Results 7,321-7,340 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Central Bank of Ireland Investigations (26 Nov 2014)

Michael McGrath: 58. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide a list of all fines greater than €100,000 imposed by the Central Bank of Ireland on financial institutions over the past six years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45548/14]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Credits (26 Nov 2014)

Michael McGrath: 59. To ask the Minister for Finance the cost of extending the home carer's tax credit to cohabiting couples with dependent children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45549/14]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector Remuneration (26 Nov 2014)

Michael McGrath: 60. To ask the Minister for Finance the status of AIB's request to be allowed to change policy in relation to paying bonuses to staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45550/14]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Ireland Strategic Investment Fund Investments (26 Nov 2014)

Michael McGrath: 61. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide a list of the investments undertaken by the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund to date in 2014; the level of employment supported; the cash balance currently within the discretionary portfolio of the NPRF; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45551/14]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Arrears Rate (26 Nov 2014)

Michael McGrath: 62. To ask the Minister for Finance if a person in mortgage arrears who has the arrears capitalised as part of an arrangement with their bank will no longer appear on the Central Bank of Ireland and his Department's statistics as being in arrears; his views that this gives a potentially misleading picture of the true nature of mortgage difficulties in the country; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Commercial Rates (26 Nov 2014)

Michael McGrath: 65. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the application of local authority rates to playschool facilities; his plans to introduce a legislation change in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45533/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: International Education (26 Nov 2014)

Michael McGrath: 135. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to press ahead with the regulatory reform for the international student sector in January 2015; if the impact on the sector has been assessed by her Department; the consultation that has taken place with the sector on the proposals; if her Department has estimated the number of private colleges which will close as a result of these...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (26 Nov 2014)

Michael McGrath: 136. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if households will have to verify that they have paid water charges in order to receive the €100 payment from her Department; the way this will be done; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45540/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (26 Nov 2014)

Michael McGrath: 137. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if households currently paying water charges as part of a group water scheme will be eligible for the €100 payment from the Department of Social Protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45541/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (26 Nov 2014)

Michael McGrath: 138. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce legislation in respect of the €100 payment to offset water charges or if it will be done by means of regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45542/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mortgage to Rent Scheme Application Numbers (26 Nov 2014)

Michael McGrath: 158. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of mortgage to rent applications outstanding; his plans to reform the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45547/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates (26 Nov 2014)

Michael McGrath: 159. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his estimate of the payment rate for commercial water rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45553/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates (26 Nov 2014)

Michael McGrath: 160. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of commercial water charges levied by each local authority in 2013; the amount of outstanding water charges taken on by Irish Water broken down by local authority; the amount written off in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45554/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of Banking Sector: Central Bank (26 Nov 2014)

Michael McGrath: I welcome the Governor, Professor Honohan, today. I thank him for his response to the detailed information sought by the committee and his ongoing co-operation. I will begin with the issue of standard variable interest rates for mortgage holders, which the Governor dealt with in the early part of his opening statement. I get the impression from what the Governor said that he believes rates...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of Banking Sector: Central Bank (26 Nov 2014)

Michael McGrath: The 300,000 or so standard variable rate customers in the system whose mortgages are with the main banks are paying an interest rate that the Governor regards as high at 4% to 4.5% in the majority of cases when the banks' cost of funds typically lies between 1% and 2%. The banks are taking advantage of and exploiting those customers. The banks clearly have a major problem with tracker...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of Banking Sector: Central Bank (26 Nov 2014)

Michael McGrath: Why are the variable rates in Ireland so out of line with the euro area average? Professor Honohan indicated that he would correct the way in which the data on the official retail statistics were presented so as to reflect more accurately the advertised rates that banks were charging customers. Why is it that the euro area average for a mortgage is approximately 2.5% while we are much higher?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of Banking Sector: Central Bank (26 Nov 2014)

Michael McGrath: It is not 2% higher.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of Banking Sector: Central Bank (26 Nov 2014)

Michael McGrath: I wish to refer to the Governor's proposed new mortgage rules on the loan-to-value, LTV, and loan-to-income, LTI, ratios. They are out for public consultation. Clearly, some new rules are on the way, whether they are along the exact lines of what has been published or a variation thereof. When will the new rules come into effect?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of Banking Sector: Central Bank (26 Nov 2014)

Michael McGrath: The main criticism that could be made is that a young couple or person who is starting out and trying to take out a first mortgage to buy a home might pay €300,000, particularly in the Dublin area. At a time when that person is renting in the private market where rents are rising substantially, it is exceptionally difficult to have to save up for a deposit, let alone a 20% one of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of Banking Sector: Central Bank (26 Nov 2014)

Michael McGrath: My final question in the limited time available to me is on the proposal for a mortgage indemnity guarantee or mortgage insurance. What role could it play in meeting part of the minimum deposit requirement that is being set out by the Central Bank? As soon as the Governor made his proposals public, the Government seemed to float the idea of the mortgage indemnity guarantee, perhaps as a way...