Results 7,721-7,740 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Playgrounds (3 Feb 2015)

Michael McGrath: 542. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if it is open to schools to apply for one off funding for developing a play space facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4896/15]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (3 Feb 2015)

Michael McGrath: 616. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of plans for increasing the M7 to three lanes at Naas, County Kildare; his views that such an investment would improve the value of the National Asset Management Agency's site at Millennium Park, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4325/15]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Policy (3 Feb 2015)

Michael McGrath: 620. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the finalisation of the national aviation policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4445/15]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Service Obligation Services (3 Feb 2015)

Michael McGrath: 621. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost to the Exchequer of the PSO route between County Kerry and Dublin for 2012, 2013 and 2014. [4446/15]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (3 Feb 2015)

Michael McGrath: 636. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason CIE Tours International is selling tours to the UK from the US; the way the company is managing its foreign exchange risk if it is accepting bookings in US dollars and is paying suppliers in UK sterling; if this is a profitable business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4846/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: NAMA Operations (4 Feb 2015)

Michael McGrath: 1. To ask the Minister for Finance when the National Asset Management Agency will wind up its operations; if he will provide an estimate of the financial outturn for the taxpayer from NAMA; if he envisages any further role for NAMA in the medium term beyond its current mandate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4823/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: NAMA Operations (4 Feb 2015)

Michael McGrath: The purpose of this question is to establish when the Minister expects the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA, to wind up its operations, the current estimate of the financial outturn from NAMA and whether he envisages any further role for NAMA beyond its current mandate and perhaps beyond its current expected lifespan.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: NAMA Operations (4 Feb 2015)

Michael McGrath: I welcome the fact that it appears that the contingent liability which the State is carrying in respect of NAMA will not now be required because it appears NAMA will at least break even and hopefully generate a surplus for the Exchequer over time. When, in the Minister's view, can we expect that NAMA will have concluded its operations? NAMA's chairperson indicated that it hopes to have...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: NAMA Operations (4 Feb 2015)

Michael McGrath: As the Minister knows, about 90% of what NAMA has sold has been bought by US private equity funds. Their intentions in the medium term for the assets they have acquired from NAMA remains to be seen. Will the Minister speak about reports that NAMA is preparing to sell €8 billion worth of loans? If such a large tranche is sold, the loans could be bought by foreign investors, which...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Debt Restructuring (4 Feb 2015)

Michael McGrath: That is the Labour Party.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gambling Legislation (4 Feb 2015)

Michael McGrath: 4. To ask the Minister for Finance the reason for the delay in extending the 1% betting duty to online gambling; when the duty will be applied to bets placed online; the estimated amount that will be raised on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4824/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gambling Legislation (4 Feb 2015)

Michael McGrath: This question relates to the ongoing delays in implementing the Betting (Amendment) Bill 2013, in particular, the 1% levy on online gambling. The continuing delays in implementing that levy are costing the State a lot of revenue. It is estimated that €5 billion of bets have been placed online over the past three years escaping the 1% levy, which has cost us approximately €50...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gambling Legislation (4 Feb 2015)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Minister for his reply. I am glad that this issue is finally progressing and I hope that we can get it over the line on this occasion. The extension of the 1% levy to online gambling was first provided for in the Finance Act 2011, subject to a licensing regime. Then there was a Betting (Amendment) Bill in 2012, as the Minister indicated, a subsequent one in 2013, and the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gambling Legislation (4 Feb 2015)

Michael McGrath: Have the other issues, such as the prosecution and enforcement issues and the technical issues around the implementation of this levy on online gambling, been overcome by the Revenue and the Department? As far as the Minister is aware, will we be in a position once the Bill is enacted to commence the collection of this revenue? Fundamentally, that is the question we need answered. As...

Other Questions: Mortgage Lending (4 Feb 2015)

Michael McGrath: 9. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on whether the new rules introduced by the Central Bank of Ireland requiring a 20% deposit for non-first time buyers will result in many homeowners finding it impossible to move on to a new home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4670/15]

Other Questions: Mortgage Lending (4 Feb 2015)

Michael McGrath: This question relates to the new mortgage rules introduced by the Central Bank recently and seeks the views of the Minister on their impact on, in particular, non-first time buyers who will now be subject to a 20% deposit requirement in, at least, 85% of cases. What is the Minister's view of the impact of this onerous requirement on those seeking to trade up or move home by virtue of finding...

Other Questions: Mortgage Lending (4 Feb 2015)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Minister for clarifying the matter. I do not have any difficulty with the loan-to-income ratios. It is a better measure of the affordability of a mortgage because it measures someone's capacity to service a mortgage on a monthly basis. The Central Bank has got that one right. On the issue of the 15% wriggle room the banks have, what they have told me privately is that they...

Other Questions: Mortgage Lending (4 Feb 2015)

Michael McGrath: I welcome regulation as some rules are absolutely needed. I welcome their introduction. The debate is really about the detail. The Central Bank has got it right largely for first-time buyers. On the sliding scale a first-time buyer buying a house worth €400,000 will be required to come up with a 15% deposit, which is a lot. In Dublin many properties for first-time buyers will...

Other Questions: Mortgage Lending (4 Feb 2015)

Michael McGrath: The Central Bank has claimed it has nothing to do with it.

Consumer Protection (Regulation of Credit Servicing Firms) Bill 2015: Second Stage (4 Feb 2015)

Michael McGrath: I can proceed.