Results 3,041-3,060 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

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

Michael Noonan: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the law provides for the seizure of motor vehicles in respect of which Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) offences have been committed. Revenue enforcement officers, who are based at numerous locations around the country, carry out regular and on-going checks to identify and deal with breaches of vehicle registration tax legislation. The vast...

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

Michael Noonan: Section 472B of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 is the legislative basis for the seafarers' allowance. Where the section applies, a deduction of €6,350 is available to a qualifying individual, who is resident in the State, against income arising to him or her from a qualifying employment. A qualifying individual must show that he or she was absent from the State for at least 169 days in...

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

Michael Noonan: The particular information sought by the Deputy is not collected by my Department. Generally, information on the age of a candidate is not part of the candidate information that is collected when promotion competitions take place in the Civil Service. Selection for appointment to posts in the Civil Service (both internal and external) is governed by the Codes of Practice set down by the...

Written Answers — EU-IMF Support Programme: EU-IMF Support Programme (29 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: As stated in the reply referenced, the first drawdown under the bilateral loan agreement with the UK is expected to take place shortly. This drawdown will be undertaken by the National Treasury Management Agency. The request for drawdown of the loan is made to the UK authorities on behalf of Ireland by the Minister for Finance. Under the UK loan agreement, the parties to the agreement...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (29 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: I understand that the Deputy is interested in the 'grace period' and its effects. The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009 provided for a period within which pensions are unaffected by the pay cuts introduced in that Act. This 'grace period' was due to expire by the end of 2010. However, it was extended to 29 February 2012 to avoid too large a number of public...

Written Answers — Mortgage Arrears: Mortgage Arrears (29 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: Figures compiled by the Central Bank show that, at the end of June 2011, there were 55,763 private residential mortgages in arrears for more than 90 days. Of the 55,763 mortgage accounts in arrears, because of remortgages, top-ups etc., the actual number of households in arrears is somewhat lower with the Central Bank estimating the household number to be of the order of 45,000. There are a...

Written Answers — Tax Compliance: Tax Compliance (29 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that arrangements are in place to identify recipients of State and occupational pensions. On-going collaboration between Revenue and the Department of Social Protection is aimed at identifying recipients of all types of State pensions. Providers of occupational pensions, which are registered with Revenue as employers, make annual returns that allows...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (29 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: This is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. I am advised by Revenue that for reasons of taxpayer confidentiality and the potential that this information will identify the corporation concerned, it is not in a position to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Central Bank Expenditure: Central Bank Expenditure (29 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 53 together. I am not responsible for expenditure by the Central Bank. However, the Central Bank has advised me in the following terms: The Central Bank does not have a specific entertainment budget. Based on available records the following estimated costs reflect expenses not directly related to business operations. These estimated costs include a...

Written Answers — Tax Reliefs: Tax Reliefs (29 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: Section 473A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides, subject to certain conditions, tax relief at the standard rate of income tax (20%) as regards qualifying fees paid by an individual in respect of a third level education course including a postgraduate course. Qualifying fees means tuition fees in respect of an approved course at an approved college and includes what is referred...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (29 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: I accept that it is not in the interest of Ireland Inc. to have these jobs outsourced. However, the Government operates at arms length from the institution referred to in the Deputy's question and does not consider it appropriate to direct a bank in how it should reduce its costs.

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (29 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Deputy will appreciate that the protection of the public interest is of primary concern of this Government and steps taken in relation to banking policy have the ultimate aim of protecting that interest. In particular I refer to the areas of the bank guarantee, recapitalization, mortgage assistance, bank remuneration and board membership. The Exchequer, and as such the taxpayer, has...

Written Answers — Copyright Law: Copyright Law (29 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: The copyright of the designs on Irish coins, including the national face of euro coins issued by Ireland, vests in the Minister for Finance under the Copyright and Related Rights Act, 2000. Accordingly, any person wishing to use these designs requires the permission of the Minister for Finance. Permission was not sought by the company referred to by the Deputy. This matter is being pursued.

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (29 Sep 2011)

Michael Noonan: In response to the Deputy's question each Department hold details in respect of board memberships in relation to boards that come under their aegis. Details of those appointed and their remuneration arrangements are held by the individual Departments. With regard to my own Department the following tables contain details of board members and their remuneration. National Treasury Management...

Written Answers — Balance of Payments Statistics: Balance of Payments Statistics (4 Oct 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Central Statistics Office is responsible for the production of statistics relating to the Balance of Payments. It should be noted that there are discontinuities in the balance of payments series and that the data from 1998 onwards are not comparable with the old series because of greater enterprise coverage and a radically different compilation methodology. From 1998 onwards a financial...

Written Answers — Flood Insurance: Flood Insurance (4 Oct 2011)

Michael Noonan: There are no plans to introduce the type of Government backed insurance scheme outlined by the Deputy. The possible introduction of a scheme to protect householders who cannot obtain flood insurance from regular insurance companies was examined in 2010. However, the Government concluded at that time that such an approach was not financially viable. In particular there were concerns that,...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Remuneration: Banking Sector Remuneration (4 Oct 2011)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 191 together. I have explained to the Deputy in my reply to his questions of 22 September 2011 (Refs. 25523/11 & 25550/11) the current position on the remuneration review and severance arrangements. The object of the review, which is presently being conducted by my Department, is to thoroughly review all remuneration practices at the covered...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (4 Oct 2011)

Michael Noonan: It has not proved possible to provide a detailed reply on this matter within the timeframe for answering Parliamentary Questions. Accordingly, the Deputy will be contacted directly on this issue at an early date.

Written Answers — Financial Institutions Recapitalisation: Financial Institutions Recapitalisation (4 Oct 2011)

Michael Noonan: There are promissory notes in Anglo (€25.3 billion ) and INBS (€5.3 billion) and in EBS (€0.25 billion). As Anglo and INBS have similar terms I will provide the information for them together and separately deal with EBS. The promissory notes were issued in various tranches with different interest rates (four tranches for Anglo and 2 tranches for INBS). The total interest cost for the...

Written Answers — Financial Institutions Regulation: Financial Institutions Regulation (4 Oct 2011)

Michael Noonan: The loan to deposit ratios for AIB, Bank of Ireland and Irish Life & Permanent are 143%, 172% and 227% respectively at 30 June 2011. These figures are sourced from the interim reports for each of the banks, all of which are available on the companies' websites, and which include information on any assumptions made in calculating the ratios, including line items specific to each institution....