Results 7,761-7,780 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Semi-State Bodies Dividends (15 Apr 2015)

Michael Noonan: In response to the Deputy's question only one of the bodies under the aegis of my Department would be classed as semi-state commercial company. The Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland is a commercial entity which was established in 2014 and has not paid any dividends to date.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Ministerial Correspondence (2 Apr 2015)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 74 together. The details supplied by the Deputy relate to correspondence from a Ms Karen Hudes which is understood to have been sent to all Ministers for Finance of member countries of the IMF/ World Bank.I have also received the correspondence directly from Ms Hudes via the Embassy in Washington.  I understand that Ms Hudes is a...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Motor Insurance Regulation (2 Apr 2015)

Michael Noonan: In my role as Minister for Finance I have responsibility for the development of the legal framework governing financial regulation.  Neither I nor the Central Bank of Ireland, as regulator, interfere in the pricing of insurance products. The provision of insurance cover, the price at which it is offered and the expiring of no claims discounts is a commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs Availability (2 Apr 2015)

Michael Noonan: Section 469 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides for relief for health expenses defrayed in the provision of health care by an individual on his or her own behalf or on behalf of others. For the purposes of that section, health care includes prevention, diagnosis, alleviation or treatment of an ailment, injury, infirmity, defect or disability. Health expenses include the cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Fuel Laundering (2 Apr 2015)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners, who are responsible for tackling fuel fraud, that they are very aware of the risks posed to consumer's vehicles, legitimate businesses and the Exchequer by all forms of fuel fraud. Revenue has, since last summer, received reports from a variety of locations around the country of problems relating to petrol quality, and suggestions that these...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: IBRC Legal Cases (2 Apr 2015)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 79 together. As the Deputy is aware, the Special Liquidators of IBRC are unable to comment on individual cases. Furthermore, it would not be helpful or appropriate for me to comment on ongoing legal proceedings. Officials in my Department meet with the Special Liquidators on a regular basis as a matter of course and any material issue or...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Consumer Protection (2 Apr 2015)

Michael Noonan: The Central Bank of Ireland is the appropriate authority on this matter. Section 12 of the Consumer Credit Act 1995 provides that a breach of section 129(2) of that Act is a criminal offence prosecutable summarily by the Central Bank.  A breach of section 129(2) may also be capable of being pursued by way of the Administrative Sanctions Procedure.  The Central Bank has advised...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: NAMA Expenditure (2 Apr 2015)

Michael Noonan: A breakdown of the fees sought by the Deputy is set out below. 2013 Legal, advisory and consultancy fees Legal, consulting and advisory fees as per the published accounts for 2013 and they include invoices paid to suppliers and the movement in expense accruals.  Invoices paid in a year may relate to services incurred in other years.  Invoices for professional services paid in 2013...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: National Debt (2 Apr 2015)

Michael Noonan: The debt for the period 2010-2015 can be outlined as follows: 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Q3 2014 2015f National debt (% GDP) 44.7 56.7 69.6 79.7 99.5 97.0 n/a General government debt (% GDP) 62.2 87.4 111.1 121.7 123.3 114.8 108.5Source: CSO, Department of Finance, NTMA Note 1: Quarter 3 2014 debt figures are the most recent official debt data published by the CSO. Note 2: The 2015...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: General Government Debt (2 Apr 2015)

Michael Noonan: The budget deficits for the period 2010-2015 can be outlined as follows: 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014f 2015f Deficit (% GDP) -32.4 -12.6 -8.0 -5.7 -3.7 -2.7 Underlying Deficit (% GDP) -11.0 -8.6 -8.0 -5.7 -3.7 -2.7Source: Eurostat, Department of Finance - forecasts as per Budget 2015. The underlying general government deficit excludes the one-off capital injections made to the financial...

Residential Mortgage Interest Rates: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (1 Apr 2015)

Michael Noonan: I have listened carefully to all that has been said on the motion last night and tonight. I appreciate the fact that this standard variable rate charge by the various financial institutions in Ireland has a huge impact on individual households and has a constraining effect on their consumption of other goods and services. This interest rate issue was discussed here earlier during Questions...

Other Questions: Protected Disclosures in the Public Interest (1 Apr 2015)

Michael Noonan: I will bring the Deputy's concerns to the attention of the Governor of the Central Bank.

Other Questions: Mortgage Arrears Proposals (1 Apr 2015)

Michael Noonan: The arrears support unit, ASU, in accordance with the code of conduct on mortgage arrears, CCMA, has responsibility to assess a borrower's standard financial statement, SFS, and recommend the most appropriate course of action to eliminate mortgage arrears over time. The CCMA requires each branch to have at least one person with specific responsibility for dealing with arrears and pre-arrears...

Other Questions: Mortgage Arrears Proposals (1 Apr 2015)

Michael Noonan: We are continuing to review the position, and we review it on an ongoing basis. The essential element of restructuring is agreement between the two sides. If there is no agreement, there can be no restructuring. There is a menu of arrangements available, not all of which are working as well as others. The enormity of the problem was such that it could not have been resolved at local...

Other Questions: Protected Disclosures in the Public Interest (1 Apr 2015)

Michael Noonan: As the Deputy will appreciate, it would be inappropriate for me, as Minister for Finance, to comment on actions taken by any company in relation to specific employees. While I cannot provide legal advice on possible courses of action available to individuals who consider that they have been unfairly dismissed, I would advise such individuals to seek appropriate legal advice. ...

Other Questions: Banking Sector Regulation (1 Apr 2015)

Michael Noonan: Those are just accusations of a personal nature. When the Deputy cannot make any ground in a logical argument, it is an attempt to introduce some kind of smear.

Other Questions: Banking Sector Regulation (1 Apr 2015)

Michael Noonan: I meet the appropriate people. There is nobody at any senior level in any of the banks who does not know that what is being done is being monitored very closely by the Department of Finance and me.

Other Questions: Tax Code (1 Apr 2015)

Michael Noonan: In the 2015 budget, I introduced the new document, A Road Map for Ireland's Tax Competitiveness, to update the objectives set out in the 2013 international tax strategy and to set out a clear path for this country's tax competitiveness into the future. The roadmap set out a comprehensive package of measures designed to reposition Ireland to reap the benefits of sustainable foreign direct...

Other Questions: Tax Code (1 Apr 2015)

Michael Noonan: Over a number of years, a number of European countries have had patent boxes, which were designed so that intellectual property would be attracted to the countries that had such patent boxes. Patent boxes became controversial and there were discussions within Europe and driven by the OECD to abolish patent boxes completely. Two years ago, I would have said that I did not foresee these being...

Other Questions: Tax Code (1 Apr 2015)

Michael Noonan: We are open to submissions from interested parties and there is a consultative process. Currently, I do not see a need to distinguish between indigenous and inward-investment companies. If the incentives are available through the tax system for research and development, they should apply equally. I cannot see what added advantage could be designed for indigenous companies.