Results 4,161-4,180 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Written Answers — Department of Finance: National Treasury Management Agency Reports (19 May 2016)

Michael Noonan: I can advise the Deputy that I have been informed by the National Treasury Management Agency that the Annual Report and Audited Accounts of the Agency will be provided to me by end-June and it is intended that these would be published in July. Subsequent to the Annual Report and Audited Accounts being provided to me, I will bring these reports to Government and, consequent to Government...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Ireland Strategic Investment Fund Investments (19 May 2016)

Michael Noonan: The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund's (ISIF) investment holdings in fossil fuel companies are among the legacy global investments inherited from its predecessor fund, the National Pensions Reserve Fund (NPRF).  In keeping with the ISIF's mandate to hold or invest its assets (other than directed investments) on a commercial basis in a manner designed to support economic activity and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Collection (19 May 2016)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by Revenue that there have been discussions with the person concerned since November 2014 but no proposal to address the tax debt in question was made to Revenue. As a result Revenue was left with no alternative but to advise the person earlier this month that enforcement proceedings to collect the debt would be taken. As a final opportunity to deal with this matter before...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme (19 May 2016)

Michael Noonan: The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and Vehicle Registration Tax (up to a certain limit) on the purchase of an adapted car for transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities, and exemption from motor tax in respect of that vehicle, and support with fuel costs. To qualify for the scheme, an applicant...

Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (18 May 2016)

Michael Noonan: I am not pressing the amendment.

Other Questions: Tax Code (18 May 2016)

Michael Noonan: Deputy Doherty and I will have to agree to differ on this. It is not the first time we have debated it. It was debated last year and was debated right through the general election. Deputy Michael McGrath's and the Fianna Fáil position is not too far away from the Fine Gael position. He pitched middle income people as earning less that €80,000 and Fine Gael defined it as less...

Other Questions: Tax Code (18 May 2016)

Michael Noonan: Sinn Féin is the most conservative party in the House.

Other Questions: Tax Code (18 May 2016)

Michael Noonan: Sinn Féin is not a left-wing party at all. It is a conservative nationalist party.

Other Questions: Tax Code (18 May 2016)

Michael Noonan: I will not be provoked and will resist the temptation. The best thing I can commit to is ensuring there is a full debate. The Spring Economic Statement will become a summer statement and it should be ready by June. There will be a full debate in the House. I am providing all the text papers to the finance committee so that there will be a full debate on taxation at that point, in advance...

Other Questions: Tax Code (18 May 2016)

Michael Noonan: The fallacy in the Deputy's argument is in the fact that the Government is not committing to reduce the tax take - it is committing to reduce tax rates. We will collect more taxes and the projections for taxes for the next years show that each year the tax take will increase. Within the envelope of additional taxes it is quite affordable to remove an emergency tax-----

Other Questions: Tax Code (18 May 2016)

Michael Noonan: We can afford to remove a tax introduced at a time of great emergency. Anybody carrying out an economic analysis will agree that personal tax rates in Ireland are too high and are having an adverse effect on economic growth and activity.

Other Questions: Tax Code (18 May 2016)

Michael Noonan: The economy is buoyant and we have very strong growth rates.

Other Questions: Tax Code (18 May 2016)

Michael Noonan: The projected tax take is increasing. For the past two years we have reduced the incidence of USC and that has relieved the burden, especially on low-paid and middle income people.

Other Questions: Cross-Border Co-operation (18 May 2016)

Michael Noonan: Combatting cross-Border smuggling is a high priority for Revenue. Mineral oil and tobacco smuggling are crimes that require both national and international responses. I am advised by Revenue that it works closely with law enforcement partners both at home and abroad to disrupt and deter smuggling activities. Revenue co-operates extensively with, inter alia, An Garda Síochána in...

Other Questions: NAMA Portfolio (18 May 2016)

Michael Noonan: The difficulty is that if an investment fund buys an apartment block, for example, it is buying an apartment block which is almost fully tenanted because the value lies in the fact the tenants are paying rent. If they were to help in resolving the housing crisis, they would need to be buying vacant properties. They do not look for vacant possession because of, as we can see, the adverse...

Other Questions: NAMA Portfolio (18 May 2016)

Michael Noonan: I did not accuse Deputy Michael McGrath of scaremongering but he may have mentioned that I was scaremongering.

Other Questions: NAMA Portfolio (18 May 2016)

Michael Noonan: I think Deputy Mattie McGrath has reversed the dialogue. I have great respect for Deputy Michael McGrath and did not do that. This is the first week the new Government is functioning. A special housing committee, chaired by Deputy John Curran, was set up in response to the emergency. I appeared before the committee and it seems to be that it is doing constructive work and moving...

Other Questions: Tax Code (18 May 2016)

Michael Noonan: Afair, efficient and competitive income tax system is essential for economic growth and job creation. I have long said that the burden of the income tax system in Ireland is too high, that it is acting as a disincentive for work and investment in Ireland and that I would seek to reduce it as soon as it was prudent to do so. In the programme for a partnership Government, there is a...

Other Questions: Motor Insurance (18 May 2016)

Michael Noonan: I will need to take advice on the issues the Deputy raises from the appropriate officials. I will contact him directly regarding the plans in that regard.

Other Questions: Motor Insurance (18 May 2016)

Michael Noonan: I will discuss the Deputy's views with the officials involved in carrying out the review. I am not disposed to holding back any information and if there is useful information available, I will communicate it to Deputies.