Results 24,721-24,740 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (29 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: The interest rates that financial institutions operating in Ireland grant or charge to customers are determined as a result of a commercial decision by the institutions concerned. The interest rates in question are determined by a broad range of factors such as the European Central Bank base rates, deposit rates, market funding costs, the competitive environment and an institution's overall...

Written Answers — Post Office Savings Bonds: Post Office Savings Bonds (29 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: All State Savings money is placed directly with the Irish Government. Repayment of all NTMA State Savings money, which includes principal, interest and bonus payments if due (or, in respect of Prize Bonds, cash prizes), is a direct, unconditional obligation of the Government of Ireland. State Savings is the brand name used by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) to describe the...

Written Answers — Public Sector Staff: Public Sector Staff (29 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: I refer the Deputy to my answer to Question No. 83 of 21 June 2011. As soon as the information requested is available, full details up to and including 2014 will be published on the website of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (29 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: In its ruling of 16 July 2009 in Case C-554/07, the European Court of Justice found that Ireland had failed to correctly transpose EU VAT law regarding public bodies including local authorities. In order to comply with the ruling, it was necessary to make public bodies subject to VAT and the Finance Act 2010 included a provision to this end. This provision is now contained in Section 14 of...

Written Answers — Tax Reliefs: Tax Reliefs (29 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that a PAYE Balancing Statement granting relief in respect of Health Expenses claimed on a form MED 1 submitted for 2010 was issued to the person in question on 14 January 2011. An additional a copy of the PAYE Balancing Statement was issued to the person in question on 4 February 2011. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they have no...

Written Answers — Public Sector Recruitment: Public Sector Recruitment (29 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that no recruitment campaigns are currently under way. In accordance with the Revenue Commissioners action plan under the Public Service Agreement, they are planning in the coming months, subject to sanction, to fill crucial skills gaps and strengthen capability in the organisation through targeted recruitment, as they did previously in 2010.

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (29 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the yield from all tobacco products for the years 2008-2010 and the first five months of 2011 is as follows: Year Tobacco Products Tax VAT (estimated) 2008 â'¬1,171 million â'¬337 million 2009 â'¬1,216.5 million â'¬336 million 2010 â'¬1,159.6 million â'¬318 million 2011 (Jan to May) â'¬253.7 million â'¬128 million

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (29 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: On my recent visit to New York and Washington, I had a series of economic, financial, media and cultural engagements. These included meetings with the IDA, Enterprise Ireland, senior officials and representatives from various client companies and certain target IDA companies. While in New York, my engagements included meetings with legal and financial market advisers including an investor...

Written Answers — EU Negotiations: EU Negotiations (29 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Euro area heads of state and government agreed in principle to a reduction in the interest margin charged to programme countries. This has been applied in respect of Greece and Portugal. However, a decision to apply it to Ireland's loans has not yet been taken. This is because another Member State is asking Ireland to deliver a quid pro quo in return for an...

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (29 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 89 together. It is intended that new chief executive appointments will be made at the new appointments rate as outlined in the table that follows this reply. For incumbent CEOs the relevant "Hay" range, does not represent a pay scale - rather a single salary point within the range is sanctioned by the relevant Minister with the consent of the Minister...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (29 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: VAT is charged on the supply of goods and services, and the rate applying is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law with which Irish VAT law must comply. The provision of sporting facilities is among a number of tourist related services being made subject to a new temporary lower reduced VAT rate of 9% from 1 July next. All other goods and services that apply at a reduced rate will...

Written Answers — National Asset Management Agency: National Asset Management Agency (29 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: NAMA informs me that there is no register of persons who have received payments from the Agency. In the normal course of its operations, NAMA advances funds to debtors for working capital purposes or to enable projects to be completed. Over €800m has been advanced to debtors for these purposes since March 2010. NAMA cannot disclose the names of individual debtors because companies and...

Written Answers — National Asset Management Agency: National Asset Management Agency (29 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: I assume that the Deputy is referring to NAMA debtors. A register of bankrupts is available at the Office of the Examiner of the High Court and I am advised by NAMA that bankruptcy searches are carried out by NAMA as a matter of course on any personal borrower/guarantor prior to the advance of new funds or on a restructure. Bankruptcy searches are also carried out prior to loan acquisition....

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (29 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: There are no proposals to specifically subject lump sum retirement gratuities of retained fire fighters to income tax other than what applies to all taxpayers. Section 201 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 and Schedule 3 to that Act set out the legislation in relation to the exemptions that apply to retirement gratuities, and the taxation of any balance after applying these exemptions. The...

Written Answers — Banking Sector: Banking Sector (29 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 95 together. The search for a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Allied Irish Banks is continuing. The Deputy will be aware from my statement to the House on 31 March 2011 that this bank is to become one of the two domestic universal full-service banks to act as core pillars to the Irish banking system. How to achieve this objective is the effective...

Written Answers — EU-IMF Fund: EU-IMF Fund (29 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: Part of the conditions of the EU-IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland is that there should be quarterly reviews of the programme to assess progress against the agreed targets. The Review mission comprises a series of meetings to evaluate all the elements of the programme including fiscal developments, the macroeconomic outlook, progress on commitments in the restructuring of the...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (29 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Deputy is reminded of the exact terms of the programme for Government: The Government will examine a number of ... proposals, including ... directing any mortgage provider in receipt of State support to present Government with a plan of how it intends to cut its costs, over and above existing plans, in a fair manner by a sufficient amount to forego a 25 basis point increase on their...

Written Answers — Tax Reliefs: Tax Reliefs (29 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 100 together. The position is that there is a commitment in the Programme for Government to help homeowners in distress. The Government will examine a number of proposals in relation to this commitment. One of these proposals relates to increasing mortgage interest relief to 30% for First Time Buyers who bought between 2004 and 2008 and to finance this...

Written Answers — Public Sector Staff: Public Sector Staff (29 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: The moratorium on public sector recruitment began at the end of March 2009. The following table sets out the changes in numbers serving by sector from December 2008 to the end March 2011. 2008 2011 Qtr4 Qtr1 Change from Q4 2008 to Q1 2011 Civil Service 38,817.38 36,762.98 -2,054.40 Defence Sector 11,265.00 10,444.60 -820.40 Education Sector 95,024.34 93,606.91 -1,417.43 Health Sector...

Written Answers — Public Sector Staff: Public Sector Staff (29 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin, T.D has announced the introduction of pay ceilings for higher posts across the public service and for CEO posts in Commercial State Companies. The Minister considers that CEO pay will be reduced in a proportionate manner to include - a general pay ceiling of €200,000 for to higher positions across the public service; a...