Results 10,661-10,680 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Capital Investment: Capital Investment (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 29 from Deputy Richard Bruton on Wednesday 8 July which provides an update in relation to this issue.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: You will be aware that I identified in the Budget last October the priority elements agreed by Government under the decentralisation programme which could proceed at this time. The Government's preference would have been not to delay any aspect of the Programme but, in light of the deterioration in the public finances, it has been necessary to defer other projects pending an overall review of...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy will appreciate that the issue he raises is one that falls within the remit of the Financial Regulator in its on-going engagement with the various financial institutions. I am advised by the Financial Regulator that, at this time, they are unaware of the proposal mentioned. It needs to be borne in mind that a balance must be struck between the influence the Government brings to...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a further explanation regarding the issue of the 2004 reviews issued to the person concerned on 8th July 2009.

Written Answers — Public Service Contracts: Public Service Contracts (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that they have entered into contracts with six firms of external solicitors to provide legal services associated with debt collection and the enforcement process. These contracts will cease, for new referrals, on 31 December 2009. Revenue is currently undertaking an open tendering process in order to select the most suitable firms of solicitors to...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The rationale for giving various tax reliefs to statutory and Revenue-approved pension savings schemes is to encourage and promote savings over the long term in order that individuals will have an adequate replacement income in old age. Any proposal, however well-intentioned, that would allow pre-retirement access by individuals to retirement savings could significantly reduce the quantum of...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I understand that the Deputy's question relates to the tax exemption of certain earnings of writers, composers and artists. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the relevant available information relates to the overall cost to the Exchequer of the exemption and the total numbers of claimants as included in income tax returns filed for the income tax year 2006, the latest year for...

Written Answers — Public Sector Staff: Public Sector Staff (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The number of people employed in the public service at the 31 December for the last five years is presented, as reported to my Department, in the attached table. The numbers employed in the public service is constituted by the numbers of whole time equivalents employed in the civil service, the education sector, the justice sector, the health sector, the local authorities and the...

Written Answers — Public Sector Salaries: Public Sector Salaries (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Factors such as differences in staff work patterns present difficulties in compiling meaningful average figures on earnings. However, the Central Statistics Office publishes statistics on average weekly earnings in the public sector. These are available on the website of the Central Statistics Office www.cso.ie. These figures produced by the Central Statistics Office relate to the public...

Written Answers — Public Service Recruitment: Public Service Recruitment (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 163 together. The public service is composed of the civil service, the education sector, the justice sector, the health sector, the local authorities and the non-commercial agencies. While numbers for some areas within the public service are collected on a monthly basis, numbers for other areas are collected on a quarterly basis, and these are...

Written Answers — Public Service Recruitment: Public Service Recruitment (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 165 together. Neither Budget 2009 nor the Supplementary Budget of 7 April 2009 made any changes in the gross salaries of public servants. However, the introduction of the new pension-related deduction has resulted in an average deduction of close to 7%.

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the net receipt of income tax from self-employed persons for each of the years 2000 to 2008 are contained in the following table. Calendar Year Net Receipt of Income Tax € million 2000 1,520 2001 1,710 2002 1,945 2003 1,715 2004 2,320 2005 2,415 2006 2,565 2007 2,745 2008 2,260 These figures include payments of withholding tax on...

Written Answers — Public Service Contracts: Public Service Contracts (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: While I am always anxious to respond to Deputies, I regret the information requested by the Deputy for the time period involved is not readily available and cannot be assembled without undue commitment of staff resources and administrative costs. I hope, in the circumstances, that the Deputy will appreciate that I cannot provide the information sought. However, should the Deputy have a query...

Written Answers — Public Service Contracts: Public Service Contracts (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: My Department has not engaged in contracts with the company mentioned in the Deputy's question. I have been informed by the Office of Public Works that in the time available they are not in position to collate all the information to supply a full response to the Deputy. They expect to have the process completed and a response forwarded to the Deputy by 16 July 2009.

Written Answers — Budget Submissions: Budget Submissions (9 Jul 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...

Order of Business (10 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: We are full of energy.

Leaders' Questions (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy did not have the courtesy to reply.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: My speech is being circulated, along with an information pack of supplementary documentation that I have made available to the Deputies. In the history of this State, few subjects have been debated more intensively and more passionately than the Government's proposal to establish a National Asset Management Agency. Since I published the draft legislation on 30 July last, there has been a...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Sep 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: They are also angry with the Government. Many of them have asked why we are putting money into the banks while they endure the brunt of the difficult budgetary decisions we needed to take. It is unfortunate that there has been a breakdown of trust in the entire banking system, but the public knows we need the banks. People understand that we cannot have economic recovery unless we fix our...