Results 11,081-11,100 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Staff Numbers (21 May 2013)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 176 together. My Department provides a shared press office service to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Both Departments have separate Press Officers. In addition, there is one member of the Defence Forces currently seconded into the office. The current overall cost of salaries of the Press Officer in my Department and the 3...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector Regulation (21 May 2013)

Michael Noonan: A well-regulated, effectively supervised, competitive and more stable financial services sector is crucial to our economic recovery. It is important too for the continued development of Ireland as a centre for international financial services and as a location of choice for international foreign financial services firms. A vibrant secure well regulated financial sector is a core part of a...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Arrears Proposals (21 May 2013)

Michael Noonan: The Government is very aware of the significant difficulties some homeowners are facing in meeting their mortgage obligations and it is committed to advancing appropriate measures to assist those mortgage holders who are experiencing real and genuine difficulty. A special Government Sub-Committee is already in place since March last year to address the mortgage arrears problem. This...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Eurozone Crisis (21 May 2013)

Michael Noonan: I interact with all of my EU counterparts as part of my regular engagement at EU level. My most recent engagements at Eurogroup and ECOFIN on 13/14 May were part of this on-going and constructive dialogue. At the last meeting, the Eurogroup issued a statement welcoming the decision of the ESM to approve the first tranche of financial assistance to Cyprus on Monday 13 May in the context of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Compliance (21 May 2013)

Michael Noonan: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that, because of the particular circumstances relating to the Ansbacher accounts and the stage at which they became known to the Revenue Commissioners, it has not been possible to prosecute any individual in relation to those accounts. The Ansbacher accounts ran from 1971 and the Irish business was wound up in the mid-1990s. It did not prove...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (21 May 2013)

Michael Noonan: I cannot comment on the tax affairs of an individual company, nor can I speculate on the taxation of an individual project. Generally speaking, companies operating in Ireland are chargeable to corporation tax at the 12.5% rate on the profits that are generated from their trading activities here. A higher 25% rate applies in respect of investment, rental and other non-trading profits, as...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: EU-IMF Programme of Support Issues (21 May 2013)

Michael Noonan: As the Deputy will be aware, we are now in the final year of our programme. The focus of Government is to achieve a successful exit from the Programme and a sustainable return to market based funding. We continue to meet our programme commitments and our strong implementation record has been recognized by our external partners and has given confidence to the financial markets. We continue to...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Eurozone Crisis (21 May 2013)

Michael Noonan: I interact with all of my EU counterparts as part of my regular engagement at EU level. My most recent engagements at Eurogroup and ECOFIN on 13/14 May were part of this on-going and constructive dialogue. At the last meeting, the Eurogroup issued a statement welcoming the decision of the ESM to approve the first tranche of financial assistance to Cyprus on Monday 13 May in the context of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs Application (21 May 2013)

Michael Noonan: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the total numbers of income earners claiming tax relief for pension contributions for 2010, the latest year for which the necessary detailed figures are available, is estimated to be of the order of 760,000. These include claims from employees for contributions to occupational pension funds and from the self-employed and others for contributions...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services Regulation (21 May 2013)

Michael Noonan: I have been advised by the Central Bank that it is conducting an on-going investigation into the sale of Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) by firms from July 2007. Ten firms are currently undertaking reviews of their Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) sales. At the request of the Bank, the firms previously informed all their customers included in the PPI sales review of their intention to...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Debt Resolution Pilot Scheme (21 May 2013)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 206, 263, 277, 290 and 292 together. The Deputies will be aware that the Central Bank has announced its intention to operate a pilot scheme for the restructuring of secured and unsecured distressed consumer debt across multiple lenders. The aim of the pilot framework is to achieve sustainable and fair outcomes without the need for the borrower to enter the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: NAMA Qualifying Investor Fund (21 May 2013)

Michael Noonan: I am advised that the Board of NAMA is currently reviewing its approach to Qualifying Investor Funds in light of the recently introduced REITs legislation.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: NAMA Operations (21 May 2013)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by NAMA that the details sought by the Deputy relate to the NAMA’s commercial activities and that publication of this information is a matter for NAMA in the context of its commercial objectives and of how it can best meet those objectives. NAMA has published a document on its website which sets out its approach to Vendor Finance. I am further advised that the first...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: NAMA Portfolio Issues (21 May 2013)

Michael Noonan: I have been informed by NAMA that trading properties include development land and commercial property with an estimated value of €6.4 million and works of art with an estimated value of €0.4 million. In line with its general policy in relation to disposals, it is NAMA’s intention that these assets be openly marketed prior to disposal.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: IBRC Liquidation (21 May 2013)

Michael Noonan: There is no plan to lay a schedule of reports on the special liquidation of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation before the Houses of the Oireachtas. However as the liquidation continues I will disclose information on the progress of the liquidation to the Oireachtas as the necessity arises.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: NAMA Portfolio Value (21 May 2013)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by NAMA that a detailed breakdown of the property portfolio securing NAMA loans is set out on pages 20-22 of the Agency's Annual Report and Financial Statements for 2011, which is available on the NAMA website, www.nama.ie. NAMA advises that updated details on its property portfolio will be included in the Agency's Annual Report and Financial Statements for 2012 which have been...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: NAMA Operations (21 May 2013)

Michael Noonan: The details sought by the Deputy are set out below. Year: 2012 Institution: University of Ulster Amount: £20,000 Purpose: Contribution towards the “Northern Ireland Residential Development Landbank Study”

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Excise Duties Yield (21 May 2013)

Michael Noonan: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the yield from an extra 2 cents on a pint of beer would be €13.8 million in a full year and the yield from an extra 2 cents on a packet of twenty cigarettes would be €3.1 million in a full year.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs Cost (21 May 2013)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 to 259, inclusive, together. In my reply to Question No. 76 of 9 May, I informed the Deputy that the cost to the Exchequer of the tax deduction in respect of expenses (other than expenses of travel and subsistence) incurred by employees for the income tax year 2010, the most recent year for which final information is available, is estimated at...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Fuel Prices (21 May 2013)

Michael Noonan: Ireland, as with other countries, has experienced an increase in fuel prices. This increase is an international phenomenon. Fuel prices are driven by a number of factors including the price of oil on international markets, exchange rates, production costs and refining costs. The rise in oil prices over recent periods reflected additional factors such as geopolitical uncertainty in Northern...