Results 12,361-12,380 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (21 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: There were no tribunals of inquiry conducted by my Department.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (21 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the tables. Table A lists the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department in receipt of Exchequer funding and their Budget allocation for 2009. Table B lists other state bodies under the aegis of my Department not in receipt of Exchequer funding and as such information on budgets is not included. In the period in question no bodies...

Written Answers — National Asset Management Agency: National Asset Management Agency (21 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: NAMA will purchase eligible loans from participating institutions and will manage these loans with the intention of generating the best possible return for the taxpayer. NAMA will, in effect, step into the shoes of the participating institution that has transferred the loan to NAMA. Its interaction with each borrower, including the enforcement of security, will be governed by the relevant...

Written Answers — National Asset Management Agency: National Asset Management Agency (21 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: NAMA is being established to purchase certain portfolios of risky loan assets from the balance sheets of participating institutions. In the course of its operation it is expected that NAMA will take possession of various properties. Under the NAMA Act, NAMA will have access to working capital in order for it to complete developments or projects where it is commercially advantageous to do...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I understand that the Deputy is referring to the corporation tax exemption that was introduced for new start-up companies in Section 31 of Finance (No. 2) Act 2008. The provisions of that section provide for relief from corporation tax, for the first 3 years of operation, for companies incorporated on and from 14 October 2008 that commence to carry on a new trade in 2009. The relief is...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (21 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The current public procurement Directives, 2004/18/EC covering procurement by public sector bodies and 2004/17/EC covering procurement by entities in certain public utility sectors, allow EU Member States to reserve the right to participate in the award of public contracts to sheltered workshops or to participants in sheltered employment programmes. These Directives have been transposed into...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The position is that tax law provides that employees and office holders may claim a tax deduction in respect of: (a) the cost of travelling expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of the duties of their employment or office; and (b) the cost of other expenses incurred wholly, exclusively and necessarily in the performance of the duties of their employment or office. As regards an...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Appendix 1 of the Revised Estimates for Public Services each year gives a breakdown by Department of all the expenditure areas that are supported by the proceeds of the National Lottery. It is estimated that a total of €272m will be available in 2010 from the proceeds of the National Lottery and the breakdown of the allocations between Departments will be published shortly as part of the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 48643/09 and 2047/10 which were taken together and answered on Tuesday 19 January 2010. The pay reductions provided for in the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009 apply to staff of bodies that receive grants from the State only where the body concerned is a public service body as defined in the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In summary, the pension-related deduction introduced by section 2 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009 applies to (i) public servants who are (ii) employed by or hold an office or position in a public service body and who (iii) are members of a public service pension scheme or are entitled to a benefit under such a scheme or receive a payment in lieu of...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (21 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The number of staff employed in each Government Department at the end of 2007, 2008 and 2009 is set out in tabular form. Non Industrial Civil Servants 2007 2008 2009 Department 36,619.65 37,421.35 35,682.83 AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES & FOOD 4,294.08 4,203.94 3,845.18 ARTS, SPORT & TOURISM 171.30 174.43 150.53 ATTORNEY GENERAL 128.68 127.89 124.39 CENTRAL STATISTICS OFFICE 825.08 846.97...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (21 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 103 together. The information requested by the Deputy is set out in tabular form and is based on information reported to my Department to date. In summary, the information reported to my Department to date indicates that some 1,106 Civil Servants have applied for the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER) and that 985 Civil Servants have...

Written Answers — Mortgage Arrears: Mortgage Arrears (26 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Financial Regulator published new data on mortgage arrears and repossessions on 22 December 2009. This is the latest available data relevant to the Deputy's question and will be updated on a quarterly basis. The data shows that, as at end September 2009, there were 26,271 (3.3% of total) mortgage accounts in arrears of more than 90 days. Of this figure 17,767 (2.2% of total) were more...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (26 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am aware that because of the recent flooding, there are people who may have difficulties renewing flood insurance cover. The principal reason for this is that the decision to provide any specific form of insurance cover and the price at which it is offered is a commercial matter based on the assessment an insurer will make of the risks involved. This risk assessment process which...

Written Answers — Tendering Procedures: Tendering Procedures (26 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Under EU Directives contracting authorities are obliged to advertise contracts valued above certain thresholds in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). These contracts are also advertised on the national public procurement website www.etenders.ie . The current thresholds (exclusive of VAT) which are applicable from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2011 are as follows: for works...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (26 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the estimated amount of tax forgone under Section 481 tax relief in each of the past ten years is as follows: Film Tax Relief Tax Year Tax Cost €m 2000/01 29.2 2001 (9 month tax "year") 11.4 2002 21.7 2003 24.6 2004 19.5 2005 15.7 2006 36.4 2007 31.1 2008 32.8 2009 35.0* *Cost is provisional and may be revised.

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (26 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The cost of extending to the computer game industry a tax relief similar to the scheme for film relief operating under section 481 would depend on the level of uptake by investors and the amounts invested. I am not therefore in a position to provide such an estimate.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (26 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The grades, numbers and salaries paid to staff employed by my Department in 1997 and 2009 are set out in tabular format below. DECEMBER 1997 Full-time Equivalent Headcount FTE Based Salary SECRETARY GENERAL FINANCE 1 1 €111,257.08 SECRETARY GENERAL PSMD 1 1 €105,379.52 SECOND SECRETARY 3 3 €298,513.50 CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER 1 1 €79,669.64 ASST SECRETARY TOTAL 9 9 €605,364.55...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (26 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that repairs and maintenance of property for the elderly are not exempt from VAT. In certain circumstances, refunds of VAT can be claimed for work which is carried out to provide an aid to assist a disabled person. This would include for example the construction of specially adapted toilets or shower units. In the case referred to the work in...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (26 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The income levy is payable on gross income from all sources before any tax reliefs, capital allowances, losses or pension contributions. However, there are a number of exemptions from the income levy. The exemptions from the income levy include: - all social welfare payments; - individuals who hold full medical cards; - individuals whose annual income does not exceed €15,028 per annum; -...