Results 15,681-15,700 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

EU-IMF Programme for Ireland and National Recovery Plan 2011-14: Statements (Resumed) (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am not convinced but, again, I will seek the opinion of the Attorney General on the matter. It seems to envisage a multi-annual framework. I fail to see how that infringes the Constitution. The four year plan does not infringe the Constitution. On Deputy Burton's demand for accountability, there is a commission of inquiry in session under Mr. Nyberg.

EU-IMF Programme for Ireland and National Recovery Plan 2011-14: Statements (Resumed) (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I will if Deputy Noonan bears with me for a moment. On 29 November the Governor of the Central Bank stated in an interview on RTE's "News at One" that Anglo Irish Bank would be out of the system in a number of weeks. The Central Bank issued a clarification statement further to the Governor's appearance in which it stated, as outlined by the Governor, Patrick Honohan, that the Central Bank...

EU-IMF Programme for Ireland and National Recovery Plan 2011-14: Statements (Resumed) (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I would like to emphasise that all deposits held with Anglo Irish Bank are safe and covered by the deposit protection scheme for sums of up to €100,000.

EU-IMF Programme for Ireland and National Recovery Plan 2011-14: Statements (Resumed) (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I heard that suggestion earlier.

EU-IMF Programme for Ireland and National Recovery Plan 2011-14: Statements (Resumed) (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I will try to deal with the questions instead of delivering a conclusion, as it will allow me to be of as much assistance to the House as I can. Deputy Rabbitte asked how much freedom the next Government will have in light of this agreement. It will have as much freedom as I have had since my appointment as Minister for Finance in May 2008. It is important to remember that, when one is...

EU-IMF Programme for Ireland and National Recovery Plan 2011-14: Statements (Resumed) (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Rigorous monitoring is essential and will help to focus public debate where it should be, not on the nonsensical solutions to our economic problems which I read about in the writings of various celebrity economists and which are occasionally echoed in the House.

EU-IMF Programme for Ireland and National Recovery Plan 2011-14: Statements (Resumed) (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: He is not the worst of them, in fairness to him. He is open enough about what he is at at any rate.

EU-IMF Programme for Ireland and National Recovery Plan 2011-14: Statements (Resumed) (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The next question was put by Deputy-----

EU-IMF Programme for Ireland and National Recovery Plan 2011-14: Statements (Resumed) (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am trying to be of assistance. Did Deputy Noonan ask about the orderly restructuring of debt?

EU-IMF Programme for Ireland and National Recovery Plan 2011-14: Statements (Resumed) (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: We must be precise in our terminology. Under this agreement, the Commission and the authorities envisage we will have an orderly restructuring of subordinated debt, but not unguaranteed senior debt or sovereign debt. Clearly, the comments of the German Chancellor in relation to sovereign debt, which have now been clarified, were not of assistance during the crisis to date. As regards Deputy...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I would point out to the Deputy that the 3 organisations operate in an arms length capacity in relation to operational issues. It is a matter for the respective individual boards and senior management to determine and implement pay policy in their organisations subject to their relevant operating environment. From enquiries made, I am informed by the respective institutions that the...

Written Answers — National Asset Management Agency: National Asset Management Agency (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 98 together. To date, as part of the debtor business plan process, NAMA has rigorously sought to ensure efficiencies in all areas of the debtor's businesses, including hotels, and is not in the business of supporting hotels that are not viable. I am informed by NAMA that it has acquired loans secured by 139 hotels in total of which 87 are located in...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that there has been an increasing number of PAYE service providers offering to obtain tax credits or tax refunds for PAYE taxpayers. Revenue encourages people to claim their entitlements to tax credits and tax refunds themselves, and has created an on-line service called PAYE Anytime as a free public service. PAYE Anytime is easy to use and lets...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As the Deputy is aware, the National Recovery Plan 2011-2014 was published last Wednesday. This plan sets out key reform measures required to return our economy to growth, including the abolition or curtailment of a number of tax expenditures. These measures are vital for the recovery of our economy. It is not the usual practice to comment on any possible changes in taxation prior to the...

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The increases provided for under the Towards 2016 Transitional Agreement which included provision for the implementation of the recommendations in the second report of the Public Service Benchmarking Body have not been paid as part of the Government programme of measures to restore stability to the Public Finances.

Written Answers — Public Private Partnership: Public Private Partnership (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In light of the publication of the Government's Four Year Plan last week, I am now in a position to consider proposals for sanction for Public Private Partnership capital projects submitted by departments. As the Deputy is aware, the Plan provides for reduced allocations compared with levels the Government had previously planned for, and therefore projects will have to be reassessed and...

Written Answers — Public Private Partnership: Public Private Partnership (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 104 together. In light of the publication of the Government's Four Year Plan last week, I am now in a position to consider proposals for sanction for Public Private Partnership capital projects when they are submitted by departments. As the Deputy is aware, the Plan provides for reduced allocations compared with levels the Government had previously...

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Public Service Agreement 2010 - 2014, or Croke Park Agreement, provides that to the greatest extent possible , there will be standardised terms and conditions of employment across the Public Service with the focus initially within sectors. As my responsibilities as employer extend only to the civil service, surveys of non–pay conditions applying in the public service are outside my...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the transport of passengers and their accompanying baggage is exempt from VAT under Paragraph 14(3) of Schedule 1 to the Value-Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010. Accordingly, the provision of a taxi service is exempt from VAT. The provider of a service that is exempt from VAT does not charge VAT on the service and is not entitled to deduct, or...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Approved Share Option Scheme was introduced in 2001 and is provided for in Chapter 4, Part 17 and Schedule 12C of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997. It is estimated that the scheme cost €0.5 million in 2009, the most recent year for which statistics are available. Abolition of the scheme was recommended by the Commission on Taxation in its recent report. The Commission indicated that...