Agency but does not accept remuneration in respect of the position. In addition, the Secretary General was appointed to the Central Bank Commission in an ex-officio capacity and he also receives no fees in respect of this role. Both...

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: Section 24 of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011, as passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas, provides for a situation where any doubt, question or dispute arises as to the Minister of the Government in whom any particular function is vested by virtue of this Act. The Ministers in this instance are the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform....

Written Answers — EU-IMF Programme: EU-IMF Programme (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 157 together. The position is the third quarterly review of the EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland will take place from the 6th to the 15th July 2011. It is my intention to meet with the troika delegation during the programme review. The review will comprise of a series of meetings to evaluate all the elements of the programme...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Deputy will be aware that the banking system restructuring plan creates capacity for the two Pillar Banks, Bank of Ireland and AIB, to provide lending in excess of €30 billion in the next three years. SME and new mortgage lending for these banks is expected to be in the range of €16-20bn over this period. In each bank, a team of senior managers will be dedicated to the task of...