Results 14,161-14,180 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Credits (4 Feb 2014)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 to 179, inclusive, together. The position is that as a result of an amendment which I brought forward at Committee Stage of the Finance Bill, a primary carer who is entitled to the credit and who does not wish to avail of it can choose to surrender it.  A secondary carer may then make a claim for the credit, provided that the qualifying child...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services Regulation (4 Feb 2014)

Michael Noonan: Section 149 of the Consumer Credit Act 1995 (as amended)  came into effect in May 1996 and requires that credit institutions and bureaux de change notify the Central Bank if they wish to: - introduce any new customer 'charge' for providing a service or - increase any existing customer 'charge' for providing a service.  The following table, provided by the Central...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Rebates (4 Feb 2014)

Michael Noonan: As you are aware the One-Parent Family Tax Credit has been replaced with a new Single Person Child Carer Tax Credit from 1 January 2014. However, the credit is more targeted in that it is, in the first instance, only available to the principal carer of the child.  The person who receives the child benefit payment is being used as the initial indicator by the Revenue Commissioners to...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Information and Communications Technology Issues (4 Feb 2014)

Michael Noonan: An innovative approach to the EU Presidency in 2013 was adopted by my Department in the development of the EU Presidency App which was available on iTunes and the Google Play Store. This App was designed to assist all delegations coming to Ireland to enjoy a more interactive way of finding out relevant information for their meetings, travel, accommodation and other amenities.  The...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Consultancy Contracts (4 Feb 2014)

Michael Noonan: As the Deputy may be aware, my Department commissions biannual SME credit demand surveys, securing completed responses from 1,500 SMEs, to ascertain the situation in relation to: - the demand for credit from SMEs; - their level of knowledge on their rights in relation to credit; - the reasons given for refusal of credit and; - the failure of SMEs to seek credit. Following a...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Fuel Prices (4 Feb 2014)

Michael Noonan: 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 fluctuation in oil prices over recent years reflected additional factors such as geopolitical uncertainty in Northern Africa and the Middle East with potential supply disruptions. As Minister for Finance I have no jurisdiction or...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Vehicle Registration Issues (4 Feb 2014)

Michael Noonan: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that Statutory Instrument (S.I.) No. 318 of 1992, Vehicle Registration and Taxation Regulations (as amended by Statutory Instrument No. 542 of 2012) prescribes the format, lettering, dimensions and technical specifications of registration plates to be displayed on vehicles in the State.  I am also informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Hospital Closures (4 Feb 2014)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 to 191, inclusive, together. I am advised that there were extensive efforts to find either a private or public purchaser for the Mount Carmel Hospital.  I am advised that in early 2013, Goodbody Corporate Finance were retained by the owners of Mount Carmel to sell it as a going concern.  A detailed sales campaign began in April 2013.  49...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Property Taxation Yield (4 Feb 2014)

Michael Noonan: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that compliance data in relation to the Local Property Tax (LPT) for 2013 are available broken down by city and county councils nationally and the most up to date figures are published on the Commissioners website at: .  The Commissioners have confirmed that by the end of December 2013 €318m had been transferred by Revenue to the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Property Taxation Administration (4 Feb 2014)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by Revenue that amended by that self-employed persons may incur an LPT generated surcharge on their Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax liability, where LPT return(s) are outstanding or where agreed payment arrangements are not met at the date of filing the IT/CGT return. Where such a surcharge arises, it amounts to 10% of the IT/CGT liability and is in addition to the actual LPT...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Property Taxation Collection (4 Feb 2014)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by Revenue that the Local Property Tax (LPT) records of the individual in question have been corrected and that a refund of the monies deducted in error from his occupational pension was made. However it appears that additional deductions have been made in error by the pension provider. In regard to the multiple property records in this case, an incorrect property record was...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Instruments (4 Feb 2014)

Michael Noonan: I believe the Deputy is referring to the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive and Regulation (MiFID II and MiFIR - "MiFID"). Provisional political agreement on this file was achieved on 15 January 2014 but it remains subject to further technical work and will need to be ratified by both the European Parliament and the Council.  MiFID aims to make...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tote Licences (5 Feb 2014)

Michael Noonan: The tote was established under the Totalisator Act 1929 and  to date Bord Na gCon and Horse Racing Ireland (or their predecessors) are the only bodies licensed to operate a tote. The primary purpose of this arrangement is to fund the horse and greyhound racing industry in Ireland. The licence for Tote Ireland is due to expire in 2014 and an application for its renewal is under...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Universal Social Charge Exemptions (5 Feb 2014)

Michael Noonan: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the universal social charge is not payable where the annual income of an individual does not exceed €10,036. Income subject to the universal social charge includes private pension income but excludes all payments made by the Department of Social Protection. If the person concerned wishes to seek a review of tax liability for 2013...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector Issues (5 Feb 2014)

Michael Noonan: The Central Bank has advised that it does not comment on the commercial decisions of individual regulated entities. In a supervisory capacity, the Central Bank oversees and reviews bank practices and regulatory adherence. In addition, the Central Bank monitors the specified Credit Institutions in relation to the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Targets (MART). The Deputy will be aware that the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Consultancy Contracts (5 Feb 2014)

Michael Noonan: The information requested by the Deputy could not be collated in the time available. I will respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Repayments Issues (5 Feb 2014)

Michael Noonan: The Central Bank of Ireland  (CBI) has advised me that Chapter 5 of its Consumer Protection Code contains provisions relating to assessing suitability and affordability of credit, including for example, Provision 5.9 which provides that lenders must carry out an assessment of affordability to ascertain the personal consumer's likely ability to repay the debt over the duration of the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Illicit Trade in Tobacco (5 Feb 2014)

Michael Noonan: I made this statement in the context of a debate on illegal trade in tobacco in this House last November. I am aware that some years back there was a problem where it appeared that the tobacco industry was involved in the oversupply of certain markets.  As a result of this the European Community and the Member States concluded  co-operation agreements with the four main...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Home Renovation Incentive Scheme Eligibility (6 Feb 2014)

Michael Noonan: The Home Renovation Incentive (HRI) provides for an income tax credit for homeowners who carry out repair, renovation or improvement work on their only or main residence. Qualifying work must cost a minimum of €4,405 excluding VAT. The maximum qualifying cost for the purpose of the Incentive is €30,000 excluding VAT.  Qualifying expenditure is expenditure subject to the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Single Euro Payments Area (6 Feb 2014)

Michael Noonan: I have been informed by the Central Bank of Ireland that while it is difficult to answer this question definitively without more specific information, there is nothing in the SEPA Direct Debit (SDD) scheme rules which should lead to a consumer being unexpectedly debited on an earlier value date by any direct debit originator. However, the SDD scheme rules differ from those of the Irish...