Results 5,061-5,080 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (21 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: There is no provision by which the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal can issue a primary medical certificate without reviewing the appellant although s/he can reapply locally after six months from the date of the first review with medical evidence of a deterioration in his/ her condition. I understand from the Chairperson of the Medical Board of Appeal, (which is independent in the...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (21 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Central Bank that they do not have specific information in relation to the provision or refusal of student loans. The decision on whether or not to grant a loan to a student must remain a commercial decision for individual lending institutions. It is important that each lending institution is allowed to assess properly and independently the individual risks that it is...

Written Answers — Budget 2012: Budget 2012 (21 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: I am aware of the publication "Distributional Impact of Tax, Welfare and Public Section Pay Policies: 2009-2012" by the ESRI which assesses the distributional impact of budgetary measures undertaken in response to the economic crisis. I believe it is misleading to measure the impact of a single Budget in isolation without any regard to preceding Budgets or Budgets yet to come. The ESRI...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (21 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that a person who purchases a second-hand wheelchair accessible vehicle from an authorised dealer and who qualifies to avail of the Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme is entitled to claim relief in respect of Value Added Tax (VAT), Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) or residual VRT borne, subject to a maximum limit of €9,525 in respect of a...

Written Answers — Motor Vehicle Registration: Motor Vehicle Registration (21 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that VRT is due and payable at the time of registration of a vehicle. Prior to 2011, VRT was charged on the registration of a motor caravan (of not more than 3,000 kilograms unladen weight) at a flat rate of €50. With effect from 1st January 2011, VRT is charged on the registration of a motor caravan at the rate of 13.3% of the tax and duty...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (21 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: I understand that the question relates to the transfer of Irish pension funds abroad. The transfer of an occupational pension scheme member's pension fund benefits or a PRSA contributor's PRSA assets to an overseas arrangement is permitted subject to the transfer complying with the Department of Social Protection's "Occupational Pension Schemes and Personal Retirement Savings Accounts...

Written Answers — Motor Fuels: Motor Fuels (21 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: A fuel rebate system could not under EU law be restricted to Irish licenced hauliers but would have to be extended to all vehcles intended exclusively for the carriage of goods by road with a maximum permissable gross laden weight of not less than 7.5 tonnes. In addition, the rebate would have to include the carriage of passengers by a motor vehicle of category M2 or category M3 as defined in...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: The position is that a review of the Universal Social Charge (USC) was conducted by officals from my Department, with the assistance of Revenue officials, in advance of Budget 2012. This review fulfilled the commitment contained in the Programme for Government. Following the review, I decided to increase the exemption threshold for the USC from €4,004 to €10,036 per annum for 2012....

Written Answers — Credit Unions: Credit Unions (21 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: I can confirm that Mr. Luke Charleton of Ernst and Young was appointed as Special Manager of Newbridge Credit Union by the High Court on 13 January 2012. The High Court reduced the hourly rate of fees payable to the Special Manager to €375 on 10th February 2012. The fees payable to his team were reduced on a pro-rata basis. The number of people working with the Special Manager will vary...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (21 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: As the Deputy is aware, I have indicated that I am committed to reviewing the approach to the Promissory notes with a view to reducing the overall cost to the State of correcting the banking system. The Troika have agreed to engage in a process with Irish Officials to produce a common paper which will consider options for re-engineering the notes in terms of the maturity of the notes, the...

Written Answers — Motor Vehicle Registration: Motor Vehicle Registration (21 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that VRT is calculated on the basis of the Open Market Selling Price (OMSP) of a vehicle, which is defined as the price the vehicle might reasonably be expected to fetch on a first arm's length sale thereof in the State. The OMSP is determined by reference to the vehicle model, level of CO2 emissions, age, mileage, condition and any special features...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (21 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72 and 89 together. The lending institutions in Ireland, including those in which the State has a significant shareholding, are independent commercial entities. Ultimately the pricing of financial products, including standard variable mortgage interest rates, is a commercial decision for the management team and board of each lending institution, having due...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (21 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 74 together. The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (Council) was established on a non-statutory basis in July 2011. Under the EU/IMF Programme, legislation to establish the Council on a statutory basis must be published by the end of June 2012. As a non-statutory body, the Council is not yet in a position to employ staff directly. The current secretariat...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (21 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: The details requested by the Deputy are contained in the following table: Name of Body Financial Services Ombudsman Council Irish Financial Services Appeals Tribunal National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission National Treasury Management Agency Advisory Committee National Asset Management Agency NewERA and the Strategic Investment Fund...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (21 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: In the period in question the Minister of State in the Office of Public Works (OPW) came under the aegis of my Department. The OPW have provided me with the following details in respect of the Minister of State for the period in question. Motor Mileage paid by the Office of Public Works to Ministers of State from 2005 to 2010 Minister of State Year Kms Claimed Total paid € Tom Parlon...

Written Answers — Universal Social Charge: Universal Social Charge (21 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners, that the person concerned is exempt from the Universal Social Charge (USC) for 2012. A revised tax credit and USC certificate will issue to the person concerned and to the former employer of their spouse in the next few days. Following receipt of the certificate, the amount of the charge deducted since 1 January 2012 should be refunded on...

Written Answers — VAT Rates: VAT Rates (21 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: VAT is charged on the supply of goods and services at different VAT rates, which are subject to the requirements of EU VAT law. The supply of gas and electricity is specified in paragraph 17 of Schedule 3 of the Value-Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010. Goods and services specified in paragraph 17 of Schedule 3 are liable at 13.5%. It is possible for Ireland to apply the 13.5% reduced rate...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (21 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: Currently there is no regime in place targeting specifically, the authorization and supervision of businesses labeled "bill payment", "debt management" or "debt advice". Depending on the exact business model undertaken by a firm, it may or may not be subject to regulation by the Central Bank. The Central Bank has advised me that, following the failure of a firm in mid-2011, the Bank...

Written Answers — National Assets Management Agency: National Assets Management Agency (21 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: NAMA has no employees. All personnel are employed by the NTMA and the salary cost of staff who are engaged in the NAMA business is recharged to NAMA by the NTMA. The number of employees of the NTMA directly engaged as NAMA officers at the end of 2010 was 104 and, as set out in the National Asset Management Annual Report and Financial Statements 2010, which is posted on the NAMA website,...

Written Answers — National Assets Management Agency: National Assets Management Agency (21 Mar 2012)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by NAMA that through National Asset Loan Management Limited it has obtained judgment in 10 cases to date that it has initiated as plaintiff since it was established. All are High Court judgments. Judgments have also been obtained by participating institutions in cases which they are managing on NAMA's behalf and in proceedings that issued in the name of the participating...