Results 2,221-2,240 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (10 Nov 2011)

Michael McGrath: Question 116: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of households on cumulative welfare support payments of greater than €30,000, €40,000 and €50,000 respectively. [33915/11]

Written Answers — Motor Vehicle Registration: Motor Vehicle Registration (10 Nov 2011)

Michael McGrath: Question 139: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of registered cars in each category based on CO2 emissions; and the number of cars registered in each category based on engine size. [33918/11]

Fiscal Policy (15 Nov 2011)

Michael McGrath: Question 29: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will explain his logic for opting for a budget adjustment of €3.8 billion in 2012; if he intends to adjust the scale of the fiscal adjustment during the year if the economic growth target of 1.6% is not being achieved and the data indicates that a greater fiscal adjustment is required to achieve the 8.6% deficit; and if he will make a...

Fiscal Policy (15 Nov 2011)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Minister for his response. We all hope the tentative recovery in our economy that we are witnessing takes root and develops further in 2012. The forecast for 2012 is for an adjustment of €3.8 billion, yielding a deficit of 8.6% on the button. There is therefore no room whatsoever for slippage on the outturn for 2011, on the income and expenditure side for 2012, or indeed on...

Fiscal Policy (15 Nov 2011)

Michael McGrath: I am sure the Minister will agree that the pattern in recent times from the Department of Finance has been to be overly optimistic in its growth projections. Unfortunately, that is what we have seen. We all hope the projections will not transpire in 2012 and that growth surpasses what it has predicted, but it has predicted a level of growth for the Irish economy in excess of three times...

General Government Debt (15 Nov 2011)

Michael McGrath: Question 32: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the potential impact here of the ongoing Eurozone debt crisis, in particular, on Ireland's prospects to have a successful export-led recovery, on the planned return to the international sovereign debt markets late next year and on Ireland's overall debt sustainability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34883/11]

General Government Debt (15 Nov 2011)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Minister for his response. There appears to be no end to the crisis in the eurozone. The markets do not appear convinced the new Governments in Greece and Italy will deal seriously with the problems being experienced by those countries. Elections are to be held in Spain this weekend and elections are on the horizon in Germany and France. Most people are forming the conclusion...

General Government Debt (15 Nov 2011)

Michael McGrath: 2012.

General Government Debt (15 Nov 2011)

Michael McGrath: Has the Minister received a commitment from the European Central Bank, ECB, that it will use its powers to purchase Irish sovereign debt on the secondary markets in order to ease our passage back into the markets? Does the Minister envisage this will happen in a meaningful way? Given the downgrading of exports by the Irish Exporters Association and, as the Minister has acknowledged, the...

Financial Services Regulation (15 Nov 2011)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Minister. I hope the moral pressure being applied by the Government to Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank will succeed. However, I believe the Minister will accept that is not the full story. The real issue is the wide variation in variable interest rates being charged by the covered institutions. Permanent TSB, for example, reduced its rate to 5.44%. If a new customer manages...

Financial Services Regulation (15 Nov 2011)

Michael McGrath: The problem is that there is no competition in the mortgage market, in effect. The banks do not want to give out mortgages. The Minister has read some of the statistics in this regard. Guaranteed banks are charging in excess of 5% in interest on their mortgage books. That is the real issue. It warrants a policy intervention. The Minister will be aware of a report that was published by...

Fiscal Policy (15 Nov 2011)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Minister. The reason this question was asked is that it is important we put on record the Government's response to the fiscal advisory council's report. The Government was required to establish the fiscal advisory council under the EU-IMF programme. It has not yet been put on a statutory basis but its work is well under way. I happen to agree with the Minister and with the...

Fiscal Policy (15 Nov 2011)

Michael McGrath: When will we see the Bill and when will the fiscal advisory council be placed on a statutory footing?

Bank Guarantee Scheme (15 Nov 2011)

Michael McGrath: Has the Minister sought an extension of the eligible liabilities guarantee beyond the end of 2011? If so, has he had contact with the European authorities on this?

Mortgage Assistance (15 Nov 2011)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Minister. His closing remarks implied that the Government has accepted the recommendations of the Keane report. What is the status of those recommendations? Has the Government formally made the decision to accept in full or in part the recommendations of the Keane report because the Minister referred to progress being made on a number of fronts implementing the recommendations...

Mortgage Assistance (15 Nov 2011)

Michael McGrath: Will the Minister clarify whether he expects that we will have a public announcement by the Government on the mortgage crisis and the Keane report in advance of the budget on 6 December? If there are measures that flow from the report and Government decisions that require a budgetary decision, those would have to be decided upon prior to that date.

Written Answers — Fiscal Advisory Council: Fiscal Advisory Council (15 Nov 2011)

Michael McGrath: Question 125: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the work to date of the Fiscal Advisory Council and if he is satisfied that its composition is sufficiently broad in terms of background and expertise to enable it to fulfil its mandate. [34375/11]

Written Answers — Bank Guarantee Scheme: Bank Guarantee Scheme (15 Nov 2011)

Michael McGrath: Question 145: To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to seek an extension of the eligible liabilities guarantee scheme into 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34587/11]

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (15 Nov 2011)

Michael McGrath: Question 146: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide details of all meetings, including dates and a list of the attendees, that have been held so far between him and/or officials with the European authorities on the renegotiation of the Anglo Irish Bank, Irish Nationwide Building Society and EBS promissory note arrangement; the progress made so far and the current status of the...

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

Michael McGrath: Question 108: To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to change the taxation treatment of redundancy lump sums with particular reference to standard capital superannuation benefit and top slicing relief; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34097/11]