Results 2,361-2,380 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Moneylender Regulation (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: Operating as an unlicensed moneylender is illegal and it is a matter for the Garda Síochána in the first instance. In regard to the licensed moneylenders, we have ongoing discussions with the regulator and the Central Bank about all the lending institutions. I will raise the issue the Deputy mentioned with the Cental Bank and the regulator.

Moneylender Regulation (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: The APR is set down in regulation and it is always a matter of debate as to whether a particular interest rate is too high, but it is regulated. As Deputy McGrath pointed out, the issue of most concern is not the licensed moneylenders who, by and large, comply with the law, but the unlicensed moneylenders. The best approach to this is to ensure credit unions continue to be a strong part of...

Leaders' Questions (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: Deputy Dooley's party gave the guarantee.

Written Answers — Tax Reliefs: Tax Reliefs (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: The relief from Stamp Duty for farm consolidation expired on 30 June. I understand the level of take up of the scheme was not particularly high: there were only 115 applications for the relief from its introduction in 2005 until the end of 2009; figures for 2010 and 2011 are not yet available. I have no plans at this time to renew this relief.

Written Answers — Corporation Tax Policy: Corporation Tax Policy (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: Taxation in the European Treaties is a sovereign issue for Member States and taxation matters at a European level can only be decided on the basis of unanimity. For this reason, Ireland is aware of the attitude of other Member States, including France, to our corporation tax rate. Corporation tax policy is critical to the Irish economic growth model. The foreign-owned sector is currently...

Written Answers — Public Service Remuneration: Public Service Remuneration (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39, 43 and 45 together. Data on earnings in the public sector is sourced from the Revenue Commissioners and similar data to that sought was supplied in response to Parliamentary Questions, Reference Nos. 2785/2786/2787 and 2788, of 18 January 2011. On the basis of the available tax-based data it is not possible to identify and exclude income from public...

Written Answers — Commercial Property Valuations: Commercial Property Valuations (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 41 together. There are currently 144 staff employed in the Valuation Office which is a statutory Office headed by the Commissioner of Valuation. The Commissioner is responsible for all valuation matters under the Valuation Act 2001. I should point out that the Commissioner is independent under the Act and that I, as Minister for Finance, have no...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Programme for Government states that as part of the Government's fiscal strategy we will maintain the current rates of income tax together with bands and credits. As the Deputy is aware, the Government has initiated a Comprehensive Review of Expenditure (CRE) to provide the Government with a set of decision options to meet the overall fiscal consolidation objectives and re-align spending...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: I have indicated to the House that, consistent with Government policy, I will raise the issue of burden sharing which will allow for the imposition of loses on unguaranteed and unsecured senior bondholders in Anglo and INBS with the IMF and EU authorities in the autumn. The Government will not take any unilateral action in this area, but will work with our external partners to explain our...

Written Answers — Eurozone Contingency Measures: Eurozone Contingency Measures (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: The focus of Government is to work with our partners in the Euro Area and the broader EU to maintain and enhance the stability of the Euro. This is also the aim and intention of the wider international community including the IMF. Our actions support this. Financial support measures were put in place for Greece, and the European Financial Stabilisation Mechanism, (the EFSM), and the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: A number of possible changes to the Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) and Capital Gains Tax (CGT) provisions are under consideration. The Deputy may be aware that the CAT Group tax-free thresholds were reduced by approximately 20% in Budget 2011. The level and timeframe of any changes will be determined in the context of the Budget following the comprehensive expenditure review.

Written Answers — Mortgage Arrears: Mortgage Arrears (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: The revised Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears (CCMA) was issued to all mortgage lenders in December 2010 and has been effective since 1 January 2011. The CCMA sets out how mortgage lenders must treat borrowers in or facing mortgage arrears. The CCMA requires that each lending branch must have at least one person with specific responsibility for dealing with arrears and pre-arrears cases....

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: The EU/IMF Programme provides for a 1% increase in the standard VAT rate to 22% with effect from January 2013, and a further 1% increase in the standard VAT rate to 23% with effect from January 2014. The Programme for Government continues this VAT policy by limiting the top rate of VAT to 23%, but does not specify the timeframe for this increase. The level and timeframe of any increases in...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Remuneration: Banking Sector Remuneration (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: As I stated in my reply to questions on the same subject on 29 June 2011 (Ref. Nos. 17942/11 and 17943/11) the search for a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Allied Irish Banks (AIB) is on-going. I am keen that a successful outcome is achieved shortly as AIB is a fundamental part of the announced Government strategy to restructure the banking sector and any proposed appointee would play a...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: The level and timeframe of any tax changes in the excise area, including in the carbon tax rate, will be determined in the context of the annual Budget cycle.

Written Answers — Mortgage Arrears: Mortgage Arrears (5 Jul 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 — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the information furnished on tax returns does not generally require the yield from a particular sector or sub-sector of economic activity to be identified. In these circumstances the amount of tax revenues relating to works of art cannot be separately identified. There is, therefore, no statistical basis on which the information requested by...

Written Answers — Tax Compliance: Tax Compliance (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: The level and timeframe of any taxation changes in this area will be determined in the context of Budgets over the lifetime of the Government.

Written Answers — National Asset Management Agency: National Asset Management Agency (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: NAMA has a commercial remit and a statutory objective to generate a return for the taxpayer. However, within the context of its commercial remit and consistent with section 2 of the National Asset Management Agency Act 2009, NAMA is at all times open to considering proposals aimed at contributing to broader social and economic objectives. Thus NAMA is open to facilitating the work of public...

Written Answers — Banks Restructuring: Banks Restructuring (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Deputy will appreciate that it is an inevitable, but unfortunate, consequence of the necessary restructuring of the banking system that job losses will arise. Essentially the banks will be smaller operations than previously with the focus being on the creation of the two universal full-service pillar banks with a more domestic remit and a restructured Irish Life & Permanent. My...