Results 25,481-25,500 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Fiscal Policy (3 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: We will outline the full programme on Tuesday next. When we criticised the budget introduced by the Government, which Deputy McGrath supported, in December, we selected two areas for severe criticism. First, we indicated that the budget did very little to promote job creation. Second, we outlined that the Government was receiving the growth figure without trying to influence it. To return...

Fiscal Policy (3 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: We will approach it in a fiscally neutral way. Based on our more recent conversations, the agreement we have with the troika is that the span of the initiative is to become fiscally neutral by 2014. That satisfies it. We are largely talking about what was in the programme for Government. It is a readjustment of the budgetary position to focus on job creation and to try to get more growth...

Commissions of Investigation (3 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: On 7 July 2010, the previous Government announced its decision to establish a commission of investigation into the banking sector in Ireland, pursuant to the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004. The commission was formally established on 21 September 2010 by Government Order, and Mr. Peter Nyberg was appointed as the sole member of the commission. The commission reported on 22 March 2011...

Commissions of Investigation (3 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: A total of 21 staff were working on the commission, including Mr. Nyberg himself, and there were five administrative staff from the Department. When Mr. Nyberg first took up his position the Department of Finance assisted him in the initial preparatory work upon his arrival in this country. Once formally established the commission recruited staff independently in accordance with the...

Written Answers — Tax Reliefs: Tax Reliefs (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: There are at present no plans to amend the Cycle To Work scheme. Similar to the travel pass scheme, an employer and employee may enter into a salary sacrifice arrangement whereby the employee agrees to forego part of his or her salary to cover the costs associated with the purchase of the bicycle/safety equipment. In such circumstances, the employee will not be liable to tax or PRSI or...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: Finance Act 2011 reduced the rate of Stamp Duty on residential property to 1% on properties valued up to €1m and 2% on the balance of any transaction in excess of €1m. As part of this change, a number of reliefs and exemptions were abolished to broaden the tax base and to commence the necessary infrastructure for the commitment in the Memorandum of Understanding with the ECB, EU and IMF...

Written Answers — Mortgage Arrears: Mortgage Arrears (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: A clear distinction needs to be made between householders who are in a position to meet their mortgage repayments and those who are not, or who are most vulnerable to entering into arrears on their mortgage repayments. The ESRI in its report in 2009 on Negative Equity in the Irish Housing Market has noted at the outset that: "In many cases negative equity will not be an issue. Many of those...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: This is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. I am advised by Revenue that following failure by the business concerned to arrange payment of the debt or engage meaningfully with Revenue toward payment, the debt was referred to the Revenue Sheriff for collection. I am also advised by Revenue that they have received no request for a meeting from the company to discuss matters. Revenue...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: The position is that legislation to provide the same tax treatment for civil partners as that provided for spouses is currently in preparation. It is intended that the legislation will have effect for the tax year 2011. As the Deputy is aware the shortened timescale for this year's Finance Act meant that it was not possible to include the legislation in that Act but it is intended that the...

Written Answers — Charitable Lotteries Scheme: Charitable Lotteries Scheme (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: This Department allocates funding to REHAB under the Charitable Lotteries Scheme. Under this Scheme, funding is made available to supplement the income of certain private charitable lotteries whose products are competing directly with National Lottery products. As REHAB is not a State body, the Minister has no role in setting the salary of the CEO. The allocation for the Charitable...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: The position is that individuals who hold a full medical card are not liable to the top rate of Universal Social Charge. These conditions apply regardless of whether the medical card is awarded on the basis of medical circumstances or on the basis of personal income. The criteria used in awarding full medical cards are a matter for the Minister for Health and Children.

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Report of the Review Group on State Assets and Liabilities was considered by Government this week and it is now published and available on the Department of Finance's website. A copy of the Report has also been sent to each member of the Oireachtas.

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that they have not received an application or a Primary Medical Certificate from the named person. If the relevant papers are received they will be dealt with and the person is welcome to contact Mary Kehoe by telephone at 047 62142 for any further assistance.

Written Answers — Tax Clearance Certificates: Tax Clearance Certificates (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that there is no record that an application for a tax clearance certificate has been received from the person named to date. An application form has been sent out to the person named and I would therefore invite the person to submit the completed application to Limerick Revenue District at his earliest convenience.

Written Answers — National Statistics: National Statistics (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the numbers of PAYE income earners earning gross income at the levels mentioned in the question are set out in the following table in terms of 2011 incomes on an annualised basis. All PAYE income earners for Income Tax Year 2011 (provisional) Gross Income Numbers €18,200 - €18,720 20,600 €18,721 - €19,240 20,200 €19,241 -...

Written Answers — National Statistics: National Statistics (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the number of PAYE income earners earning gross income of less than €356 per week is estimated at 669,200 by reference to 2011 incomes. These figures are estimates from the Revenue tax-forecasting model using actual data for the year 2008 adjusted as necessary for income and employment trends in the interim. They are therefore provisional and...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the number of income earners who will pay the Universal Social Charge in 2011 is estimated at 1,984,200. The number of income earners paying the Health Levy in 2010 is estimated at 989,100 and the numbers paying the Income Levy in 2010 is estimated at 1,470,000. The figures are estimates from the Revenue tax-forecasting model using actual data...

Written Answers — Border Inspection Posts: Border Inspection Posts (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that there are no plans at present to establish a border inspection or other such post at Killybegs. Service to Killybegs-based traders is available from the Revenue office in Donegal Town, which is only 25 kilometres from Killybegs. A pool of staff is available at Donegal Town to ensure continuity and consistency of service and to deliver a broad...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 was enacted on 19 July 2010. The Act establishes a civil partnership registration scheme for same-sex couples together with a range of rights, obligations and protections, including pension rights. On registration of a civil partnership, the civil partners will be treated in the same way as spouses under the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that top slicing relief is not due to the taxpayer in question. The Revenue Commissioners have additionally advised that detailed arrangements have been worked out with the employer in question.