Results 7,321-7,340 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The breakdown of the overall savings target of €440 million for 2008 and €1 billion in 2009 was laid before the Dáil on the 10th of July and these details are reproduced in the Appendix to this reply. Specific information on the achievement of these savings in 2008 will have to await the end of the year when provisional outturn figures will first become available. Provisional outturn...

Written Answers — Public Service Appointments: Public Service Appointments (21 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I refer the Deputy to my Budget Statement of last Tuesday, 14 October 2008, where I stated that in regard to public service pay and numbers, we must do more with less: "In this context, the Government has decided to conduct a focused review of public sector numbers in all branches of Government to assess whether the resources are being fully deployed in an efficient and effective manner and...

Written Answers — Public Service Contracts: Public Service Contracts (21 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have not terminated the Government Contracts Committee on Construction (GCCC), which provides very valuable input into strategic policy on construction procurement.

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 237 and 238 together. The percentage of days lost through sickness in my department over the last five years is as follows: Year % absenteeism 2003 3.36% 2004 3.04% 2005 2.47% 2006 3.22% 2007 2.52% These percentages are calculated by reference to the total number of people serving at the end of December each year and the number of working days per year...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 240 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 — EU Directives: EU Directives (21 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law with which Irish VAT law must comply. Under the VAT Directive Member States may only apply the reduced VAT rate to those goods and services which are listed under Annex III of the VAT Directive. While Annex III provides for the reduced rate of VAT to be applied to children's car seats, it does not provide for...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 242 to 244, inclusive, together. The position is that the income levy will be payable on all income up to a ceiling of €100,100 at a rate of 1 per cent, with a rate of 2 per cent applying to income in excess of that ceiling. The provision specifically excludes from the charge any social welfare payments, including the contributory and non-contributory State...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (22 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. The proceeds of the levy will accrue to the Exchequer as tax receipts. Expenditure on public transport building works is provided for in the Estimates for Public Services and the Public Capital Programme.

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (22 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 — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (22 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. While the extent to which car parking is provided in association with Government offices varies, the number of spaces provided is always a fraction of the number of staff serving in the office and there are no...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (22 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the person concerned has been requested to submit details of income from 24/09/2007 to 31/12/2007, once details are received a P21 balancing statement for the year 2007 will issue.

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (22 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a P21 balancing statement for 2007 issued to the person concerned on 27th May 2008. A further copy of that statement reissued on October 20th.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (22 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: A 2% stamp duty which was introduced in 1982 is charged on most non-life insurance premiums and is part of the normal stamp duty system. The exceptions are re-insurance, voluntary health insurance, marine, aviation and transit insurance and export credit insurance. The yield to the Exchequer in the most recent two calendar years was as follows. Year Yield (€m) 2006 88.3 2007 85.4 The...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy refers to proposed cuts to pension tax reliefs but without specific details on the nature of the cuts he has in mind. In Budget 2009, I announced a significant reduction in the annual earnings limit for tax relieved pension contributions from €275,000 to €150,000. This reduced limit will apply for 2009. The annual earnings cap acts, in conjunction with age-related percentage...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (23 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997 allows the Government to appoint up to 2 Special Advisors to my Department. This power has been exercised to appoint Ms Cathy Herbert, special advisor on 7 May 2008. Her annual salary is in the range €92,730 to €114,366.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Budget 2009 provided for an increase in the excise rate on petrol to 50.9 cent per litre and for no change to excise on diesel which remains at 36.8 cent per litre. This means that excise on petrol in Ireland is still substantially lower than the EU 15 average and excise on diesel is also below the EU 15 average. It should also be noted that the excise rates on both fuels are below the rates...

Written Answers — Credit Institutions Support Scheme: Credit Institutions Support Scheme (23 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am satisfied that credit union depositors are very well protected by the Government's decision to increase the statutory limit for the deposit guarantee scheme from €20,000 to €100,000 per depositor for all credit institutions including credit unions with effect from 20 September. This limit covers the vast majority of credit union savers. The Credit Institutions (Financial Support)...

Written Answers — Banking Services: Banking Services (23 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: There is no law or regulation which requires production of a utility bill by a person wishing to act as a signatory for a bank account in the circumstances referred to by the Deputy. Section 32 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1994 requires financial institutions to take reasonable measures to identify their customers. Recommended procedures for the implementation of this provision are set out in...

Written Answers — Credit Institutions Support Scheme: Credit Institutions Support Scheme (23 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy may wish to note that the provisions of the Scheme made under the Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Act, 2008, requires institutions covered by the guarantee in Ireland to confirm their compliance with both the Financial Regulator's Consumer Protection Code (CPC) and the Irish Banking Federation's Code of Practice on Mortgage Arrears. The CPC requires mortgage lenders to...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that inheritances passing to a beneficiary are of a capital nature and as a result are not subject to the income levy.