Results 25,321-25,340 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Written Answers — National Asset Management Agency: National Asset Management Agency (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: NAMA informs me that the retail businesses referred to in the Deputy's question are owned by a partnership and that differences have emerged among some of the partners as regards the ongoing management of the businesses. NAMA is committed to contributing to the purposes of the Act which, inter alia, require it to contribute to the social and economic development of the State in addition to...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: A derogation under EU Directive 2003/96 on Energy Taxation allowed the application of a reduced rate of Mineral Oil Tax to fuel used for the purposes of certain road passenger services. That derogation has expired and the arrangement was, therefore, terminated by the Finance Act 2008. It would not be possible, having regard to the relevant provisions of EU law, to re-introduce a scheme of...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: My officials have informed me there was an inaccuracy in the reply to the earlier question. I apologise to the Deputy for any inconvenience or confusion this may have caused. Section 106B Stamp Duty Consolidation Act 1999 previously provided for a stamp duty exemption on a conveyance of property either by or to a housing authority or the Affordable Homes Partnership. This section was...

Written Answers — Interest Rates: Interest Rates (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Government is conscious of the difficult environment commercial mortgage holders are facing. Operating in this challenging economic climate is not easy for businesses. As I informed the Deputy in the House last week, I will ask the regulatory authorities to examine this area to see if something can be done.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: There is a commitment in the Programme for Government to help homeowners in distress to weather the recession. 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 in part by abolishing mortgage interest relief for new buyers from June 2011. When this proposal has been thoroughly examined and...

Written Answers — National Anthem: National Anthem (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: In response to the Deputy's question, my Department is aware that the copyright to the National Anthem will expire in December 2012. I can assure the Deputy that consideration will be given prior to that date to protect the National Anthem to ensure that is not used in an inappropriate context and without due deference, such as to render it an object of scorn or derision.

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Government is determined that public service management will be proactive and ambitious in delivering on the full range of productivity and change measures envisaged in the Public Service Agreement (Croke Park Agreement), and accepted as necessary by all parties to it. The Government is on record as saying that it would like to see an accelerated implementation of the ambitious reform...

Written Answers — Expenditure Reviews: Expenditure Reviews (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: Given the nature of the EU/IMF Programme and the resulting content of the Programme documents, there are numerous references to assessments, reviews and reports. Most of these concern regular reporting requirements that Ireland has to comply with or the quarterly reviews of Programme compliance by the EU, ECB and IMF (Troika). However, there are references to a number of assessments,...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that traders in any EU Member State who sell goods at the zero rate of VAT to traders in another EU Member State have legal obligations in relation to verifying the VAT numbers of the purchasers; this may be done through the European Commission website at http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/. Traders also have obligations in relation to...

Jobs Initiative 2011: Statements (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: It is just under nine weeks since the new Government assumed office, having obtained a secure and stable mandate from the people. We have agreed a programme for Government, motivated by a clear vision of an Ireland that, by the end of our term in office, will be recognised as a modern, fair, socially inclusive and equal society, supported by a productive and prosperous economy. As indicated...

Jobs Initiative 2011: Statements (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: To be clear, the commencement of this measure is subject to an agreement being reached with the airlines to bring in additional passenger numbers. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport is holding discussions in that regard. Furthermore, as with the targeted VAT reductions, a review of this measure will be conducted before the end of 2012 to evaluate its success in bringing in...

Jobs Initiative 2011: Statements (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: The notable under-performance of tourism over the past few years highlights the need to improve the sector's cost competitiveness, an objective that the measures I have announced will help to advance. A set of costs that are especially important to tourism and other employment-rich areas of the economy are labour costs. One way to help job creation and improve our labour cost...

Jobs Initiative 2011: Statements (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: This will be done through legislation to be introduced by my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton. The existing employer job, PRSI, incentive scheme will remain in place until the end of this year so that enterprises and businesses that had planned to take on staff under this scheme in that period may continue to do so. As set out in the programme for Government,...

Jobs Initiative 2011: Statements (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle. I will be able to slow down now.

Jobs Initiative 2011: Statements (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: I will move on to initiatives relating to public capital projects. Public capital investment can play an important role, both in promoting employment and in addressing worthwhile, visible and pressing infrastructure needs throughout the country. Despite our current circumstances, we will continue to invest in such worthwhile and necessary projects, with the considerable sum of €4.6...

Jobs Initiative 2011: Statements (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: The cost of these measures will be met by re-allocations from elsewhere within the capital allocations of the relevant Departments and from some of the proceeds of a new levy, the details of which I will set out shortly. Delivering and maintaining necessary schools is one of the priorities of Government over the next five years. We will continue to invest heavily in our schools. An educated...

Jobs Initiative 2011: Statements (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: I have no vested interest in it.

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (5 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: There is no change in the position I set out in my response to Deputy McLellan's Question No. 56 of Tuesday last, 3 May 2011. The position remains the same. The Joint Administrators announced last week the acquisition by Liberty Mutual Direct Insurance Company Limited (LMDI), which is a joint venture between Liberty Mutual and Anglo Irish Bank, of certain assets and liabilities of Quinn...

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (5 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: As there is no change in the position I set out in my response to Deputies Ó Caoláin and Feighan (Questions Nos. 52 and 177) on Tuesday last, 3 May 2011, the position remains the same. The Joint Administrators announced last week the acquisition by Liberty Mutual Direct Insurance Company Ltd (LMDI), a joint venture between Liberty Mutual (LM) and Anglo Irish Bank, of certain assets and...

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (5 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: As there is no change in the position I set out in my response to Deputy Ó Caoláin (Question No. 41) on Tuesday last, 3 May 2011, the position remains the same. The Joint Administrators announced last week the acquisition by Liberty Mutual Direct Insurance Company Ltd (LMDI), a joint venture between Liberty Mutual (LM) and Anglo Irish Bank, of certain assets and liabilities of Quinn...