Results 2,081-2,100 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Written Answers — Sunday Trading: Sunday Trading (9 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: The permitted opening hours for bookmakers' shops is one of the issues being considered in the context of the proposed Betting (Amendment) Bill 2011. I would however draw to the attention of the Deputy that bookmakers' shops are currently permitted to open to the public on all Sundays except Easter Sunday.

Written Answers — Credit Unions: Credit Unions (9 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 49 together. Under the EU/IMF Programme of Support for Ireland, stress tests on credit unions have been completed by the Central Bank. Credit unions were subjected to a detailed stress testing exercise to make an assessment of the likely impact of a given stress scenario on the capital buffers of credit unions. The purpose of this work is to provide...

Written Answers — Credit Unions: Credit Unions (9 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: At its meeting of 31st May 2011, the Government agreed to establish a Commission on Credit Unions to review the future of the credit union movement and make recommendations in relation to the most effective regulatory structure for credit unions, taking into account their not-for-profit mandate, their volunteer ethos and community focus, while paying due regard to the need to fully protect...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (9 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 51, 58 and 59 together. As regards exemptions from the levy, the intention is that the levy will not apply to the assets of occupational pension funds in respect of the provision of retirement benefits to current active members whose employment in relation to the scheme is and always was exercised outside the State, or, in the case of members whose employment...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (9 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: Text messages are currently subject to VAT at 21%. A levy on text messages could have a behavioural impact if it was directly imposed on customers or imposed on the mobile telephone companies and passed on to customers. Thus it is not safe to estimate the potential yield of such a tax from the current level of text message usage. As such a levy would probably be a Stamp Duty charge, the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (9 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: At present there are 564.18 Whole Time Equivalents (WTEs) employed in my Department. When formally established, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will be comprised principally of staff currently allocated to the Sectoral Policy and Public Service Management Development Divisions of my Department together with the staff of the Modernisation Unit of the Department of the...

Written Answers — National Lottery: National Lottery (9 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: The amount of revenue (surplus) generated by the National Lottery through the sales of National Lottery tickets (i.e. its turnover net of prizes and all costs) is shown in the table below. The final figures for 2011 are not yet available. National Lottery surplus transferred to the Exchequer Year €million 2007 245 2008 268 2009 264 2010 244 2011 230 (Estimated)

Written Answers — Car Scrappage Scheme: Car Scrappage Scheme (9 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: I have no plans to extend the car scrappage scheme beyond 30 June 2011.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (9 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: I regret I am unable to answer the Deputy's question as the information supplied is not sufficiently specific. The Deputy's office has been contacted for further information on the case and a response is awaited.

Written Answers — Pay Rates: Pay Rates (9 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: I have no plans to establish a commission to examine levels of pay in the private and public sectors of the economy. Apart from instances where statutory rates of pay apply, pay rates in the private sector are generally a matter for negotiation between individual employers and employees. In the public service where the Government has a direct role in the determination of pay rates as...

Written Answers — Bank Guarantee Scheme: Bank Guarantee Scheme (9 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Central Bank of Ireland has advised my Department that the total amount repaid to senior unguaranteed bond holders by the covered institutions is as follows: From September 2008€m 2009€m 2010€m 2011€m Total Senior Unguaranteed Secured 23 69 477 729 1,298 Senior Unguaranteed Unsecured 0 0 2,430 3,599 6,029 Total 23 69 2,907 4,328 7,327 My Department is awaiting up to date...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (9 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Stability Programme Update (SPU), which was published at the end of April and submitted to the European Commission, updated the economic and budgetary forecasts contained in Budget 2011. The SPU projected an Exchequer deficit in 2011 of €18,165 million, made up of a €12,035 million current budget deficit and a €6,130 million capital budget deficit. The bank guarantee has not been...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (9 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: If a levy such as is suggested was a taxation measure it would probably be a Stamp Duty, so the legislation required would be contained in a Finance Bill as an amendment to the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999. I am advised there is insufficient information to estimate the potential yield from a levy on tuition fees. While any additional revenue would be welcome in the current...

Written Answers — Mortgage Arrears: Mortgage Arrears (9 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: I would like to inform the Deputy that there are a number of measures in place to assist mortgage holders who are in genuine difficulties with regard to the payment of their mortgages. The Deputy will be aware of the work of the Expert Group on Mortgage Arrears and Personal Debt. This Group published its final Report in November 2010. All of the Expert Group's recommendations are listed in...

Written Answers — Banks Recapitalisation: Banks Recapitalisation (9 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 67 together. As the Deputy will appreciate, important aspects of the matters raised in his questions on this issue are commercially sensitive and it would not be appropriate for me to make any further comment beyond what I have stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 95 of 25 May 2011.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (15 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: There are five Auditors currently employed in my Department. In addition, there are other staff members who carry out a wide range of functions in the audit field.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (15 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is currently carrying out preparatory work to implement the commitments in the Programme for Government in relation to the Freedom of Information Acts. When this work is completed the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin T.D. will bring proposals to the Government.

Written Answers — Local Authority Valuations: Local Authority Valuations (15 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Valuation Act, 2001 which came into effect on 2nd May, 2002, provides for the revaluation of all commercial and industrial property. The Commissioner of Valuation has sole responsibility for all valuation matters under the Valuation Act 2001 which includes the implementation of the revaluation programme on a nationwide basis. The revaluation programme began in November 2005 in the South...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (15 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that following receipt of a claim from the person on 25 May and following the normal processing and verification checks by Revenue the claim has now been approved for repayment. The repayment will be made to the bank account of the person concerned within the next few days.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (15 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: Budget 2011 reduced the Stamp Duty rate on residential property purchases while abolishing some reliefs and exemptions, including First Time Buyer relief. This was done to help broaden the tax base and lower the rate of stamp duty for most purchasers. All purchasers of residential property under €1 million in value, are now only liable for stamp duty at 1%. I have no plans at this time...