Results 1,521-1,540 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Written Answers — Mortgage Arrears: Mortgage Arrears (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: A clear distinction needs to be made between householders who are in a position to meet their mortgage repayments and those who are not, or who are most vulnerable to entering into arrears on their mortgage repayments. The ESRI in its report in 2009 on Negative Equity in the Irish Housing Market has noted at the outset that: "In many cases negative equity will not be an issue. Many of those...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: This is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. I am advised by Revenue that following failure by the business concerned to arrange payment of the debt or engage meaningfully with Revenue toward payment, the debt was referred to the Revenue Sheriff for collection. I am also advised by Revenue that they have received no request for a meeting from the company to discuss matters. Revenue...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: The position is that legislation to provide the same tax treatment for civil partners as that provided for spouses is currently in preparation. It is intended that the legislation will have effect for the tax year 2011. As the Deputy is aware the shortened timescale for this year's Finance Act meant that it was not possible to include the legislation in that Act but it is intended that the...

Written Answers — Charitable Lotteries Scheme: Charitable Lotteries Scheme (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: This Department allocates funding to REHAB under the Charitable Lotteries Scheme. Under this Scheme, funding is made available to supplement the income of certain private charitable lotteries whose products are competing directly with National Lottery products. As REHAB is not a State body, the Minister has no role in setting the salary of the CEO. The allocation for the Charitable...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: The position is that individuals who hold a full medical card are not liable to the top rate of Universal Social Charge. These conditions apply regardless of whether the medical card is awarded on the basis of medical circumstances or on the basis of personal income. The criteria used in awarding full medical cards are a matter for the Minister for Health and Children.

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Report of the Review Group on State Assets and Liabilities was considered by Government this week and it is now published and available on the Department of Finance's website. A copy of the Report has also been sent to each member of the Oireachtas.

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that they have not received an application or a Primary Medical Certificate from the named person. If the relevant papers are received they will be dealt with and the person is welcome to contact Mary Kehoe by telephone at 047 62142 for any further assistance.

Written Answers — Tax Clearance Certificates: Tax Clearance Certificates (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that there is no record that an application for a tax clearance certificate has been received from the person named to date. An application form has been sent out to the person named and I would therefore invite the person to submit the completed application to Limerick Revenue District at his earliest convenience.

Written Answers — National Statistics: National Statistics (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the numbers of PAYE income earners earning gross income at the levels mentioned in the question are set out in the following table in terms of 2011 incomes on an annualised basis. All PAYE income earners for Income Tax Year 2011 (provisional) Gross Income Numbers €18,200 - €18,720 20,600 €18,721 - €19,240 20,200 €19,241 -...

Written Answers — National Statistics: National Statistics (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the number of PAYE income earners earning gross income of less than €356 per week is estimated at 669,200 by reference to 2011 incomes. These figures are estimates from the Revenue tax-forecasting model using actual data for the year 2008 adjusted as necessary for income and employment trends in the interim. They are therefore provisional and...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the number of income earners who will pay the Universal Social Charge in 2011 is estimated at 1,984,200. The number of income earners paying the Health Levy in 2010 is estimated at 989,100 and the numbers paying the Income Levy in 2010 is estimated at 1,470,000. The figures are estimates from the Revenue tax-forecasting model using actual data...

Written Answers — Border Inspection Posts: Border Inspection Posts (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that there are no plans at present to establish a border inspection or other such post at Killybegs. Service to Killybegs-based traders is available from the Revenue office in Donegal Town, which is only 25 kilometres from Killybegs. A pool of staff is available at Donegal Town to ensure continuity and consistency of service and to deliver a broad...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 was enacted on 19 July 2010. The Act establishes a civil partnership registration scheme for same-sex couples together with a range of rights, obligations and protections, including pension rights. On registration of a civil partnership, the civil partners will be treated in the same way as spouses under the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that top slicing relief is not due to the taxpayer in question. The Revenue Commissioners have additionally advised that detailed arrangements have been worked out with the employer in question.

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (21 Apr 2011)

Michael Noonan: In the first part of his question the Deputy is referring to the commitment in the Programme for Government to increasing mortgage interest relief to 30% for First Time Buyers who bought between 2004 and 2008 and to finance this in part by abolishing interest relief for new buyers from June 2011. When this proposal has been thoroughly examined and analysed and the findings and...

Fiscal Policy (3 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: The State's debt burden has increased substantially over the last number of years as a result of the significant deterioration in our public finances, owing to the economic downturn and the significant level of State support provided to the banking sector. A gross general Government debt level of €148 billion or 96% of GDP, as it is estimated to have been at the end of 2010, is very high...

Fiscal Policy (3 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Deputy is correct that the level of growth in the economy is a very important component of whether the debt continues to be manageable but equally important is the size of the debt and the interest rate charged on the debt. It is a combination of three inputs. On the growth rates projected in the stability programme update put before the Houses of the Oireachtas last Friday, the Deputy...

Fiscal Policy (3 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Deputy is correct. All these matters are estimates and projections, and they are the best possible estimate based on the facts, but things are changing rapidly. Things are changing rapidly internationally and therefore it is not possible to predict; but to get back to the Deputy's original question on sustainability, I believe our position is now sustainable. Some people make false...

Banking Sector (3 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Central Bank of Ireland published the findings of its review of remuneration policies and practices in a number of Irish retail banks on its website on 1 December 2010. The review assessed whether banks have changed how they remunerate employees, particularly those in senior executive positions, to reflect incoming regulatory standards and the lessons of the financial crisis. In...

Banking Sector (3 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Deputy has put many questions together, but they are all legitimate and fair. The former CEO of AIB had been discharged by the bank and received his severance package in November 2010 in the lifetime of the previous Government, so there was nothing this Government could do about it. We have done our best to find out the full facts of how the remuneration package was built up. While I...