Results 7,301-7,320 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Approval of Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Scheme 2008: Motion (17 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am not ruling out other ways forward in the future. I am saying, here and now, that the decision I took in regard to this guarantee was that we seek cash and the presence of directors on the board in securing the public interest. That is the balance struck in this scheme.

Approval of Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Scheme 2008: Motion (17 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: There is a provision in the scheme for establishing a committee to deal with that. Deputy Quinn raised an important point in asking whether I will consult with the leaders of Fine Gael and the Labour Party prior to the selection of the appointees both to the panel and to the remuneration committee. The answer is that I will. I am happy to do so. The strength of the participation in the...

Approval of Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Scheme 2008: Motion (17 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In the grave crisis which the banking system presented on 29 September and in the days leading up to that, the Governor of the Central Bank and the chief executive officer of the Financial Regulator were pillars of strength.

Approval of Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Scheme 2008: Motion (17 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Governor participates in meetings with his colleagues at the European Central Bank. His ongoing liaison with the president and members of the governing bodies is of great importance to the State. There is an issue of continuity in terms of the stability of the financial system. That is very important.

Approval of Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Scheme 2008: Motion (17 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I refer to continuity in terms of the preservation of the stability of the financial system, not the "warts" of the system to which the Deputy made eloquent reference earlier.

Approval of Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Scheme 2008: Motion (17 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Deputy Deenihan asked about the audit process. The auditors are subject to professional supervision and standards of their own. We have provided in the scheme for the appointment of an observer on the audit committee of the relevant institutions.

Approval of Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Scheme 2008: Motion (17 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Deputy Costello asked about the cost of the increased number of staff for the Financial Regulator. There is a formula which apportions the cost between the State and the banking sector. The banking sector makes a contribution to the cost of the regulator under that formula, which is administered by the Central Bank.

Approval of Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Scheme 2008: Motion (17 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I can examine that issue but we might be constrained by the current arrangement and the legislation that provides for it. In reply to Deputy Terence Flanagan, writing up the books in banks is primarily an issue for banks and their auditors. On Deputy Broughan's question, I have ample powers to take the steps he suggests.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The detailed provisions of the car parking levy are currently being finalised and will be included in the Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008, which will be published on 20th November next.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I announced in the Budget 2009 that an Air Travel Tax will come into force in respect of passengers departing from Irish Airports on and from 30 March 2009. The general rate applying will be €10 per passenger, with a lower rate of €2 for shorter air journeys i.e. those up to and including 300 kms. This rate structure is reasonable and I have no plans to change it.

Written Answers — Exchequer Expenditure: Exchequer Expenditure (21 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The following table compares total, current and capital expenditure outturns for 1992, as published in the 1992 Finance Accounts, to 2008 forecast outturn figures published in Budget 2009. The GDP and GNP figures for 1992 are outturn figures published by the Central Statistics Office, while the corresponding estimates for 2008 are as published in Budget 2009. Both sets of figures are...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Much of the capital expenditure from my Department's vote is IT related rather than geographically specific and accordingly it is not possible to account for all capital expenditure from my Department's vote on a county by county basis. Such expenditure includes e-procurement development, grants under the information society fund, capital grants in aid to the Institute of Public...

Written Answers — House Prices: House Prices (21 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The State plays a major role in the housing sector and as I stated in my Budget Speech last week, the Government has invested significantly in housing in recent years. This includes the direct investment by the Exchequer in a number of social and affordable housing schemes, augmented by funding raised by the Housing Finance Agency. Supports are also provided through rent supplement payments...

Written Answers — Credit Institutions Support Scheme: Credit Institutions Support Scheme (21 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Scheme 2008, approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas on 17th October 2008, provides that a covered institution must pay a charge for its guarantee. The aggregate charge for the participating institutions is set at a level that is based on the long-term cost to the Exchequer of providing the guarantee. Current estimates indicate that over the...

Written Answers — Credit Institutions Support Scheme: Credit Institutions Support Scheme (21 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: For the purposes of giving some background on this to the Deputy I would like to point out that early in 2004, the Financial Regulator commenced a survey of institutions' endowment mortgage business. The Financial Regulator wrote to lenders and insurers seeking information on their endowment businesses. The then Chief Executive of the Financial Regulator made a statement on the main...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they are awaiting a completed form NLR (F) 2007 and certificates of bank interest for years ended 31/12/2004 to 2007 (inclusive) from the taxpayer in order to advance the tax refund claim. If the taxpayer forwards the outstanding information direct to Eamon McArdle, Kilkenny Revenue District, Government Offices, Hebron Road, Kilkenny, Tel...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (21 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The breakdown of expenditure incurred to date on the acquisition of properties outside of Dublin under the decentralisation programme is detailed in the following tabular statement. The table does not include approximately €24m expended in respect of furniture, total rent, VAT on fit outs, surveys and fees, per cent for art scheme and other property related miscellaneous expenditure. ...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (21 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and 226 together. The following table sets out the non-property costs incurred by my Department and the agencies under the aegis of my Department. Department/Agency 2005 2006 2007 End June 2008 € € € € Finance 117,669 403,353 220,487 Nil Revenue 65,156 148,521 668,880 22,398 Office of Public Works (OPW) Nil 512 2,703 499 Valuation Office...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (21 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 230 and 231 together. I assume the Deputy is referring to a voluntary early retirement scheme. No such scheme is available to staff in the Civil Service. However, there are other arrangements which make provision for retirement earlier than normal pension age in certain circumstances. Arrangements for cost-neutral early retirement were introduced in 2005...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (21 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: My Department is currently implementing encryption of portable laptop and memory stick electronic data devices. All corporate emails and data can be immediately erased from mobile email devices should such a device be reported lost or stolen. Blackberries are not used by my Department. I am satisfied that all personal information is protected from both external and internal threats. Modern...