Results 9,621-9,640 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr
- Social Welfare Benefits: Motion (23 Apr 2009)
Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Government knows that to date this year, there has been a reduction in the cost of living. The position may arise at the end of this year that when one takes together the 3% increase provided for this year and a 5% drop in the cost of living, that there will have been a real increase in welfare provision of 8%. That is what is envisaged this year.
- Social Welfare Benefits: Motion (23 Apr 2009)
Brian Lenihan Jnr: These are the economic facts, upon which Opposition Deputies do not wish to reflect.
- Social Welfare Benefits: Motion (23 Apr 2009)
Brian Lenihan Jnr: These are the difficult economic issues to which Opposition Members do not wish to direct their minds.
- Social Welfare Benefits: Motion (23 Apr 2009)
Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is far easier to enter this House and utter platitudes than to deal with the realities of the position facing this country.
- Social Welfare Benefits: Motion (23 Apr 2009)
Brian Lenihan Jnr: Yes, absolutely.
- Social Welfare Benefits: Motion (23 Apr 2009)
Brian Lenihan Jnr: Real public servants were obliged to make a substantial contribution, on average of 7.5%, to their pension arrangements. Real taxpayers throughout this community face substantial increases in income tax across the board.
- Social Welfare Benefits: Motion (23 Apr 2009)
Brian Lenihan Jnr: There is no point in Members referring to what happened in the past as though we do not all bear some responsibility.
- Social Welfare Benefits: Motion (23 Apr 2009)
Brian Lenihan Jnr: This is not-----
- Social Welfare Benefits: Motion (23 Apr 2009)
Brian Lenihan Jnr: While we will not go back as far as Adam and Eve-----
- Social Welfare Benefits: Motion (23 Apr 2009)
Brian Lenihan Jnr: -----I outlined clearly the rates of increase that were introduced in recent years. I contrasted that with the relatively ungenerous treatment in other jurisdictions for persons in exactly the same position. The idea that this country is a haven of difficulty simply is untrue.
- Social Welfare Benefits: Motion (23 Apr 2009)
Brian Lenihan Jnr: If one considers the consistent poverty statistics, which is an important issue in any social welfare debate, one can see how dramatically the position has improved in Ireland in recent years in respect of the elderly, among whom there is very little consistent poverty, not alone because of the extremely high rates of payment by international standards on the basic State pension, which is...
- Social Welfare Benefits: Motion (23 Apr 2009)
Brian Lenihan Jnr: Of course old people living on their own need every support.
- Social Welfare Benefits: Motion (23 Apr 2009)
Brian Lenihan Jnr: However, Deputy O'Donnell will be aware, if he studies conditions in other countries, of how superior are our arrangements.
- Social Welfare Benefits: Motion (23 Apr 2009)
Brian Lenihan Jnr: Opposition parties must get out of this bubble because we must compare ourselves with other countries. The real world in which we live is one in which we must compete with other countries to sell our goods and provide services.
- Social Welfare Benefits: Motion (23 Apr 2009)
Brian Lenihan Jnr: If my time has expired, I am happy to conclude. I welcome the opportunity to intervene in this debate and support the position of the Government.
- Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (23 Apr 2009)
Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they have arranged for the issue of an amended certificate, granting all the tax credits without any restriction regarding rent withheld in respect of payments made to the non-resident landlord. The tenant should return the tax withheld to the Revenue Commissioners along with their annual return. An amended PAYE Balancing Statement will...
- Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 Apr 2009)
Brian Lenihan Jnr: The question of introducing a withholding tax regime on income earned in Ireland by foreign artists was examined in the late 1980's/ early 1990's by my Department and the Revenue Commissioners. However, because of the small prospective yield at the time, the capacity of such a regime to discourage artists visiting Ireland and the administrative burden associated with collecting a relatively...
- Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 Apr 2009)
Brian Lenihan Jnr: The 2009 annual income levy rates are set out in the table below as contained in the Financial Resolution, passed on Budget night. Part of aggregate income Rate of income levy The first â¬75,036 1.67% The next â¬25,064 3% The next â¬74,880 3.33% The next â¬75,140 4.67% The remainder 5% For PAYE taxpayers whose income is spread evenly throughout the year this equates to the rates...
- Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (23 Apr 2009)
Brian Lenihan Jnr: The normal arrangements for the movement of staff under the decentralisation programme are continuing in respect of the priority decentralisation projects announced in the Budget last October. Head to head transfers have been in place and continue to be available for locations that are not part of the current decentralisation programme. In addition, in Budget 2009 I announced the...
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (23 Apr 2009)
Brian Lenihan Jnr: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below. The credit limit on all currently issued official credit cards is â¬5,000. All credit card payments are subject to financial control procedures within the Department. Year No of Cards Total Spend Spend overâ¬5,000 Grade of Cardholder with spend overâ¬5,000 2009 11 â¬7,394.05 N/A 2008 17 â¬51,228.89 2 Higher...