Results 17,881-17,900 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Small and Medium Enterprises Supports (27 Feb 2013)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 87 together. The Deputy will be aware that the Credit Reviewer said in his most recent quarterly report that “Both banks have achieved their €3.5bn SME loan sanction targets. Over €8bn was sanctioned in 2012; of which approx. €2.5bn (27%) is new lending drawn down.” According to the Credit Review Office, the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Job Initiatives (27 Feb 2013)

Michael Noonan: The economic and labour market impact of any stimulus depends upon the type of measure involved. Fiscal multipliers vary according to the fiscal instruments used, and the impact on both growth and job creation as a result can differ accordingly. Ireland is a small, open economy with imports accounting for over three quarters of GDP. As a result, a considerable amount of any stimulus is...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Sale of State Assets (27 Feb 2013)

Michael Noonan: I can advise the Deputy that a sale process was conducted beginning in mid-2011 in which 51 bidders were contacted about the opportunity to acquire Irish Life. Great-West Lifeco emerged as the preferred bidder for Irish Life following this process. However as a result of fears of a Eurozone break-up on the part of Great-West Lifeco, they withdrew their offer in late November 2011 and the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: NAMA Operations (27 Feb 2013)

Michael Noonan: I would like to remind the Deputy that the NAMA Advisory Group has been set up to advise me in the following areas: - The strategy of NAMA. - The appointment of directors to NAMA. - The remuneration of senior executives in NAMA. - Any further advice I may seek of them. The group operates on an informal basis and reports directly to me. Each of the members of the group has specific...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: IBRC Liquidation (27 Feb 2013)

Michael Noonan: Pursuant to a Transfer Order made by the High Court under CISA on 24 February 2011 (the “Transfer Order”), Anglo Irish Bank transferred the vast majority of its Irish and UK customer deposits to Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. (‘AIB’) and AIB Group (UK) p.l.c. (‘AIB UK’), together with its NAMA senior bonds and its Isle of Man subsidiary. As part of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: House Purchase Schemes (27 Feb 2013)

Michael Noonan: Demand for credit from first time buyers is an important component of the demand side in the housing market. It is important to the economy as a whole that creditworthy individuals are able to access credit when they decide to purchase a house for the first time. Central Bank figures are published in Table A.1 Summary of Irish Private Sector Credit and Deposits which is available at . They...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: NAMA Portfolio (27 Feb 2013)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 to 98, inclusive, together. NAMA advises that, to ensure that debtors repay their debt to their full capacity, it requires, inter alia, that they provide security over unencumbered assets not previously pledged as loan security, where such assets exist, and the reversal of asset transfers to relatives and others, where they have occurred. NAMA...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Data Protection (27 Feb 2013)

Michael Noonan: As the Deputy can appreciate, it is not my function, as Minister for Finance, to formally monitor cases been taken by the Data Protection Commissioner against individuals and companies. The Minister for Justice and Equality has advised me that the Data Protection Commissioner is independent in the performance of his duties.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Carbon Tax Exemptions (27 Feb 2013)

Michael Noonan: The carbon tax was increased by €5 per tonne of carbon in Budget 2012 due to budgetary constraints and a requirement to raise revenue to provide for essential public services. Increasing the carbon tax by €5 meant a relatively small increase spread across all fossil fuels rather than larger increases in the excise rates on specific fuels, such as petrol or diesel. I have no...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Economic Statistics (27 Feb 2013)

Michael Noonan: Set out below are the annual amounts of gross fixed capital formation from 2000 to 2011, as produced by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The CSO will publish the Q4 2012 National Accounts data in the coming months, at which time the full year figure for 2012 will be available. Gross Domestic Fixed Capital Formation at Current Market Prices - €m 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Customs Cutters (27 Feb 2013)

Michael Noonan: I am informed by Revenue that the role of the Maritime Unit, equipped with the two Revenue Customs Cutters, is to exercise responsibility for the customs function around the Irish coast and in territorial waters, up to 12 miles offshore. The primary aim of coastal activity is to prevent, detect and deter smuggling and illegal importation of controlled drugs and other goods. It involves...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Official Engagements (27 Feb 2013)

Michael Noonan: I travelled to Davos, Switzerland, to attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, from 23 to 25 January. The World Economic Forum annual meeting is attended by political and business leaders and heads of international organisations. The theme of this year’s meeting was ‘Resilient Dynamism.’ While in Davos I held bilaterals with a number of my counterparts...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Gas Exploration (27 Feb 2013)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that for reasons of taxpayer confidentiality they are not in a position to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Staff Numbers (27 Feb 2013)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 106 together. My Department does not employ agency staff. In my Department the following are employed on a contract basis : 6 Clerical Officers (1 year temporary contract), 4 Administrative Officers (1 year temporary contract), 1 HR Manager (3 year contract) and, 1 Banking Specialist (1 year contract), 2 Special Advisers (contract is co-terminus with...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Property Taxation Exemptions (26 Feb 2013)

Michael Noonan: The Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 sets out in detail how the tax is to be administered and provides how a residential property is to be valued for Local Property Tax (LPT) purposes. While there is no provision for reducing the LPT charge in the circumstances outlined by the Deputy, I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that LPT is a self-assessment tax so in the first instance it...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Dormant Accounts Fund Management (26 Feb 2013)

Michael Noonan: As at 31 December 2012 the value of funds paid into the Dormant Accounts Fund, and not reclaimed, since its establishment in April 2003 was €386 million. This represents the amount which could be reclaimed from the Dormant Accounts Fund by account holders should they come forward. Up to 31 December 2012, the Dormant Accounts Fund had made total disbursements of €251 million...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Disabled Drivers (26 Feb 2013)

Michael Noonan: The initial application for a Primary Medical Certificate under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994, is made to the Senior Medical Officer of the relevant local Health Service Executive administrative area. If the Primary Medical Certificate is refused, the person may appeal the refusal to the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal, National...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Property Taxation Application (26 Feb 2013)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 170 together. The Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 sets out how the tax is to be administered, how a residential property is to be valued for Local Property Tax (LPT) purposes and provides for a number of specific exemptions from the charge. The recently published Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2013 provides for additional...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Illicit Trade in Tobacco (26 Feb 2013)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that action against the illegal trade in tobacco products resulted in the seizure of 95.6 million cigarettes in 2012, and that some 473 brands were found in the seized product. While not all seizures are tested, I am further advised that it is very frequently the case, particularly in relation to well known cigarette brands, that seized cigarettes are...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: EU-IMF Programme of Support Issues (26 Feb 2013)

Michael Noonan: First of all it is important to note that some aspects of the promissory note deal are yet to be finalised. For example, the liquidator is in the process of overseeing a valuation and sales process for the assets of IBRC, while the final payments made under the ELG Scheme have not yet been determined. Nevertheless, as referred to by the Deputy, simulation based assessment by my Department...