Results 8,361-8,380 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the relevant information available on the cost to the Exchequer of each of the property based tax reliefs is based on personal income tax returns filed by non-PAYE taxpayers and corporation tax returns filed by companies for the years 2005 and 2006, the latest years for which this information is available. These are as set out in the following...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 104 together. As part of the work on the Green Paper on Pensions, a review was carried out into the current regime of tax incentives for supplementary pension provision. This was done with a view to developing more comprehensive and reliable estimates of the cost of reliefs in this area. Arising from the review, the following revised and up-to-date...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Remuneration: Banking Sector Remuneration (5 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Under the provisions of Section 20 of the Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Act 2009, I as Minister for Finance or my nominee appointed under the Act, may with the consent of the Central Bank appoint directors, other officers and employees to Anglo Irish Bank. Any such appointees shall hold office for such duration and upon such terms and conditions as I or my nominee may determine. My functions...

Written Answers — National Debt: National Debt (5 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The National Treasury Management Agency have advised me that the expected cost of financing the national debt in 2009 is estimated at €4,500 million, which represents an increase of €2,401 million on that for 2008. The reasons for this increase are: the costs of funding the now larger Exchequer deficits for 2008 and 2009; higher interest rates on Government bonds; and timing differences...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (5 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As Minister for Finance I have statutory responsibility for civil service pensions. Statutory responsibility for public service pension schemes outside the civil service rests with relevant Ministers in other Departments as appropriate. My colleague, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs is responsible for the PRSI categories of specific groups of public servants and for the aggregate...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Remuneration: Banking Sector Remuneration (5 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The salaries, bonuses and pension arrangements for the Chairman, Chief Executive, non-executive and executive Directors of Anglo Irish Bank for the years 2006 and 2007 are available in Anglo Irish Bank's Annual Reports, which are available on the bank's website. I expect the Annual Report for 2008 to be posted on the website before the end of this month. As I announced on 20th January in my...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Appointments to the board of a State Body are generally made by the Minister with responsibility for the Body in question, usually subject to the consent of the Minister for Finance. Renewals of appointments are handled on a similar basis. The arrangements for such appointments are normally set out in the legislation establishing the State Body. The Code of Practice for the Governance of...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy will be aware that a revised VRT system for Category A vehicles was announced in Budget 2008 and came into effect on 1 July 2008. I have no plans to change the criteria in relation to the VRT categories at this time.

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the breakdown of drug seizures by Revenue Customs officers at Shannon Airport in 2007 and 2008 requested by the Deputy is: In 2007 there were 45 seizures. Drug Amount Street Value â'¬ Heroin 15 grams 3,050 Ecstasy Tablets 199 tablets 1,990 Amphetamine 3 grams 45 LSD 5 tablets 50 Cannabis 168 grams 745 Khat 50 kilos 100,000 In 2008...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is not clear which bodies the Deputy has precisely in mind. If it is non-commercial semi-state bodies there are 117 of these with spending of Euro 6 billion, almost Euro 4 billion of which is accounted for by the Higher Education Authority, the National Roads Authority, and FÁS. There are also many other bodies that he may be referring to such as hospitals (there are 53 in the HSE's...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The broad purpose of the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) 1997 as amended in 2003, is to enable citizens to obtain access to official information to the greatest extent possible consistent with the public interest and the right to privacy. As Minister for Finance I am responsible under section 15(5) of the Freedom of Information Act for ensuring that appropriate measures are taken by public...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: My Department received 180 requests in 2008. Of these, 123 were "part-granted" and 10 were refused. Five of those 133 requests (74% of total received) were appealed to the Information Commissioner. In one case a settlement was reached. My Department's position on two other appeals was upheld and there are two cases pending.

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: A decision to refuse a Freedom of Information (FOI) request can only be made on the basis that the information is exempt or the refusal of the information is allowed under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 1997, as amended in 2003. In view of this, it is not accurate to suggest that a decision maker can wrongfully refuse a request as any such refusal must be based in law. If...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As the Deputy is aware PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) were commissioned by the Financial Regulator to review the loan books and the capital position of six of the covered institutions as at 30th September 2008. The terms of reference did not specifically cover loans to directors. PwC's work concentrated on a review of the top exposures which did not specifically include any loans to directors....

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Anglo Irish Bank is being run on an arms length commercial basis. The terms applied to customers relate to the bank's normal ongoing business, and is accordingly a matter for the Board of Anglo. As with all financial institutions, Anglo Irish Bank is subject to regulation and supervision of its commercial activity by the Financial Regulator. The Deputy will be aware that the Financial...

Written Answers — Financial Institutions Support Scheme: Financial Institutions Support Scheme (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: All entities regulated by the Financial Regulator including those credit institutions (Banks, and Building Societies) who are being supported under the Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Scheme 2008 (Scheme), are required to comply with the terms and provisions of the Consumer Protection Code (Code). Under the provisions of the Code a regulated entity must ensure that in all its dealings...

Written Answers — Financial Institutions Support Scheme: Financial Institutions Support Scheme (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As I have mentioned in previous answers to parliamentary questions, under the terms of the Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Scheme 2008, I established the Covered Institutions Remuneration Oversight Committee (CIROC) to oversee the remuneration of senior executives of the covered institutions. The Scheme requires each covered institution to prepare and submit a plan to structure the...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Acting Chief Executive's annual salary amounts to €285,341. This is the same salary as applied to the previous Chief Executive and also covers the Acting Chief Executive's continuing role as Consumer Director. The contract does not provide for performance related payments. The Regulatory Authority has informed me that pension benefits to the Acting Chief Executive are payable in...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Chief Executive of the Regulatory Authority is appointed by the other members of that Authority and the conditions of employment are agreed between the person and the other members of the Authority. I am informed that the Chief Executive's contract did not provide for performance related payments. The Regulatory Authority has informed me that pension benefits to the former Chief...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 190 and 228 to 232, inclusive, together. The projected expenditure on public service pensions for 2009 is estimated at €2.7 billion. This figure covers superannuation payments in respect of all public service pension schemes and covers main scheme pensions, spouses pensions and retirement lump sums. As with all estimates of future pension payments there is...