Results 24,761-24,780 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: As I said at the time, the measures announced in the Jobs Initiative represent the first steps by this government to increase competitiveness in important sectors in the economy and to improve the functioning of our labour market. As the Deputy will appreciate, given the high level of uncertainty that continues to surround the outlook, it is very difficult to quantify the exact number of jobs...

Written Answers — Bank Guarantee Scheme: Bank Guarantee Scheme (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 109 together. As I informed this House last week, when a bank issues a bond, whether by private placement or public issue, it would be usual practice for a securities depository company, such as Clearstream and Euroclear, to purchase the bond on behalf of their customers. The bond issuer will likely have little knowledge of the original owners of the...

Written Answers — Bilateral Loan Facilities: Bilateral Loan Facilities (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: The bilateral loan element of the EU –IMF programme of financial support will be provided by three EU Member States – the United Kingdom providing approximately €3.8 billion, Sweden €0.6 billion and Denmark €0.4 billion. All bilateral loans will be provided subject to the conditions of the Memorandum of Understanding agreed with the EU/ECB/IMF. At this point, no funds have yet...

Written Answers — Bank Guarantee Scheme: Bank Guarantee Scheme (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Central Bank of Ireland has advised me that the dates of maturity and the total aggregate amounts for secured, unsecured and subordinated debt due to be repaid by the covered institutions is as follows: The Central Bank of Ireland has advised me that the dates of maturity and the total aggregate amounts for secured, unsecured and subordinated debt due to be repaid by the covered...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: I understand that the Deputy is referring to Parliamentary Question No. 91 answered on 1 June 2011. At the outset let me say that the reply given to the Deputy's question on 1 June was given by me and not my Officials. As far as my Officials attendance at Parliamentary Committees is concerned, let me assure the Deputy that it is not official policy to withhold information. I will repeat...

Written Answers — Public Private Partnerships: Public Private Partnerships (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: The overriding concern for state procuring authorities in all contract negotiations is to ensure value for money and these procurements are conducted strictly under EU procurement directives and regulations. The state does not enter into PPPs unless it can be clearly demonstrated that they provide value for money and there are a number of specific tests throughout the procurement and tender...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: I assume the Deputy is referring to Section 13 of Finance Act 2011, which provided for income tax relief at the standard rate for expenditure incurred by individuals on a range of works carried out to improve the energy efficiency of residential premises situated in the State. The underpinning legislation for the scheme was subject to Commencement Order. However, that legislation, on...

Written Answers — Professional Fees: Professional Fees (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Government is committed to improving the competitiveness of the economy. In this regard the Government in the EU/IMF Programme is removing restrictions as follows: - in the legal profession, establishing an independent regulator for the profession and implementing recommendations of the Legal Costs Working Group and outstanding Competition Authority recommendations to reduce legal costs....

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: Following the Government Decision (S180/20/10/1333) to cap the salaries of senior public servants and CEOs of commercial State companies, Secretaries General of Government Departments have agreed to reduce their salaries to €200,000 by voluntarily waiving a portion of their salary. The current rates of pay in respect of Secretaries General in each Government Department are set out in the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: The total number of Personal Fund Threshold applications received to date is 1,200. The majority of these were received in the first week in June and as each case has to be examined individually to ascertain the correct PFT amount, the information requested in relation to all the applications is not available at this stage. Revenue officials are working through the applications in order of...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: Secretaries General may, subject to Government decision, benefit from added years at the conclusion of their period of service, under the provisions of sections 6 and 7 of the Superannuation and Pensions Act 1963. The number of added years cannot exceed the lesser of 10 years, or the number of extra years he or she would have served if he or she had been allowed to serve to age 65, subject...

Written Answers — Civil Service Staff: Civil Service Staff (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: Because of the volume of grades within the civil service, comprising general service grades, grades common to two or more Departments and grades specific to one Department/Office only, it is not practical to list each of the grades, and relevant pay scales in my reply. I am confining my reply to some of the most common grades. Copies of pay circulars are published on the Departmental...

Written Answers — Employment Control Frameworks: Employment Control Frameworks (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: The table below sets out the end-2011 Employment Control Frameworks for all Government Departments and Offices as determined in December 2010. These figures will fall to be revised for a number of technical reasons as well as to reflect Transfers of Functions and the creation of new Departments. As soon as this information is available full details (out to 2014) will be published on the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: Mr. John Moran, who is on secondment to the Department from the Central Bank of Ireland, has been assigned to oversee the recently announced restructuring of the banking sector and associated issues. He leads the relevant team within the Department and reports directly to the Secretary General. Over time, a number of specialist staff have been recruited to supplement the in-house expertise...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: My colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will be approaching prospective candidates this week and hopes to be in a position to announce the names of the five external appointees next week.

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 146 to 148, inclusive, together. The Comprehensive Review of Expenditure (CRE) process was formally initiated by my colleague Mr. Brendan Howlin, T.D. Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, in early May. The objectives of the review are to provide the Government with a full set of decision options to meet the overall fiscal consolidation...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Government Programme for National Recovery 2011-2016 provides that the Government will establish a new model of financing social interventions called Social Impact Bonds that share audited Exchequer savings with charitable and voluntary organisations. The Government will consider how best to establish this new and innovative mechanism and will bring forward proposals in due course.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: Details in respect of staff numbers and the annual pay bill in respect of my Department and the Finance Group of votes are contained in the book of Estimates which is published on an annual basis. Details in respect of staff numbers and the annual pay bill in respect of my Department and the Finance Group of votes are contained in book of Estimates which is published on an annual basis....

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that this is the sixth Parliamentary Question in connection with this matter. Questions were asked previously on 27th May 2010, 8th July 2010, 29th September 2010, 4th November 2010 and the 19th May 2011 about this matter. The facts remain as follows: Following a Revenue audit, deductions incorrectly claimed by the taxpayer were withdrawn, giving...

Written Answers — EU-IMF Fund: EU-IMF Fund (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 153 together. To date, Ireland's nominal borrowings under the EU/IMF Programme amount to €23 billion. Details of the loans disbursed to date as supplied by the NTMA to my Department are set out in the table. The information includes the dates of draw downs, the amounts, the maturity or term, the equivalent annual interest rates based on the total...