Results 6,901-6,920 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Last July, I announced a series of cost saving measures that the Government had decided to introduce to help meet current expenditure pressures. These measures included a 3% cut in the public sector payroll bill for 2009. In my Department, and all other Departments, work is already being undertaken to ensure that the 3% payroll bill reduction is delivered. A range of measures are being...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that voluntary organisations must register for tax if they carry out taxable activities or encounter taxing events. An example would be a voluntary organisation which employs persons under the PAYE/PRSI system or carries on a trade. Such an organisation would have an obligation to register and account for PAYE/PRSI, and VAT, if their turnover...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As I have previously indicated, economic growth for this year is now likely to be significantly less than that forecast at Budget time. At the end of August, taxes were nearly EUR2.8 billion behind target. My Department is closely monitoring overall tax performance in the run-up to the Budget. The weakness in taxes, particularly on VAT, CGT and Stamp Duty receipts, reflect a number of factors...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The VAT treatment of goods and services is governed by EU law with which Irish law must comply. One of the basic tenets of EU VAT law relates to the proper functioning of the internal market. This means that it is not possible to use VAT law to favour artists not resident in this state over artists that are resident in the state. In addition, Article 283 of the EU VAT Directive precludes...

Written Answers — Public Sector Staff: Public Sector Staff (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Last July, I announced that the Department of Health and Children would be drawing up proposals for a targeted scheme to reduce surplus staff in the HSE. A framework for such proposals has recently been received by my Department and this is now being examined. The extension of such proposals to other areas is also being examined.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I take it that the Deputy is referring to small self-administered pension schemes. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that such schemes are a particular type of occupational pension scheme in respect of which special Revenue Commissioners' requirements already apply as regards their approval for tax relief purposes, operation and supervision. The reason for the extra rules is to...

Written Answers — Capital Expenditure: Capital Expenditure (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The development of mental health projects is a matter for the Minister for Health and Children. It is a matter for the Minister for Health and Children to consider proposals for capital expenditure in mental health care and other areas for decision in the context of the annual Estimates.

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: EU Finance Ministers have adopted an extensive roadmap of actions incorporating a work programme aimed at putting in place a comprehensive response to developments in financial markets. This programme includes reviewing along with the EU's international partners how to further improve transparency of complex financial instruments, valuation standards, the prudential framework, risk...

Written Answers — Live Register: Live Register (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In view of the changing global economic environment and the slowing domestic construction sector, the prospects for employment have weakened during 2008. Based on the latest information available at the end of June, my Department published a mid-year technical economic update. At that stage, unemployment was forecast to average 5.8% for the year as a whole. Since then, later data has been...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy's question is concerned with an increase of 5% in the tax rates that currently apply to deposit interest. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that, on the basis of an estimated yield of €525 million from DIRT in 2008, the additional yield would be of the order of €130 million, assuming no behavioural change on the part of depositors.

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In Ireland the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland integrates within a single institutional structure both the supervision of individual financial firms by the Financial Regulator and the monitoring of overall financial stability, which is the independent responsibility of the Governor of the Central Bank. It is important to emphasise that the framework for financial...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: My Department continually monitors the emerging economic position and advises accordingly. But the Deputy will note that economic forecasting is not an exact science and this time last year the vast majority of commentators were not expecting the scale of the slowdown we are currently experiencing. In fact the forecasts produced at Budget time last December were seen as being conservative and...

Written Answers — Price Inflation: Price Inflation (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 95 together. House price inflation was well ahead of the general level of inflation in the economy during the period in question. However, the latest data shows that prices fell 9.9 per cent in the twelve months to August 2008 and that they are around 13 per cent below their peak levels. The Government has in the past implemented measures to bring...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The swift actions by international central banks, including the European Central Bank, to provide major injections of liquidity have contributed to greater stability in financial markets internationally, though they continue to remain subject to significant uncertainties. Agreement on the extensive and far-reaching plans announced recently by the US authorities should help to stabilise...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Net VRT receipts to end of August are €1bn. My Department will publish an updated view on expected tax and Exchequer positions at the end of this quarter. A comprehensive assessment of the fiscal and economic position will be contained in the Budget which will be published on 14 October 2008. As is normal, I will not comment on the contents of the Budget in advance of that date.

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I would remind the Deputy that the Programme for Government is a five year programme, which must be judged over the full five years of this Government, taking account of the health of the public finances. Budget 2008 was the first instalment of the delivery of that programme. However, it is clear that we have now entered a period of lower economic growth than was generally envisaged in the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Section 130 of the Finance Act 1992 defines the various categories of motor vehicle. Three main categories of vehicle are relevant to this query: Category A, cars and minibuses with less than 12 seats; Category B, certain car-derived vans and jeep-derived vans; Category C, certain commercial vehicles, agricultural tractors and minibuses with at least 12 permanently fitted passenger seats. As...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 103 together. The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and Vehicle Registration Tax (up to a certain limit), and exemption from motor tax, on the purchase of an adapted car for transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities. The disability criteria for these...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As the Deputy is aware, inflation in Ireland is measured using the Consumer Price Index (CPI). For EU comparisons, the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) is used. Both measures are comprehensive measures of inflation at the economy level and are widely recognised as such. The main difference between the two is the exclusion of mortgage interest from the HICP. My Department uses both...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: There have been no monies expended or properties purchased in relation to the decentralisation programme of my Department to Tullamore and Kildare during the period 3 July 2008 to date. Since that date two (2) employees have decentralised to Tullamore. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that no monies have been expended or properties purchased under the decentralisation programme...