Results 10,401-10,420 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (30 Jun 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The amount of late payment penalty interest paid from the Vote of the Minster for Finance for the past five years to date in 2009 is set out in the following table. The period between receipt of an invoice from a supplier and payment by my Department has been reducing in recent years and thus far in 2009 has averaged ten days. This is comfortably within the period of 30 days after which, in...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (30 Jun 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: During the Finance Bill, I indicated that discussions would commence as to how best betting duty might be applied in the future, in the context of the 2010 budget including looking at the UK's gross profit tax model. A number of different proposals in that regard have been received from various sectors of the industry. I also indicated that it is my intention to widen if possible the tax...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (30 Jun 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It would appear, without further clarification, that the "stamp duty" referred to by the Deputy is not a stamp duty governed by the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999 and for this reason the Minister for Finance would therefore have no function in relation to such matter. The Deputy might wish to consider approaching the Courts Service for the information sought.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (30 Jun 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 144 together. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that it is not possible to provide a breakdown of entitlement to, or loss of entitlement to, mortgage interest relief on the geographic basis sought by the Deputy. At the end of 2008, there were approximately 564,000 mortgage accounts in respect of which mortgage interest relief was being paid...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (30 Jun 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the latest relevant information available is in respect of income tax relief allowed for contributions to Retirement Annuity Contracts (RACs) and Personal Retirement Savings Accounts (PRSAs) for the income tax year 2006. RACs and PRSAs are available to the self-employed and to employees not in occupational pension schemes. The information is...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (30 Jun 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In terms of employment, the Central Statistics Office compiles data in respect of those employed in the wholesale and retail sectors, as distinct from just the retail sector. Total employment in the wholesale and retail sector in the first quarter of this year was 285,000 which amounted to 14.5% of total employment in theeconomy. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the taxpayer...

Written Answers — Valuation Orders: Valuation Orders (30 Jun 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The revaluation exercise is governed by the terms of the Valuation Act, 2001, which, inter alia, provides that the specification of publication dates for valuation lists is a matter for the Commissioner of Valuation, who exercises that function by means of the making of Valuation Orders. In each case, the Valuation Order was made by the Commissioner of Valuation only after formal...

Written Answers — Departmental Allowances: Departmental Allowances (30 Jun 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The criteria for the payment of delegate's allowance to civil servants is set out in Circular Letters 4/79 (grades at Assistant Principal level and above) and 1/81 (grades at Higher Executive Officer level and below). Officers who travel outside Ireland and Britain as members of a delegation representing Ireland at meetings of the EU or other international organisations or with...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (30 Jun 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the PAYE tax credit is due against a variety of sources of income including occupational pensions and pensions payable under the Social Welfare Acts. However, irrespective of the number of sources of income against which the PAYE tax credit may be due, an individual is entitled to only one PAYE tax credit (currently €1,830) per annum. As...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (30 Jun 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Since the formation of the present Government on 14 June 2007 to date in 2009 my Department has not sent material abroad for printing. I have been informed by the Office of Public Works that the Government Supplies Agency placed no contracts on behalf of the Department of Finance in the years 2007-2009 with printers from outside the state. They have also informed me that their records...

Written Answers — Car Scrappage Scheme: Car Scrappage Scheme (1 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 113 together. I am aware of the current challenges facing the motor industry, along with most other industries, arising from the impacts of weak world economic activity. As the Deputies will be aware the Supplementary Budget announced the introduction of a VAT Margin Scheme for second-hand cars, with effect from 1 July 2009. Under the scheme, dealers...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (1 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: My Department has completed its decentralisation of staff to Tullamore, Co Offaly. There remains a number of applications from civil servants for a transfer to my Department and the grade breakdown is as follows:- Grade Number of Staff Principal Officer 0 Assistant Principal 0 Higher Executive Officer/Administrative Officer 3 Executive Officer 7 Staff Officer 1 Clerical Officer 23...

Written Answers — Public Service Contracts: Public Service Contracts (1 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: An exact breakdown of the value of public works contracts above and below EU Directive thresholds is not available. However, statistics on public works contracts advertised in the Official Journal of the EU by Irish contracting authorities indicate a value of approximately €3.5 billion for these contracts. This represents about 50% of the estimated total value of public works contracts. It...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (1 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that they are not in a position to provide a detailed reply on this matter within the timeframe for answering Parliamentary Questions. Accordingly, they will contact the Deputy directly on this issue at an early date.

Written Answers — Tax Clearance Certificates: Tax Clearance Certificates (1 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The issue of licences for taxis is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Transport who has established the Commission for Taxi Regulation as an independent body, under the Taxi Regulation Act 2003. By virtue of Section 34 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003, the Commission is empowered to make regulations in relation to the licensing, ownership, control and operation of SPSVs. In the context...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (1 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In my Budget speech on 14th October 2008, I announced the introduction of a new tax incentive scheme to facilitate the relocation of Seveso-listed industrial facilities which hinder the residential and commercial regeneration of Docklands in urban areas. The EU Seveso Directive seeks to protect public safety by placing land-use restrictions on new residential and commercial development near...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (1 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: While I support properly focused, clearly defined specific tax reliefs, such reliefs narrow the tax base and make general reform of the tax base that much more difficult. A broad tax base is the price that must be paid to keep tax rates low and low tax rates benefit businesses generally in this country. Any proposal for new tax reliefs has to be considered in this context. The Deputy will be...

Written Answers — Auctioneers' Licences: Auctioneers' Licences (1 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Revenue Commissioners have advised that the number of Auctioneers or House Agents that were issued Licences in 2008, is as follows: Auctioneers 2,527 House Agents 16.

Written Answers — Banking Sector: Banking Sector (1 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: A core Government objective is to free up lending on a commercial basis into the economy to support economic growth and a number of actions have been taken to achieve this objective. In the context of the bank guarantee scheme and recapitalisation the banks have made important commitments to support business lending. A Code of Conduct for Business Lending to Small and Medium Enterprises was...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (1 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As indicated in my reply to the earlier Parliamentary Question on this matter on 22 April 2009, following discussions between my Department and the Revenue Commissioners the concerns raised by the Covered Institutions Remuneration Oversight Committee (CIROC) were to be taken up by the Commissioners with the institutions involved, with a view to ensuring that the practices concerned are in...