Results 9,481-9,500 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (2 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As I indicated to your colleague Deputy Brian Hayes on 10th March, there are 12 officers with professional accountancy qualifications currently employed in my Department. In addition, a further 7 staff have degrees in Accounting or accounting related disciplines.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (2 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The attached table sets out details provided to my Department of staff moved to date under the decentralisation programme. Decentralisation — Organisations and Staff Moved Position Last Updated: 1st April 2009 Location Organisation Staff moved Carlow 1 Carlow (advance party) Dept of Enterprise Trade & Employment 101 Cavan 2 Cavan (advance party) Dept of Communications Energy &...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (2 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: EU Member States are entitled under EU law to charge National taxes provided that such taxes are applied equally to imported and indigenous goods. In this regard, VRT complies with EU law in that the VRT charged on a second hand (used) vehicle imported into the State is equivalent to the amount of residual VRT contained in a similar Irish vehicle that is registered in the State. VRT has been...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (2 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The remuneration packages of all National Treasury Management Agency staff, including that of its CEO, are negotiated on an individual contract basis and are confidential. According to the National Treasury Management Agency's 2007 Annual Report — their most recent Annual Report — total salaries and bonuses amounted to €16.4 million in 2007. The administration accounts (including pay...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (2 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Financial Regulator and the Central Bank that the data which are collected from the resident offices of banks operating in Ireland are not collated in such a way as would enable the information requested by the Deputy to be supplied.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (2 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The House will appreciate that I do not propose to comment on what may or may not be contained in the forthcoming supplementary Budget.

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (2 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I met with one of the insurance brokers' representative associations on 17 February last. The specific issue they highlighted was in relation to the conclusions drawn in a recent Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) which was conducted by my Department. This recommended that, when amending the Insurance Mediation Regulations (S.I. No. 13 of 2005), the existing regulatory regime should be...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (2 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: At the outset I would like to point out to the Deputy that the decision on any exemptions from the Financial Regulator's Consumer Protection Code (CPC) is a matter for the Financial Regulator under Section 117 of the Central Bank Act 1989. I only have the right to be consulted when the Financial Regulator draws up, amends or revokes one of its Codes of Practice. The CPC already contains some...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (2 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In progressing the agenda for the reform of the Irish financial regulatory system, the Government will make appointments to the regulatory authority based on the authoritative standing, expertise and experience of individuals. The Financial Services Consultative Industry Panel is intended to be representative of the industry as a whole and no particular organisation or group is automatically...

Written Answers — Mortgage Agreements: Mortgage Agreements (2 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy's question refers to the redemption fee applied by mortgage providers in circumstances that a customer seeks to break a fixed rate mortgage. Mortgage lenders in Ireland generally seek to recover costs of funds when a borrower with a fixed rate mortgage agreement seeks to terminate the agreement some time before the term agreed. Traditionally redemption fees were articulated with...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (2 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Tax relief was provided in the Finance (No 2) Act 2008 where an employer provides a bicycle for an employee. My Department is currently examining the best practice in implementing the scheme particularly in relation to procurement, warranty and insurance issues. Advice on these issues has been sought from the State Claims Agency, Chief State Solicitors Office and Office of the Attorney...

Supplementary Budget Statement 2009 (7 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As Minister for Finance for the past ten months, I have submitted one budget and two rounds of expenditure adjustments to this House. Economic turmoil throughout the world and in Ireland dictated these measures. The measures that I am bringing forward today will complete this process for 2009. I assure the people that we have the capacity and the Government has the will to bring us out of...

Supplementary Budget Statement 2009 (7 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: If all our difficulties related to the recent construction boom in Ireland, I would not be before the House this afternoon. We are the living witnesses to the most dramatic collapse in the world financial system since 1929. We are a small open economy with a huge exposure to international economic trends. Our confidence, our finances, our exports and our banks have been dented. The...

Supplementary Budget Statement 2009 (7 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Payments under the rent supplement scheme will be reduced to reflect the fall in prices in the rental market. We will also intensify the campaign against welfare fraud by allocating additional staff to the Department and by targeting, in particular, the fraudulent claiming of child benefit and other payments by those who are no longer resident in this country. We will continue to target the...

Supplementary Budget Statement 2009 (7 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Programme Spending The scope for changes in expenditure programmes in mid-year is limited. Changes over the next three years will be informed by the report of the special group on expenditure and numbers, which is evaluating all programmes. We need to achieve better results with fewer resources. One example of how this has been done in this budget is the changes we have introduced to the...

Supplementary Budget Statement 2009 (7 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Pre-primary education significantly enhances the subsequent educational achievement of students and in turn increases the return for State investment in education. The free pre-school year will start next January. The existing rate of early child care supplement will be halved with effect from 1 May and abolished at the end of 2009. More details are set out in the summary of budget...

Supplementary Budget Statement 2009 (7 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: All of these measures will take effect from 1 May 2009. I indicated previously that I was prepared to review the operation of the public service pension levy to address any issues of fairness. Taking account of the impact of the tax measures which I have announced, I am proposing a slight recasting of the structure of the levy to reduce somewhat the impact on the lowest paid public servants...

Supplementary Budget Statement 2009 (7 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Full details of all of these and other taxation measures are contained in the summary of budget measures. The total tax and levies measures will raise €1.8 billion in 2009 and over €3.6 billion in a full year. The measures I have outlined have necessarily concentrated on income. I am now giving notice that, in 2010 and 2011, I will turn to other areas of taxation to secure the...

Supplementary Budget Statement 2009 (7 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The role of the Central Bank of Ireland will be reformed to place it at the centre of financial supervision and financial stability oversight, providing for full integration and co-ordination of the prudential supervision and stability of individual financial institutions with that of the financial system as a whole.

Supplementary Budget Statement 2009 (7 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Central Bank of Ireland will in the future be headed by a commission, chaired by a governor. These important structural changes will be complemented by significant new resources and additional expert staff, to widen skill sets and enhance market-based knowledge. I have asked the former Deputy Governor of the Bank of England and former member of the UK Monetary Policy Committee, Sir...