Results 3,721-3,740 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

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

Michael Noonan: The Deputy is referring to the use of the tax relief for patent royalties by a particular company. The relief, which was abolished in Finance Act 2011, provided a tax exemption for income received by an individual or company from a qualifying patent, subject to an annual limit of €5 million, and a tax exemption for distributions paid by a company from tax-exempt patent income, subject to...

Written Answers — Customs and Excise Operations: Customs and Excise Operations (15 Nov 2011)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that no searches of premises under search warrant have been carried out by Revenue's Customs service under the Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2010. The enforcement of controls in respect of products being sold at retail level, including by so-called "Head Shops" is carried out by An Garda Síochána. I am also advised that since the...

Written Answers — Budget Submissions: Budget Submissions (15 Nov 2011)

Michael Noonan: I have received a pre-Budget submission from the organisation concerned. Its contents will be considered in the context of the forthcoming Budget and Finance Bill. As Deputies are aware it would not be appropriate for me to comment in advance of the Budget on possible Budget decisions.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (15 Nov 2011)

Michael Noonan: In the matter of statements being made to the effect that the pension fund levy could lead to a reduction of 10% in the pensions paid from schemes to the retired members of such schemes, I received copies of correspondence issued by the trustees of a certain scheme during the summer indicating that potential reductions of this scale and of a lesser scale were under consideration. I have...

Written Answers — National Pensions Reserve Fund: National Pensions Reserve Fund (15 Nov 2011)

Michael Noonan: The National Pensions Reserve Fund (NPRF) Commission publishes a performance and portfolio update quarterly on the NPRF website www.nprf.ie. For the Deputy's information, the Commission valued the NPRF at €14.9 billion at 30 September 2011. The Directed Portfolio (the part of the Fund which is managed by the Commission on foot of directions from the Minister for Finance) was valued at...

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

Michael Noonan: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that due to the large volume of information requested by the Deputy they are not in a position 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 — EU-IMF Programme: EU-IMF Programme (15 Nov 2011)

Michael Noonan: As the Deputy will be aware, Greece did not proceed with the proposal to hold a referendum on its EU-IMF programme. Ireland's EU-IMF Programme was approved by the Dáil on 15 December 2011. The individual measures within it are subject to Government or Oireachtas approval as appropriate. Ireland's programme is working and this is being increasingly recognised both here and...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (15 Nov 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Deputy will be aware that the topic of financial regulation is a regular feature on the agendas for both ECOFIN Council and meetings of Heads of State and Government. Financial regulation issues have, as the EU has worked to address the financial crisis in recent times, featured even more prominently in our discussions. As the Deputy will also be aware, a comprehensive programme of...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (15 Nov 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Jobs Initiative is about focusing our now more limited resources on measures that offer the greatest potential for expansion and employment creation in the domestic economy. The aim is to target key sectors of the economy that can assist in getting people back to work, providing opportunities for those who have lost their jobs to re-skill and building confidence in order to encourage...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (15 Nov 2011)

Michael Noonan: I would like to advise the Deputy that a comprehensive programme of regulatory reform in the financial sector is already underway at international and EU levels which will have significant implications for the regulation of the different IFSC sectors. My Department is engaging actively in this regulatory reform agenda in relevant international fora, especially at EU level. It is a key...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (15 Nov 2011)

Michael Noonan: The International Financial Corporation (IFC), which is part of the World Bank Group, was established in 1956 to encourage the development of the private sector in developing countries. The IFC's objective is to foster sustainable economic development in developing countries by financing private sector investment, mobilising private capital in local and international financial markets and...

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

Michael Noonan: This is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. I am informed by Revenue that the VAT claims for 2008 were only submitted on 18 May 2010 and that since then correspondence and meetings have been ongoing with the taxpayer and his agent with a view to agreeing the VAT position for 2008. The last submission received from the agent on 8 November 2011 contained new material and a reply issued on...

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

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the only data available in relation to the taxable income of non-residents comes from income tax returns filed in Ireland by those non-resident individuals who have Irish-source income or income derived from working in Ireland. The available data does not distinguish between citizens and non-citizens. The most recent tax year for which figures...

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

Michael Noonan: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that they do not maintain data in relation to the wealth of Irish citizens. However, for the tax year 2008, the number of income earners whose annual gross income exceeded €1 million was 1,040 and the total amount of income tax paid by them was €603 million. For the tax year 2009, the latest year for which the necessary detailed data is...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (15 Nov 2011)

Michael Noonan: In response to the Deputy's question the State Claims Agency Policy Committee currently has two vacancies. These positions have not been advertised to-date and the appointments have not been made. While not directly covered by the Deputy's question, I would draw to his attention the fact that I conducted an expression of interest process (following a public advertisement in April 2011) for...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Remuneration: Banking Sector Remuneration (15 Nov 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Deputy will be aware that directors at the covered institutions, including public interest directors who were nominated by my predecessor, are appointed and remunerated by the respective boards. Accordingly, disclosure of details of their remuneration is covered by various rules and procedures. The two individuals referred to by the Deputy are paid non-pensionable fees, not salary. The...

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

Michael Noonan: Section 13 of Finance Act 2011 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 review, was found to have flaws and would have...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (15 Nov 2011)

Michael Noonan: Neither the Central Bank nor I, as Minister for Finance, have a statutory role in the setting of interest rates charged or paid by financial institutions regulated by the Central Bank. While I want to welcome the decision by the majority of lenders to reduce their standard variable rates following the recent announcement by the ECB, I would encourage all lenders to follow suit. Such a...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (15 Nov 2011)

Michael Noonan: I set out below the rules applying to the opening of a bank account with an Irish bank under Irish anti money laundering legislation. Insofar as the Deputy's question relates to difficulties experienced by emigrants in opening a bank account in other jurisdictions, the applicable rules would depend on the legislation of that jurisdiction. However, Member States of the European Union apply...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (15 Nov 2011)

Michael Noonan: Since my appointment as Minister for Finance on 9 March 2011, the following staff have been appointed to my constituency office: GRADE SALARY SCALE(per annum) Wholetime Equivalent Personal Assistant €43,715 - €56,060 1.00 Executive Officer (EO) €30,516 - €47,975 1.00 Clerical Officer (CO) €23,177 - €37,341 1.00 Clerical Officer (CO) €23,042 - €36,267 0.40 Since my...