Results 6,681-6,700 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Motor Fuels: Motor Fuels (10 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a breakdown of marked diesel seizures by county is not available at present as administrative records are maintained on a regional basis only. Details of seizures of mineral oils by type and value (where appropriate) and region during the period 1 January 2005 to 30 June 2008 are as follows: Laundered Fuel Year Region No. of Seizures...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (10 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy's question may refer to the discussion at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance and the Public Service on 2 July last with representatives of the banking industry and in particular to comments on the German mortgage banking Pfandbriefe model and its Irish equivalent Asset Covered Securities (ACS). As the Deputy may be aware we already have a robust and effective legislative...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (10 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have been informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the average number of customers calling to Revenue House, Blackpool, Cork is three hundred and twenty five per day. This is a new office, combining functions previously based at Sullivan's Quay and at Centre Park Road. There is a total of two hundred and eighty two spaces available to the office. This includes seventeen spaces for the...

Written Answers — Off-Licence Regulations: Off-Licence Regulations (10 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the number of off licences that are currently authorised in the postal districts of Dublin 5 and 13, is 31 and 10 respectively. Details of the number of off-licences that have been issued in the Postal Districts Dublin 5 and Dublin 13 in each of the past five years is: Year to 30-09-03 30-09-04 30-09-05 30-09-06 30-09-07 Dublin 5 21 24 31...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (10 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As I stated in my reply to Dáil Question No. 163, Reference no. 21715/08, on 4th June last, in accordance with the requirements of Article 11 of the Constitution, revenues accruing to the State, including those seized from drug dealers through the functions of the Criminal Assets Bureau, are paid into the Central Fund, from which the Government draws for expenditure on all necessary public...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (10 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I should explain that Nicorette sublingual tablets, Nicorette Inhalers and Nicorette chewing gum are chargeable to VAT at the zero rate. The basis for the zero rating of these products is that they come within paragraph (xiii) of the Second Schedule to the VAT Act 1972 as "medicine of a kind used for human oral consumption". Nicorette chewing gum was zero-rated as the product requires...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (10 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I should explain that the VAT regime for goods and services is governed by EU law with which Irish Law must comply. Under the EU VAT Directive, Member States may retain the zero rates on goods and services which were in place on 1 January 1991, but cannot extend the zero rate to new goods and services. As exercise bikes, exercise equipment and bicycles were not subject to the zero rate on 1...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (10 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy should be aware that matters of road safety are primarily the responsibility of the Minister for Transport. Proposals for new tax reliefs or the extension of existing ones must be seen in the light of the public finances and demands on the Exchequer and, in accordance with long standing practice, are matters to be considered in the context of the annual Budget and Finance Bill process.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (10 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am aware that the Revenue Commissioners have tightened their fiscal control of the construction industry in recent years. Starting in late 2005, Revenue conducted a national campaign of audit and site visits in the industry to establish the levels of tax compliance and to tackle abuse. One of the key problems identified was the fairly common failure to operate the construction industry...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (10 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Public Appointments Service are the main licence holder for recruitment to civil service positions nationwide. A recruitment campaign was advertised in October 2007 to fill permanent clerical positions arising in the Laois / Offaly area. Positions notified to the Public Appointments Service are filled from panels established from this campaign. There are no immediate plans to re-advertise...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (10 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Table gives details of the number of trips per month by air transport made by my predecessor and myself during the period 14 June 2007 to date in 2008. Month> No of Trips July 2007 1 September 2007 1 October 2007 1 November 2007 1 January 2008 3 February 2008 1 March 2008 2 May 2008 1 June 2008 1 to date in July 2008 1 In all but one case (March 2008- €4604), the...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (10 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have no reason to believe that Offices and Agencies under my Department's responsibility comply other than fully with public procurement guidelines. My Department makes it clear through the Government Contracts Committee that public procurement procedures must be complied with in full and maintains regular contact with its agencies and bodies to keep this message to the fore at all times.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Government decision of 8 July in relation to expenditure savings in the remainder of 2008 identifies savings of €82.732m to be delivered across the Finance group of votes. These savings are to be realised in both administrative and programme expenditure and are set out in the table. Revised Estimate 2008 Savings Programme Current Savings Programme Capital Savings Administrative...

Irish Economy: Motion (24 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: This is the Minister of State.

Irish Economy: Motion (24 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to share time with Deputies unknown. No doubt they will disclose themselves in the next few minutes.

Irish Economy: Motion (24 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "commends the Government for: its stewardship of the economy and public finances to date which has meant that Ireland meets the current economic situation from a position of strength and allows Ireland to take advantage of the global economic recovery when it emerges; and its adoption of sensible...

Irish Economy: Motion (24 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy concerned is Deputy M. J. Nolan.

Irish Economy: Motion (24 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: We are in the middle of an acute global financial and economic storm and this country is not immune from its impact. However, let us not lose perspective. During the past five years, we have had an average growth rate of 5.5%, among the highest in the EU. Our Government debt in 2007 fell from 32% to 23% of GNP. We have put more than €15 billion into the National Pension Reserve Fund...

Irish Economy: Motion (24 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have no doubt that over time, housing output will return to more sustainable levels but there is a process of adjustment and it is important that it be allowed to take place. We must remind ourselves that the beneficiaries of falling property prices will be first-time buyers who have found it so difficult to get on the property ladder in recent years.

Irish Economy: Motion (24 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I would like to address some criticism that has been levelled at the Government about its actions in this area. It is the height of hypocrisy for the Opposition to blame the Government for allegedly over heating the property market when it was Fine Gael that did its damnedest to destabilise that market through its half-baked, ill-conceived proposals to reform stamp duty.