Results 2,241-2,260 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Written Answers — Banks Recapitalisation: Banks Recapitalisation (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: At the outset I do not believe it is useful to characterise the intensive dialogue and engagement between the Irish authorities and its external partners, including the ECB, in the type of terms included in the Deputy's question. Inevitably the issues that we discuss with the troika relating to the design and implementation of the Programme of Financial Support are often complex and...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: As provided for in the Finance (No. 2) Act 2011, a second reduced VAT rate of 9% is to be introduced on a temporary basis in respect of certain services and goods mainly related to tourism for the period 1 July 2011 to end 2013. Specifically the 9% rate will apply to restaurant and catering services; hotel and holiday accommodation; various entertainment services such as admissions to...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Deputy will be aware that earlier this month I had written to representative bodies of the pensions industry with whom I had met on the pension fund levy issue, outlining my contention that the cost of the levy be absorbed by a reduction in the fees and charges made by their members. I have received a response from one of the representative bodies concerned. The response indicates that...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: As the Deputy is aware, the Government is committed to a wide-ranging agenda of reform in relation to its budgetary architecture, including the establishment of a Fiscal Advisory Council. The commitment is set out both in the Programme for Government and the Joint EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland. Details of the arrangements being put in place in relation to the Fiscal...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: Since 1 May 2011 a Cabinet Minister with the exception of Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Law Reform now use their own cars on official business. All Ministers are now paid for official mileage up to 96,540 kilometres [or 60,000 miles] per annum. Ministers of State have used their own cars on official business since 1984. The travel rates payable depend on the car engine...

Written Answers — Credit Availability: Credit Availability (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: In relation to the general question of access to finance for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), I am very conscious of the difficulties that are being faced by Irish businesses in this regard. Support for the investments of SMEs is an operational priority for the European Investment Bank (EIB). To that end, the EIB signed loan agreements in 2009 with AIB and Bank of Ireland for €100...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 106 together. I cannot say what impact the pension fund levy will have on individual funds or schemes, as this depends on whether and to what extent pension fund trustees and Life Offices decide to pass on the levy to individual members, given the particular circumstances of the pension funds or pension plans that they are responsible for. In that...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: As I said at the time, the measures announced in the Jobs Initiative represent the first steps by this government to increase competitiveness in important sectors in the economy and to improve the functioning of our labour market. As the Deputy will appreciate, given the high level of uncertainty that continues to surround the outlook, it is very difficult to quantify the exact number of jobs...

Written Answers — Bank Guarantee Scheme: Bank Guarantee Scheme (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 109 together. As I informed this House last week, when a bank issues a bond, whether by private placement or public issue, it would be usual practice for a securities depository company, such as Clearstream and Euroclear, to purchase the bond on behalf of their customers. The bond issuer will likely have little knowledge of the original owners of the...

Written Answers — Bilateral Loan Facilities: Bilateral Loan Facilities (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: The bilateral loan element of the EU –IMF programme of financial support will be provided by three EU Member States – the United Kingdom providing approximately €3.8 billion, Sweden €0.6 billion and Denmark €0.4 billion. All bilateral loans will be provided subject to the conditions of the Memorandum of Understanding agreed with the EU/ECB/IMF. At this point, no funds have yet...

Written Answers — Bank Guarantee Scheme: Bank Guarantee Scheme (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Central Bank of Ireland has advised me that the dates of maturity and the total aggregate amounts for secured, unsecured and subordinated debt due to be repaid by the covered institutions is as follows: The Central Bank of Ireland has advised me that the dates of maturity and the total aggregate amounts for secured, unsecured and subordinated debt due to be repaid by the covered...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: I understand that the Deputy is referring to Parliamentary Question No. 91 answered on 1 June 2011. At the outset let me say that the reply given to the Deputy's question on 1 June was given by me and not my Officials. As far as my Officials attendance at Parliamentary Committees is concerned, let me assure the Deputy that it is not official policy to withhold information. I will repeat...

Written Answers — Public Private Partnerships: Public Private Partnerships (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: The overriding concern for state procuring authorities in all contract negotiations is to ensure value for money and these procurements are conducted strictly under EU procurement directives and regulations. The state does not enter into PPPs unless it can be clearly demonstrated that they provide value for money and there are a number of specific tests throughout the procurement and tender...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: I assume the Deputy is referring to Section 13 of Finance Act 2011, which provided for income tax relief at the standard rate for expenditure incurred by individuals on a range of works carried out to improve the energy efficiency of residential premises situated in the State. The underpinning legislation for the scheme was subject to Commencement Order. However, that legislation, on...

Written Answers — Professional Fees: Professional Fees (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Government is committed to improving the competitiveness of the economy. In this regard the Government in the EU/IMF Programme is removing restrictions as follows: - in the legal profession, establishing an independent regulator for the profession and implementing recommendations of the Legal Costs Working Group and outstanding Competition Authority recommendations to reduce legal costs....

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: Following the Government Decision (S180/20/10/1333) to cap the salaries of senior public servants and CEOs of commercial State companies, Secretaries General of Government Departments have agreed to reduce their salaries to €200,000 by voluntarily waiving a portion of their salary. The current rates of pay in respect of Secretaries General in each Government Department are set out in the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: The total number of Personal Fund Threshold applications received to date is 1,200. The majority of these were received in the first week in June and as each case has to be examined individually to ascertain the correct PFT amount, the information requested in relation to all the applications is not available at this stage. Revenue officials are working through the applications in order of...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: Secretaries General may, subject to Government decision, benefit from added years at the conclusion of their period of service, under the provisions of sections 6 and 7 of the Superannuation and Pensions Act 1963. The number of added years cannot exceed the lesser of 10 years, or the number of extra years he or she would have served if he or she had been allowed to serve to age 65, subject...

Written Answers — Civil Service Staff: Civil Service Staff (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: Because of the volume of grades within the civil service, comprising general service grades, grades common to two or more Departments and grades specific to one Department/Office only, it is not practical to list each of the grades, and relevant pay scales in my reply. I am confining my reply to some of the most common grades. Copies of pay circulars are published on the Departmental...

Written Answers — Employment Control Frameworks: Employment Control Frameworks (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Noonan: The table below sets out the end-2011 Employment Control Frameworks for all Government Departments and Offices as determined in December 2010. These figures will fall to be revised for a number of technical reasons as well as to reflect Transfers of Functions and the creation of new Departments. As soon as this information is available full details (out to 2014) will be published on the...