Results 12,681-12,700 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I thank the many Deputies who made their considered and useful contributions to the debate yesterday evening and today and I look forward to a constructive discussion on Committee Stage. I will try, as far as possible in the time available to me, to address the points raised by the Deputies yesterday and today. Of course, there will be a further opportunity on Committee Stage to deal in...

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is quite clear from the note, which is now on my Department's website, that the IMF fully backed the Government's policy on the banks and the establishment of NAMA.

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I do not intend to revisit the debate this evening, but Deputies are aware that there was a very intensive debate culminating in the enactment of the legislation. I remind Deputy Burton that time and again during that debate I stated that we need to be clear that it is not in the interests of the banks or of this economy for the banks return to the excessive and imprudent lending of the past.

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: That is the last thing we need. It was in the context of a discussion about that very point that Mr. Seelig made his remarks about the impact of NAMA on the availability of credit. I am very pleased that Mr. Seelig has, at my request, agreed to serve on the board of NAMA when he retires from the IMF this year.

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: We are all concerned about the availability of credit.

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: This is why the credit guidelines were included in the NAMA legislation and this is why NAMA was set up to cleanse the banks' balance sheets of toxic loans. The IMF delegation agreed with this view and that point was made in the debate. I refer to measures contained in the Bill. I welcome the support given by Deputies Bruton and Kennedy and the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, on the...

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have put the record straight. The Deputy can examine the record. A number of Deputies referred to the carbon tax.

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The purpose of the carbon tax is to send a price signal which recognises the environmental cost associated with the consumption of fossil fuels.

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: This price signal will stimulate innovation and increase awareness of energy efficiency. The impact of the carbon tax on agriculture has been mentioned by a number of Deputies, including Deputies Crawford, Breen, O'Mahony, Sherlock and Naughten. Although I appreciate the position many farmers currently find themselves in, the excise duty on agricultural diesel is only around one tenth of...

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The rest of the speech relates to the domicile levy, which I have no doubt we will revisit on Committee Stage.

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: There are no new innovations on the levy to be announced in my reply this evening. I will abide by the ruling of the Ceann Comhairle. It will be clear to Deputies that difficult decisions in all areas of policy must continue to be taken. However, such decisions are necessary as we continue to restore sustainability to our public finances and enhance international confidence in Ireland as a...

Finance Bill 2010: Referral to Select Committee (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Finance and the Public Service, in accordance with Standing Order 122(1) and paragraph 1(a)(i) of the Orders of Reference of that committee.

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that data in relation to the estimated loss to Revenue as a result of liquidations, receiverships and examinerships in each of the past four quarters in 2009 is not available due to the current industrial action in the public service. The Revenue Commissioners are charged with responsibility for collection and recovery of a wide range of taxes and...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have not made any changes to Stamp Duty on property in the Finance Bill. The Deputy may be aware that no Stamp Duty is payable by first time purchasers of new or second hand residential property or by owner-occupier purchasers of new residential property under 125 square metres in size. If Stamp Duty on residential property was reduced or abolished, any shortfall in Exchequer receipts...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The seven-year time limit for mortgage interest reliefs refers to seven tax years. A tax year is the period from 1 January to 31 December inclusive. Based on the information provided, there would be an entitlement to mortgage interest relief from 2003, including entitlement on the new mortgage taken out when the person traded up to a new property in 2008. Having received mortgage interest...

Written Answers — European Investment Bank: European Investment Bank (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am only aware of one EU programme which has been introduced post financial crisis to improve the flow of credit which Irish banks have accessed. The European Investment Bank announced on 3 October 2008 that it was increasing lending for European small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to help mitigate the effects of the credit crisis. This support was in the form of a €30 billion facility to...

Written Answers — Civil Service Staff: Civil Service Staff (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Civil servants, including Assistant and Deputy Secretaries, are subject to the Performance Management & Development System for the Civil Service under which short and medium term performance objectives are set for individual officers and performance is assessed at the end of the year.

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The position regarding the remuneration of the Assistant Secretary Grade was considered by Cabinet on 9 December 2009 in the context of its discussion on the draft legislation providing for reductions in public service pay. It was recognised that the draft legislation could allow the particular circumstances of the grade to be addressed although no decision was taken on the manner in which...

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I refer to my reply to Parliamentary Question No: 4890/10 of 2 February 2010: "The pay reductions provided for in the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009, apply to the instruments setting rates of pay. It is a well established principle that the pay of job or work sharers and those on atypical work patterns is calculated by reference to the whole time...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Section 469 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 specifically provides that tax relief for health expenses is allowable for the cost of transport by ambulance. Travelling expenses within the State other than transport by ambulance are not normally regarded as allowable health expenses. However, Revenue, in their published leaflet on health expenses relief (IT6), have stated that where...