Results 7,761-7,780 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Nov 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The position is that the income levy will apply to gross income but excluding social welfare payments and the contributory and non-contributory State pensions. As the Deputy may be aware, an age related exemption threshold for persons aged 65 years and over is being introduced in the Finance Bill. These thresholds will be €20,000 per annum with a provision for double that limit for a...

Written Answers — Public Service Reform: Public Service Reform (27 Nov 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Report of the Task Force on the Public Service, Transforming Public Services was published yesterday. The Report provides an action plan for modernising Ireland's Public Service. The Government also published a major policy statement on Transforming Public Services. This sets out how the recommendations of the Task Force will be implemented. It also contains details of a number of...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Nov 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 66 together. In my Budget Speech I said that despite the need to raise revenues, this Government is committed to maintaining and enhancing pro-employment business tax relief. I announced in the Budget the introduction of a three-year exemption from corporation tax on trading profits and chargeable gains for new companies commencing to trade next year....

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Nov 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As the Deputy is aware, the fuel duty rebate was withdrawn with effect from 1 November 2008 following the ending of a special derogation under the EU Energy Tax Directive 2003. A similar situation affects all member States who had derogations under the Directive. The Department of Transport and other relevant Departments, in conjunction with my Department, examined and considered...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Nov 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the estimated full year yield from an additional one cent increase in excise duty, or 1.215 cent VAT inclusive, in the above products is as follows: Additional Total Revenue (Full Year) fromIncreases of 1c Excise Duty (1.215c VAT Inclusive) Revenue €m (VAT inclusive) Cigarettes (per pack of 20) 2.54 Beer / Stout (per pint) 9.57 Cider...

Written Answers — National Partnership Agreement: National Partnership Agreement (27 Nov 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As the Deputy is aware, the Review and Transitional Agreement 2008-2009 provides for a pay pause of 11 months in the public service from the expiry of the first phase of the first module of Towards 2016 on 30 September 2008 to 31 August 2009. The estimated savings from this pay pause are €175m in 2008 and €470m in 2009. If the pay pause were to be extended by another month there would...

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (27 Nov 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Increments are part of the terms and conditions of most public servants. In accordance with normal industrial relations practices and agreements, any proposal for a change in the present arrangements relating to increments would have to be discussed with the public service unions. If agreement could not be reached on a proposed change, it would be open to the unions to seek third party...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that details of the repayments granted to particular taxpayers are confidential between the Revenue and those taxpayers. However, repayments in respect of mineral oil tax used in the provision of all passenger road transport services under Section 99, Finance Act 1999 (as amended) totalled €23,896,752 during the period 1 January to 30 September...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission publishes a report on the performance of the National Pensions Reserve Fund at the end of each quarter. The report for the third quarter of this year shows that the market value of the Fund at 30 September was €18.7 billion. This represented a return of -17.3% for the first nine months of 2008, reducing the Fund's annualised return since...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that comparable information is not compiled separately in respect of public sector employees and there is, therefore, no statistical basis on which the information requested by the Deputy could be provided.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that as a general rule all vehicles imported permanently into the State must register for Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) purposes within one working day of arrival. This rule applies equally to vehicles imported by EU and non EU persons. In practice, Revenue allows latitude of a maximum of seven days for registration. However, Section 135(a) of the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 155, 157 and 163 together. As part of a fiscal stimulus package, the UK Government reduced their standard VAT rate from 17.5% to 15% on a temporary basis with effect from 1 December 2008 to 31 December 2009. There are no plans to make a similar reduction in the standard VAT rate in Ireland or to reduce the rate to the UK level of 15%. It must be recognised...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The initial application for a Primary Medical Certificate under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994, is made to the Senior Medical Officer of the relevant local Health Service Executive administrative area. If the Primary Medical Certificate has been refused in this case, the named person may appeal the refusal to the Medical Board of Appeal,...

Written Answers — Financial Institutions Support Scheme: Financial Institutions Support Scheme (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As I have emphasised on several occasions, the Scheme imposes very strict conditions to ensure that balance sheet growth is measured and in accordance with prudent banking practice, that risk is properly measured and managed and that the interest of taxpayers are safeguarded. The Scheme itself refers to several particular objectives, including "preventing abuse of the guarantee" and...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I assume the Deputy is referring to the Cycle to Work Scheme that I announced in the Budget and its compatibility with the existing Travel Pass Scheme. There is no prohibition on participating in both schemes in the same tax year. However, employers must be satisfied that the bicycle will be used for cycling to and from work or between workplaces. It should be noted that participation in...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I announced the introduction of the Cycle to Work Scheme in Budget 2009. The purpose of the scheme is to encourage more employees to cycle to and from work, to contribute to lowering carbon emissions, to help reduce traffic congestion, and to improve health and fitness levels. The scheme allows an employer to provide an employee with a bicycle and cycle safety equipment as a benefit of their...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The initial application for a Primary Medical Certificate under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994, is made to the Senior Medical Officer of the relevant local Health Service Executive administrative area. If the Primary Medical Certificate has been refused in this case, the named person may appeal the refusal to the Medical Board of Appeal,...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that traders selling goods at zero rate of VAT to traders in other EU Member States have obligations in relation to verifying the VAT numbers of those traders. This may be done through the EU Internet website to which they have free access. Otherwise, traders leave themselves open to being held liable for the VAT on the goods if the number is...

Written Answers — Financial Services Ombudsman: Financial Services Ombudsman (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Financial Services Ombudsman (FSO) is a statutory body that deals independently with complaints from consumers about their individual dealings with financial service providers that have not been resolved by the providers after they have been through the internal complaints resolution systems of the providers. All personal customers, limited companies with a turnover of €3m or less,...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (2 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that under normal circumstances the person would get a P45 from his employer when his employment ceases. Revenue records indicate that his employer has ceased trading and if the person has encountered difficulties in obtaining the P45, he should contact the Revenue Commissioners as soon as possible and speak to Ms. Mary Donoghue (01-8894885).