Results 13,681-13,700 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 May 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Yes, early 2011. I welcome the general consensus on the need for change. However, I am acutely aware that there are different perspectives on financial regulatory reform. I fully expect that before the ink is dry on these very necessary reforms, some Members will express fears that we are overreacting to the crisis and that the pendulum will swing too far towards over-regulation. Indeed, I...

Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 May 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am only outlining my views on this matter.

Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 May 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Mr. McCreevy is not a member of this House. I am simply giving the Deputy my views on a particular line of argument that I anticipate. I pointed out that there are voices on Wall Street are advising US reformers that they will scare business away -----

Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 May 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have not heard any voices from Kildare in recent weeks, since Kildare was liberated from his strong obligations to the European Union.

Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 May 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In London, regulators are being told that they will frighten investors away to Geneva, and so on. However, the truth is that we are looking at an international reform movement intent on instilling high standards and preventing opportunistic regulatory arbitrage. In this, I share the views expressed by President Obama in his recent address making the case for regulatory reform. A strong,...

Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Referral to Select Committee (12 May 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 Code: Tax Code (12 May 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have no plans to abolish VRT. In that regard it must be recognised that in Ireland VRT is an important source of revenue for the Exchequer; for example yielding around €1.3bn in 2006, €1.4bn in 2007 and €1.1bn in 2008. The receipts for 2009 at €375 million reflected the contraction in economic activity. As the Deputy will be aware, it would not be possible to abolish VRT without...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (12 May 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Banknote Recycling Framework (BRF) was adopted by the ECB in 2005, with a deadline of end 2007 for full implementation. It laid down a standard for the authenticity and quality of banknotes to be issued to the public and rules for the sorting of banknotes to be issued via ATMs and over the counter by credit institutions and professional cash handlers. Ireland and several other Eurozone...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (12 May 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: My officials are currently working on an extension to the FOI Act and it is intended that the Railway Safety Commission, The Advisory Council to the Commission for Taxi Regulation and the Railway Safety Advisory Council will be considered along with a number of other public bodies for inclusion under the FOI Act.

Written Answers — National Asset Management Agency: National Asset Management Agency (12 May 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: NAMA purchases eligible loans from participating institutions and manages these loans with the intention of generating the best possible return. NAMA does not directly purchase property, including hotels. The loans to be purchased are land and development loans and certain associated loans. Loans secured on hotels will be eligible only if they fall within these categories. NAMA has the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (12 May 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The following table sets out details of all amounts spent by my Department in respect of IT services in the last five years (2005 to 2009). The table also contains the additional details requested by the Deputy with regard to the nature of services provided and details of the successful tenders. The full-time equivalent number of staff employed within my Department's IT section during those...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (12 May 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The following is the information requested in relation to my Department and information supplied by the Offices under the aegis of my Department. Dept/Office Finance Revenue OPW State Lab CPSA PAS Omb C&AG Appeal Comms Val.Off 1. No of Staff (wte) at 27/3/09 608.61 6,552.00 2,003.23 95.95 11.80 141.51 92.62 157.20 4.00 154.43 2. Current Staff Nos (wte) 551.88 6,089.00 1,896.43 95.40 7.80...

Written Answers — Financial Institutions Support Scheme: Financial Institutions Support Scheme (12 May 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by Irish Nationwide Building Society that the remuneration of Directors and senior staff at the Society is in compliance with the recommendations of the Covered Institutions Remuneration Oversight Committee.

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (12 May 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 124 together. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the relevant available information relates to the numbers of all income earners, both employees taxed under PAYE and self-employed taxed under Schedule D, and the corresponding numbers of these groups who are actually liable to income tax and income levy. The figures relating to income tax...

Written Answers — Financial Institutions Support Scheme: Financial Institutions Support Scheme (12 May 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I received no representations from the Commissioner referred to during the periods specified in the Deputy's question concerning the bank guarantee of Anglo Irish Bank or Irish Nationwide Building Society.

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (12 May 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the person in question is currently under audit by them. Agreement has not yet been reached with the person's agent on the liability arising from the audit. Correspondence detailing settlement liabilities and requesting agreement issued to the agent on 8 March 2010, but as yet, no reply has been received. Once agreement is reached any...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (12 May 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I announced in the Budget that a carbon tax at a rate of €15 per tonne would be introduced on fossil fuels. The tax was applied to petrol and auto-diesel with effect from midnight, 9 December 2009; and applied from 1 May 2010 to kerosene, marked gas oil (also known as 'green diesel' or 'agricultural diesel'), liquid petroleum gas (LPG), fuel oil and natural gas. The application of the tax...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (13 May 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I would like to point out in regard to deferring the implementation date of applying VAT on services provided by public bodies, that the European Court of Justice ruled, in the case C-544/07 against Ireland on 16 July 2009, that Ireland should amend its VAT legislation to provide that State and public bodies are in general subject to VAT. This case goes back to 2004 when infringement...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (13 May 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I would point out that the European Court of Justice ruled, in the case C-544/07 against Ireland on 16 July 2009, that Ireland should amend its VAT legislation to provide that services provided by State and public bodies are in general subject to VAT. The Finance Act 2010 provided that the services of public bodies, including local authorities, would become subject to VAT from 1 July 2010....

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (13 May 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: On 16 July 2009 the European Court of Justice ruled in case C-544/07 against Ireland, that Ireland should amend its VAT legislation to provide that services provided by State and public bodies, including local authorities, are in general subject to VAT. The Finance Act 2010 provided that such services will become taxable from 1 July 2010. With regard to the definition of not-for-profit...