Results 11,421-11,440 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Customs and Excise Staff (18 Jun 2013)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 93 together. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that their office is an integrated tax and customs administration and it is not feasible to disaggregate the staffing resources deployed exclusively on Customs and Excise or drugs enforcement work. The Revenue Commissioners have around 2,000 staff engaged on activities that are dedicated to...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Appointments to State Boards (18 Jun 2013)

Michael Noonan: The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the following table: No of appointments since march 2011 No of vacancies advertised No of applications received No of appointments drawn from applications received No of current vacancies 31 13 152 10 9

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Excise Duties Collection (18 Jun 2013)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that Article 4 of Council Directive 92/83/EEC provides that a reduced rate of excise duty may be applied in Member States to beer produced in microbreweries subject to certain limits. It also provides that the reduced rate shall not be set at more than 50% below the standard national rate of excise duty for beer. Since 1 January 2005, Ireland has...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs Availability (18 Jun 2013)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96, 101 and 103 together. The position is, as I have stated on many occasions in the House, that this issue was raised during the debates in the Seanad on Finance Bill 2013, during which I agreed to re-examine the matter during the course of this year. My Department is currently in the process of examining the issue and when the analysis is completed...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector Issues (18 Jun 2013)

Michael Noonan: AIB's €3.5bn of preference shares are only part of the State's overall investment in the bank and they count towards the bank’s capital ratios. They are perpetual instruments and as such are not a loan in the sense of having a fixed maturity date. The decision to inject capital in the form of preference shares dates back to early 2009 and reflected economic and financial...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs Availability (18 Jun 2013)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 100 together. The importance of agriculture in the Irish economy is well recognised. In this context specific tax reliefs are provided where farms are passed on from one generation to the next. These reliefs include Capital Acquisitions Tax ("CAT") agricultural relief, Capital Gains Tax ("CGT") relief on transfer of farms to children and Stamp Duty...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Staff Sick Leave (18 Jun 2013)

Michael Noonan: The following table outlines the sick leave position in my Department. YEAR Total Uncertified Sick Leave (USK) USK average (headcount) i.e. Duration Actual / Active Staff Count of Name Total Certified Sick Leave (CSK) CSK average (headcount) i.e. Duration Actual / Active Staff Count of Name Total Duration Actual Total Duration Actual average (headcount) i.e. Actual Days Lost / Active Staff...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: NAMA Board Recruitment (18 Jun 2013)

Michael Noonan: As the Deputy will understand, given the volume of applications received it was not possible to follow up individually on each expression of interest. However, the Department in conjunction with the Public Appointments Service undertook a rigorous process of assessing and shortlisting the expressions of interest received based on a number of different criteria. These criteria included...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: State Bodies Numbers (18 Jun 2013)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 105 together. The following table contains details of the semi-State organisations currently under in operation under the remit of my Department. Name of Body The National Treasury Management Agency The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council ( Established in June 2011 and was placed on a statutory basis at the end of 2012) Financial Services...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Contracts (19 Jun 2013)

Michael Noonan: In response to the Deputy’s question my Department provides shared accommodation services to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Security services in respect of buildings occupied by staff of either Department are not outsourced. Cleaning services for buildings occupied by staff of both Departments are outsourced. My Department is in the process of completing a tender...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: NAMA Debtors (19 Jun 2013)

Michael Noonan: I have been informed by PTSB that they do not use surveillance. I have been informed by AIB that it does not undertake activity of the nature outlined in pursuing borrowers. The Bank can also confirm that it complies with its obligations under Data Protection legislation in relation to information which they hold on their customers. In addition the Bank complies with all legal requirements...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Vehicle Registration Issues (19 Jun 2013)

Michael Noonan: The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and VRT (up to a certain limit) on the purchase of a car adapted for the transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities, to those who meet certain disability criteria. The disability criteria for eligibility for the tax concessions under this scheme are set out in the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Credits (19 Jun 2013)

Michael Noonan: The position is that where a couple is cohabiting, rather than married or in a civil partnership, they are treated as separate and unconnected individuals for the purposes of income tax. Each partner is a separate entity for tax purposes and, therefore, cohabiting couples cannot file joint assessment tax returns or share their tax credits and tax bands in the same manner as married couples....

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs Availability (19 Jun 2013)

Michael Noonan: I take it the question raised by the Deputy refers to the transfer of family farms from one generation to the next. Specific tax reliefs are provided where farms are passed on from one generation to the next. These reliefs include Capital Acquisitions Tax ("CAT") agricultural relief, Capital Gains Tax ("CGT") relief on transfer of farms to children and Stamp Duty Relief on family transfers...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Pension Provisions (19 Jun 2013)

Michael Noonan: The pension fund levy applies at a rate of 0.6% per annum to the market value, on the valuation date, of assets under management in pension funds and pension plans approved under Irish tax legislation. The levy will operate for a period of 4 years only (2011 to 2014) and the legislative provisions giving effect to the levy (section 4 of Finance (No 2) Act 2011) were specifically drafted to...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Revenue Commissioners Investigations (19 Jun 2013)

Michael Noonan: The investigation of any registered charity is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. In addition, I am advised by Revenue that, for reasons of taxpayer confidentiality, it cannot comment on the tax affairs of individual bodies. However, Revenue has assured me that bodies that are granted charitable tax exemption under Section 207 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 are subject to reviews...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: IBRC Bond Issue (19 Jun 2013)

Michael Noonan: I am advised that the process of issuing new bonds is normally through underwriting, where one or more securities firms or banks form a syndicate buying the entire bond issue from the issuer and then re-selling to investors. Primary issuance is arranged by these syndicates who contact potential investors and advise the bond issuer in terms of timing, tenor and pricing of the bond issue. The...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (19 Jun 2013)

Michael Noonan: I take it the question raised by the Deputy refers to consolidation measures in relation to farm land. I made provision in Budget 2013 for the following measure designed to assist farmers with consolidation of farm land. This measure followed on from measures in the previous year’s Budget which also supported farm expansion and the transfer of land. Section 48 of Finance Act 2013...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Funding (19 Jun 2013)

Michael Noonan: My Department has a statistics unit led by a statistician on secondment from the CSO. This unit is responsible for providing an input into all general government statistical matters within the Department. The CSO is Ireland’s national statistical office and meets the needs of government for the provision of quality statistical information. Although existing as an independent body the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Fuel Laundering (19 Jun 2013)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners who have responsibility for the collection of mineral oil tax that they are very mindful of the threat that fuel laundering poses both to the exchequer and to legitimate businesses. Revenue has made action against fuel laundering one of its priorities and is implementing a comprehensive strategy to tackle the problem. This strategy included...