Results 9,981-10,000 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (26 May 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: There already is in place an appeals mechanism for people who believe that they are not being treated fairly by financial institutions. Where a customer of a financial service provider, regulated by the Financial Regulator, complains in writing to a financial institution regarding a particular matter and this fails to resolve it to her / his satisfaction, s/he may take the complaint up...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (26 May 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy may wish to note that the financial structure of credit unions as mutual societies owned by their members is that they are not subject to capital requirements. Rather, under the legal framework for credit unions set out in the Credit Union Act 1997, a credit union must allocate 10% of each year's surplus to a statutory reserve. According to the prudential return for credit unions...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (26 May 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I announced in my Supplementary Budget on 7 April 2009 that a 1% levy was being introduced on life assurance premiums from 1 June 2009. However, following talks with the industry, this date has been changed to allow for a lead-in period. The implementation date, as set out in the Finance Bill is 1 August 2009. The life levy applies to all premium income regarding policies of insurance...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (26 May 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The income levy applies to all emoluments of an employment, including anything treated as a taxable benefit-in-kind. The position is that an employer contribution to a personal retirement savings account (PRSA) is chargeable to income tax in the hands of the employee as a benefit-in-kind under section 118 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. As the income levy treatment follows the income...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (26 May 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Firstly, as regards the criteria for entitlement to the incapacitated child tax credit, the position is that section 465 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides for a tax credit of €3,660 for the tax year 2009 where the claimant has living with him or her any child who, at any time during the relevant tax year to which the claim refers - (a) is under the age of 18 years and is...

Written Answers — Infrastructural Projects: Infrastructural Projects (26 May 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy will be aware that we are spending a considerable sum on Capital this year - 5% of GNP - one of the highest ratios in the world. This supports a substantial level of employment, while the reductions in tender prices mean that we can do more with less. Nonetheless, the Government is prepared to look at new ways to fund needed capital investment and support activity and employment in...

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (26 May 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Ratoo Round Tower is not included in the 2009 programme of works. The south-west corner of the adjacent Ratoo Church will be re-pointed this year.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (26 May 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 142 together. The Revenue Commissioners have completed the decentralisation of staff to the office (details supplied) in accordance with the Government Decentralisation Programme, and there are currently 51 staff in place. The ongoing deployment of staff in the Office of the Revenue Commissioners is a matter for the Commissioners in the normal manner...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (26 May 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the intra-Community movement of goods between Member States is subject to a system of control whereby details of goods that have been zero VAT rated in the Member State of supply are notified to the authorities of the Member State of destination through the VAT Information Exchange System (VIES). This enables the authorities of the Member State...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (26 May 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As I said in my Supplementary Budget 2009 speech, the most urgent step required to restore and renew our economy is to stabilise our public finances. This, I believe, is crucial to the recovery of confidence among investors, consumers and businesses. In this context, as announced in my Supplementary Budget 2009 speech, the income and health levies were doubled and the thresholds reduced...

Finance Bill 2009: Order for Report Stage (27 May 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Finance Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (27 May 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy's amendment is almost identical to one moved on Committee Stage. As I outlined on Committee Stage and as my predecessor outlined on previous occasions, the statutory remit of the Ombudsman already incorporates both roles proposed for a taxpayers' ombudsman office, namely, acting for taxpayers and investigating actions contrary to fair or sound administration. The Ombudsman should...

Finance Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (27 May 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I appreciate Deputy Burton's acknowledgement, as I am sure will the Revenue Commissioners, that there have been substantial improvements in the customer-friendly character of this body. The amendment seeks to change how the Ombudsman prepares her report, but I know Deputy Burton is anxious to broaden the subject to include a taxpayers' advocate. We can consider this first from the point of...

Finance Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (27 May 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I did not use the word "toast".

Finance Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (27 May 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: No such luck.

Finance Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (27 May 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is not to get Fianna Fáil out of the mess.

Finance Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (27 May 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I should start with Deputy Burton's amendment, but I want to deal with Deputy Bruton's points first. It is envisaged that the Commission on Taxation will report at the end of July. As regards this particular amendment, the commission is not under my direction, but is independent. It exists to furnish us with an assessment of how the tax system can be reformed. It is looking at the issue...

Finance Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (27 May 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am glad the Deputy believes that, but it is not true.

Finance Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (27 May 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy is not bad at it herself.

Finance Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (27 May 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Mr. Buckley, as Comptroller and Auditor General, and his staff do excellent work. However, the exercise being carried out in my Department comes under my direction as Minister for Finance. I do not believe it would be constitutionally proper for the Comptroller and Auditor General to be involved in that process. Under the Constitution, he is an independent officer who works for this House...