Results 14,701-14,720 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tobacco Smuggling (11 Mar 2014)

Michael Noonan: I am assured by the Revenue Commissioners that combating the illegal tobacco trade is a high priority for them. Their work against this illegal activity includes a range of measures that are designed to identify and target those who are involved in the supply or sale of illicit products, with a view to seizing the illicit products and prosecuting those responsible. This multifaceted...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Legal Costs (11 Mar 2014)

Michael Noonan: The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the following table. Information relating to the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) is not included. I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as possible. Law Firm Legal Fees including VAT (2013) Department of Finance Arthur Cox €1,728,406.91* Matheson €717,923.46 *€986,323.05 recouped from banks...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs Cost (11 Mar 2014)

Michael Noonan: Section 291A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 was introduced in Finance Act 2009 and enables companies to claim capital allowances for expenditure incurred on the provision of intangible assets (e.g. patents, copyright, trademarks, know-how) for the purposes of a trade. Allowances are based on the amount charged to the profit and loss account in respect of the amortisation or...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Schemes (11 Mar 2014)

Michael Noonan: I am informed by the Central Bank of Ireland that, although each securitisation is different, in general terms under a securitisation a bank sells a portfolio of mortgages to a special purpose vehicle (SPV). The mortgages are generally not sold to the market and do not change form. When a bank securitises a portfolio of mortgages/debts, it usually transfers the portfolio by way of an...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: IBRC Liquidation (11 Mar 2014)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Special Liquidators that the valuation exercise being carried out by PwC is being led by partners in the UK office of PWC and not by partners based in Dublin. As the Deputy will be aware Project Atlas was an assignment carried out by PwC for the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority in 2008 and 2009 and it reflects a fundamentally different...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: NAMA Operations (11 Mar 2014)

Michael Noonan: As advised, this land was sold in 2012 by the appointed Receiver.  This transaction is subject to normal commercial confidentiality between the Receiver, as the vendor, and the purchaser.  NAMA's role as a secured lender does not overreach this commercial confidentiality. In terms of the value of the underlying loan, I would remind the Deputy that NAMA is subject to similar legal...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Revenue Documents (11 Mar 2014)

Michael Noonan: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that pay and tax details are contained in Forms P60, which are issued by employers to their employees at the end of each tax year. However, the Revenue Commissioners do also have access to the pay and tax details as submitted by the employer in the annual P35 return. In relation to the case referred to by the Deputy, I am advised that the pay...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs Availability (11 Mar 2014)

Michael Noonan: Tax relief is not available to parents in respect of creche fees or childcare costs. However, I can assure the Deputy that the Government acknowledges the continuing cost pressures on parents, particularly those with young children. In recognition of these cost pressures, a number of support measures are in place to ease the burden on working parents. These include the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (11 Mar 2014)

Michael Noonan: €3,174 is the amount of other income which a taxpayer, whose main source of income is taxable through the PAYE system, can earn, in certain circumstances, before becoming a chargeable person. In this regard, the Deputy's question appears to relate to an individual aged under 66 whose main source of income is from employment that is taxable through the PAYE system, who does not have...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Appointments to State Boards (11 Mar 2014)

Michael Noonan: In response to the Deputy's question all appointments made to boards of bodies under the aegis of my Department are made on the basis of qualifications  and suitability  to carry out the tasks required  as a sitting board member. The Merc Partners survey gives an insight into some of the reasons why some private sector executives would not be interested in applying for...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: House Prices (12 Mar 2014)

Michael Noonan: My Department is of course aware of price developments in the housing market. When assessing the recent pick-up in house prices it is important to remember that residential property prices fell by just over 50 per cent from peak-to-trough and residential property prices nationally are still 47 per cent lower than at their highest level in September 2007. Indeed, while much of the attention...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Collection (12 Mar 2014)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the customer concerned has only recently registered for Income Tax. The customer's agent has been advised that the returns made to Revenue are incomplete and that it is not currently possible to issue notices of assessment.  The taxpayer should contact Mr. Mick Duggan, Revenue Commissioners, Revenue House, Blackpool, Cork at 021-6027232.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector Issues (12 Mar 2014)

Michael Noonan: I recently received a number of letters and emails from Ulster Bank employees on the issues raised in this letter. I understand and appreciate their concerns and responded directly. In Autumn 2013, following a review of its operations by the UK Treasury, RBS reaffirmed its commitment to the Irish market.  As part of that process, Treasury officials engaged with officials from my...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Ministerial Meetings (12 Mar 2014)

Michael Noonan: Since taking office, there have been no official meetings between me or officials of my Department and the company referred to in the question (Communicorp Group Ltd.). Nor have there been such meetings between me or officials of my Department and representatives to said company. For the sake of completeness, I should inform the Deputy that as referenced in the Department of Finance Annual...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Disabled Drivers Grant Eligibility (12 Mar 2014)

Michael Noonan: The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and Vehicle Registration Tax (up to a certain limit), and exemption from motor tax, on the purchase of an adapted car for transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities.  To enter the Scheme the person with the disability must be in possession of a Primary...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Reports (12 Mar 2014)

Michael Noonan: A fully comprehensive response regrettably could not be compiled in the time available. My officials have requested the outstanding material from the various agencies and this will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available. In reply to the Deputy's question, we have however included in the table below what information is available at this juncture. ...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services Regulation (12 Mar 2014)

Michael Noonan: As Minister for Finance, I do not have the primary role in relation to amending the law in relation to the Statute of Limitations.  This is a matter which has broad legal application and, as such, would fall for consideration, in the first instance, by my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality. Turning specifically to Payment Protection Insurance issue, the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Property Taxation Assessments (13 Mar 2014)

Michael Noonan: The Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 (as amended) sets out how a residential property is to be valued for Local Property Tax (LPT) purposes. LPT is a self-assessed tax so it is a matter for the property owner to calculate the tax due based on his or her assessment of the market value of the property as at 1 May 2013. When completing their LPT Return last year, it was expected that...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Availability (13 Mar 2014)

Michael Noonan: The Government recognises that SMEs are the lifeblood of the economy and play a vital role in the continuing recovery of employment growth in our country.  Government policy since 2011 has focused on ensuring that all viable SMEs have access to an appropriate supply of credit from a diverse range of bank and non-bank sources.  Similarly for a number of viable smaller and medium...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Illicit Trade in Tobacco (13 Mar 2014)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that numbers of fines imposed in the years in question in respect of offences relating to illicit tobacco products, and the total values of those fines, are as set out in the following table. -   2011 2012 2013 No. of cases in which  fines were imposed 118 92 62 Total value of fines imposed €253,150 €248,100...