Results 6,921-6,940 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy will recall that my Department's latest inflation forecasts were published on July 2nd as part of the Technical Update of Current Year Macroeconomic Forecasts. These set out its expectation that CPI inflation would average 4.3 per cent for 2008 as a whole. Since then the ECB announced a quarter percentage point increase in interest rates. Factoring this in would imply a CPI...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As the Deputy will be aware, the determination of interest rate policy is solely a matter for the Governing Council of the European Central Bank, which is independent in these matters. Accordingly, I do not believe it would be appropriate for me to speculate on ECB interest rate movements in 2009 or their impact on the cost of mortgage interest relief for next year. I am informed by the...

Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Order for Second Stage (30 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Second Stage (30 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." This House does not lightly agree to debate emergency legislation of the type that is before us this evening, but when finance, the lifeblood of our economy, is a matter of concern, the House will appreciate that we must move swiftly and decisively. I wish to thank the parties opposite for the co-operation they have extended in regard to this...

Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Second Stage (30 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It was completely different. There was no consideration for the value offered for Waterford Glass. No value was offered.

Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Second Stage (30 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: When I telephoned Deputy Kenny at 7 a.m. this morning and explained to him the circumstances in which the State found itself in regard to financial stability, he responded without hesitation that he would support any measure the Government brought forward. Of course, it is natural and correct that in the course of the day Deputies would express reservations or doubts, or that in the course...

Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Second Stage (30 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Tomorrow.

Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Financial Resolution (30 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I move: That provision be made in the Act giving effect to this Resolution for the imposition of certain commercial or other terms and conditions in respect of financial support that may be provided to credit institutions or subsidiaries.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (30 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: "Apart-hotel" as defined in section 3 of the Valuation Act, 2001 "means one or more apartments, including any ancillary facilities associated with such apartments, which are used for the purposes of hotel-keeping". It is indicated that the Valuation Tribunal has recently given several judgements in relation to the meaning of "apart-hotel" for the purposes of determining the appropriate...

Written Answers — Customs Service: Customs Service (30 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the Customs controls at the location in question are risk-based and are carried out by mobile Customs enforcement staff. Attendance is selective and targeted and is based on analysis and evaluation of national and international seizure trends, traffic frequency, routes and other risk indicators. Attendance can also be as a result of specific...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (30 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that for the purposes of both Gift and Inheritance Tax, the relationship between the person who provides the gift or inheritance and the person who receives the gift or inheritance, determines the maximum tax-free threshold known as the "Group Threshold". The Group threshold applying to a gift or inheritance received by a grandchild from a...

Written Answers — House Prices: House Prices (30 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As Deputies are aware it would not be appropriate for me to comment in advance of the Budget on possible Budget decisions.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (30 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The projected out-turn for 2008 public spending and the estimates for 2009 will be published in the Budget. This will provide relevant information on the implications of changes for the existing levels of service involved.

Written Answers — Civil Service Recruitment: Civil Service Recruitment (30 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: On the 8th of July last, I announced a number of cost saving measures that the Government had decided to implement with immediate effect. These measures included a 3% reduction in the payroll bill of all Departments, State Agencies and Local Authorities, with the exception of certain sectors of the Health and Education areas. To meet this requirement, a range of possible measures were...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (30 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that, as the measure to restrict the use of incentive tax reliefs and exemptions by high earners (section 17 of the Finance Act 2006) came into effect in the tax year 2007, they plan to publish a study on the effectiveness of the restriction, which will look in detail at the use of tax incentives by high earners and their effective tax rates. This...

Written Answers — : (30 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In his 2005 Budget Statement, my predecessor announced that a review of a broad range of tax incentive schemes would be undertaken in 2005. The review process included studies by external consultants Indecon and Goodbody Economic Consultants, as well as internal reviews by officials from the Department of Finance and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, with the involvement of other...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (30 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I would refer the Deputy to the 2008 Public Capital Programme (PCP) which was published on 21 February 2008. The PCP sets out the provisional outturn figures for non-exchequer capital spending for 2007 in Table 4 on pages 104-108, together with the estimates for 2008.

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (30 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The 2008 forecast for health levy receipts is €1,330m — receipts were marginally above profile at end August. The actual health levy receipts for each year since 2002 are as follows: 2007 — €1,298m; 2006 — €1,188m; 2005 — €1,117m; 2004 — €951m; 2003 — €856m; 2002 — €751m.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (30 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy will be aware that in matters relating to the VAT rating of goods and services, I am constrained by the requirements of EU VAT law with which Irish VAT law must comply. In relation to the VAT rate that applies to safety equipment used in sports activity, the position is that under the VAT Directive, Member States may retain the zero rates on goods and services which were in place...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (30 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Government's policy decisions in relation to expenditure on public services in 2009 will be announced in the forthcoming Budget.