Results 7,801-7,820 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (4 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Government recently agreed to undertake a new round of Value for Money and Policy Reviews covering the three year period 2009-2011. Building on our experience from the 2006-2008 round of reviews and also taking account of the OECD's recommendations, we are making a number of improvements to the process. The major changes are as follows: In the 2009-2011 round of reviews there will be a...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (4 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: 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 that our starting point is different from the UK's. We...

Written Answers — National Lottery Funding: National Lottery Funding (4 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Details of Government expenditure part-funded by the proceeds of the National Lottery in the years in question are contained in Appendix 1 of the Revised Estimates for the Public Services for those years. As regards my own Department, an amount of €8.618m under the Charitable Lotteries Scheme was spent in 2006 and 2007. The following table shows the amounts awarded to the Charities under...

Written Answers — Public Service Staff: Public Service Staff (4 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: "A civil servant may only be granted ill-health retirement when the Chief Medical Officer is of the opinion that the officer is incapable on medical grounds of regular and effective service and that the situation is likely to be permanent (Circular 22/2007 refers). In these circumstances, a return to work in the civil service would not be envisaged. Specific provisions apply in the case of...

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I thank the House for this timely debate on the economy. We are in very difficult times. The weakness in tax receipts evident throughout the year has continued and the recently published Exchequer returns show the decline escalated during the month of November, reflecting the magnitude of the domestic and international economic slowdown. We had an Exchequer deficit of approximately €7.9...

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: We need to move away from this shallow criticism and knee-jerk reactions, which are not helpful to our economy and are damaging social cohesion. Our public service has been an essential support for economic progress in Ireland over the years. We need to move forward together on the basis of the facts, and on the basis of a thoughtful analysis of where we need to make progress. We need to...

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: At least 10%.

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I apologise.

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Senator is starting off on a wrong note again.

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: He is damaging this country.

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: No, this is where the problem starts.

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Senator is damaging the country.

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Senator should give the people some hope.

Written Answers — Taxation Policy: Taxation Policy (9 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Taxation strategies in general reflect the political choices made by Governments towards meeting the specific needs and requirements of countries. In this regard, Ireland has focused on achieving a low taxation economy, especially in the area of direct taxation, both income and corporation taxes, which has delivered significant advantages in terms of Ireland's competitiveness. In ensuring a...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (9 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I announced the introduction of the Cycle to Work Scheme in Budget 2009. The aims of the scheme are to help lower carbon emissions, reduce traffic congestion, encourage more employees to cycle to and from work, and improve health and fitness levels. Participation in the scheme is voluntary for employers. As such, it is a matter for employers to decide whether to make the scheme available to...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (9 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that an amended Balancing Statement has been dealt with for the year 2006 and a refund of €660 has arisen. A cheque for this amount will issue to the taxpayer shortly. A refund of all tax paid for the year 2007 was repaid on 26 September 2008.

Written Answers — Non-Resident Accounts: Non-Resident Accounts (9 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Comptroller and Auditor General and Committees of the Houses of the Oireachtas (special Provisions) Bill 1998 was enacted on 16 December 1998. The Comptroller and Auditor General carried out an investigation on the matter and prepared a report in July 1999. This was followed by the Committee of Public Accounts Inquiry. The Revenue Commissioners conducted on-site, DIRT look-back audits...

Written Answers — Financial Institutions Support Scheme: Financial Institutions Support Scheme (9 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In an economy the size of Ireland's it is not unusual that one of the larger financial or legal advisers has to deal with potential conflicts of interest arising from their representation of more than one client in the same sector. I have been assured by Merrill Lynch and Arthur Cox, who are providing financial and legal advice respectively on the banks guarantee scheme, that where potential...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (9 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Any proposed changes in VAT must be considered in the context of EU law, with which Irish law must comply. While Member States can retain the zero rating provisions which they had in existence on 1 January 1991, they cannot introduce any new ones. Since the supply or installation of home insulation materials was not zero-rated in 1991, it is not possible for Ireland to apply a zero rate to...

Written Answers — National Lottery: National Lottery (9 Dec 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Appendix 1 of the Revised Estimates for Public Services for 2004 gives a breakdown by Government Department of expenditure in that year which was funded by the proceeds of the National Lottery while a similar breakdown of expenditure which was part-funded by the proceeds of the National Lottery in the years 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 is given in Appendix 1 of the Revised Estimates for Public...