Results 22,121-22,140 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Written Answers — Department of Finance: NAMA Assets Sale (17 Dec 2015)

Michael Noonan: I am been advised by NAMA that it has approved disposals by debtors and receivers of non-real estate assets with an aggregate value in excess of €486m. Such assets include shares and other investments as well as artwork, jewellery, fixed assets other goods.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Deposit Guarantee Scheme (17 Dec 2015)

Michael Noonan: The Central Bank of Ireland is responsible for the operation of the Deposit Guarantee Scheme (DGS), which covers licensed credit institutions operating in the State. The DGS covers deposits up to €100,000 per eligible depositor per credit institution. The amount of covered deposits currently stands at approximately €89.6bn.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Collection (17 Dec 2015)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by Revenue that it reports on the tax debt as at 31 March each year. On 31 March 2015 the total outstanding debt amounted to €1.69 billion. However, this figure included €701m of debt under appeal to the Appeal Commissioners and €87m of insolvency debt. The remaining amount of €907 million is regarded as a more accurate indicator of the actual debt...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Illicit Trade in Tobacco (17 Dec 2015)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the extent of the illegal trade in cigarettes is estimated through annual surveys that are carried out for them and for the Health Service Executive National Tobacco Control Office by Ipsos MRBI. The results of these surveys for 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 suggest that the losses to the Exchequer in excise duty and VAT attributable to the illegal...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Petrol Stretching (17 Dec 2015)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that, from mid-2014 on, they began to receive reports from a variety of locations around the country of problems relating to petrol quality, and suggestions that these problems were attributable to petrol stretching. The numbers of complaints on this matter received in each month from July 2014 to December 2015 are set out in the following table. No...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Universal Social Charge Yield (17 Dec 2015)

Michael Noonan: As the Deputy is aware, the Universal Social Charge (USC) was introduced in Budget 2011 replacing the Income and Health Levies. It was a necessary measure to widen the tax base, remove poverty traps and raise revenue to reduce the budget deficit. The data requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. It is important to take into account that the figures displayed for 2011,...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Central Bank of Ireland Staff (17 Dec 2015)

Michael Noonan: The Central Bank has informed me that it currently has 65 contractors engaged. For commercial reasons it is not possible to disclose individual daily rates, however the average daily rate paid to these contractors is €478 (excluding VAT). The number of contractors varies from time to time and is determined by the business needs of the Bank. The daily rate paid is determined by the role...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: State Bodies Mergers (17 Dec 2015)

Michael Noonan: As the Deputy may be aware, my Department has been progressing the amalgamation of the Offices of the Financial Services Ombudsman and the Pensions Ombudsman. The Government agreed Heads of a Bill to provide for the amalgamation of both organisations in May 2015 and the proposed legislation is currently on the 'B' list of the Government legislation...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Small and Medium Enterprises Debt (17 Dec 2015)

Michael Noonan: The Central Bank publishes the level of outstanding SME debt through the statistical release "Trends in Business Credit and Deposits: Q2 2015", which indicates that total loans by resident credit institutions to Irish resident SMEs was €50.6 billion at end-June 2015. This publication is available on the Central Bank website at: Although the Central Bank do not publish...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Additional Voluntary Contributions (17 Dec 2015)

Michael Noonan: Pre-retirement access to certain Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) was passed into law with the enactment of the Finance Act 2013 on 27 March 2013. The option to access up to 30% of an AVC runs for 3 years from that date to 26 March 2016. The administrator of the pension scheme has to make a return within 15 working days of the end of each quarter showing the following information: -...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Yield (17 Dec 2015)

Michael Noonan: The High Earners Restriction was introduced in Finance Acts 2006 and 2007, with effect from 1 January 2007, and further amended in Finance Act 2010. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the yield in respect of the restriction, which limits the use of certain tax reliefs and exemptions by high income individuals, is outlined in the table.  These figures are based on...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Incentives (17 Dec 2015)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a wide range of statistical information is available on the Commissioners' Statistics webpage: . In relation to the Deputy's Question, the latest information on the cost and numbers availing of the "Employment and Investment Incentive (EII)'' and "Investment in Seed Capital" schemes can be found at . The latest full year for which information is...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Incentives (17 Dec 2015)

Michael Noonan: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that a report on the Special Assignee Relief Programme for 2012 and 2013 has been published and is available on the Commissioners website at: . This report was also sent to the opposition spokespersons on Finance for their information. The Revenue Commissioners will prepare a similar report in relation to the 2014 tax year,...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Foreign Earnings Deduction (17 Dec 2015)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a wide range of statistical information is available on the Commissioners' Statistics webpage: . In relation to the Deputy's Question, the latest information on the cost and numbers availing of the Foreign Earnings Deduction scheme can be found at . The latest full year for which information is available is 2013. Updates for 2014 will be...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Unions Restructuring (17 Dec 2015)

Michael Noonan: To date the Credit Union Restructuring Board (ReBo) has provided assistance in 40 completed mergers involving 82 different credit unions.  ReBo has recently approved a further  6 mergers involving 12 credit unions.  ReBo meets on a monthly basis to review finalised merger proposals. There are currently no proposals in front of the board for its upcoming monthly meeting on...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Professional Fees (17 Dec 2015)

Michael Noonan: In response to the Deputy's query, regarding the amount that has been paid to a firm (details supplied) for professional services on the banking crisis since 2008, I can confirm that the Department has not made any payments to this firm.   In relation to my Department, I would ask the Deputy to note that the firm has been engaged on a pro bono basis as...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Alcohol Sales (17 Dec 2015)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that, under Section 59 and Schedule 2 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 2008, the duty on a licence for the sale of alcohol such as spirits, wine, or beer for consumption off the premises is €500. The duty is charged on a flat-fee basis per licence type and the licences are renewed annually. Many retailers hold a combination of licences, including a...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Irish Water Funding (17 Dec 2015)

Michael Noonan: The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) has advised that Irish Water has entered into loan facilities of €450 million in total with the Fund, representing a refinancing of the existing €300 million National Pensions Reserve Fund facility and a new €150 million loan facility. Both facilities are unguaranteed.  The loan facilities have a 1 year maturity and the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Credits (17 Dec 2015)

Michael Noonan: As the Deputy may be aware, Section 466A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides for the Home Carer Tax Credit. As increased in Budget 2016 the amount of the credit is €1,000.  It is claimable by married persons or civil partners who are jointly assessed to tax and where one spouse or civil partner works at home, caring for children, aged or incapacitated persons, and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Budget 2016 (17 Dec 2015)

Michael Noonan: The process of publishing the Tax Strategy Group papers for Budget 2016 will commence shortly  and I would anticipate that they will be available on my Department's website during the first quarter of 2016.