Results 15,701-15,720 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Property Services Providers: Property Services Providers (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that under current legislation, the Auctioneers and House Agents Acts 1947 to 1973, licences are issued to auctioneers and house agents by the Revenue Commissioners. There are currently no provisions in the legislation that allows the Revenue Commissioners release this information to a third party, other than those agreed to by the licence holder....

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In general, my Department uses the services of the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Chief State Solicitor. However it seeks outside legal advisors in circumstances requiring legal services of a specific nature. The following amounts were paid by my Department in respect of such legal fees for the years 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010: 2008 €1.873m 2009 €5.876m 2010...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have not spent any money directly with the bank. As was stated in the Comptroller and Auditor General's recent report, the NTMA spent €4.54 million with the bank in the period between September 2009 and July 2010. A recent letter from the NTMA to the Public Accounts Committee stated that "Rothschild were appointed to provide banking advisory services to the Minister for Finance, acting...

Written Answers — Infrastructure Investment Priorities: Infrastructure Investment Priorities (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Capital Review published last July was based on a budget of €5.5 billion in each year from 2011 to 2016. Given the need for additional savings, further capital adjustments will be required. Of the total annual cumulative budgetary adjustment by 2014, lower capital allocations will contribute €3 billion. The investment framework set out in the Capital Review (Infrastructure Investment...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (2 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that Section 134 (1)(a) of the Finance Act 1992 provides that a vehicle may be registered without the payment of vehicle registration tax (VRT), if the vehicle is "the personal property of a private individual and is being brought permanently into the State by the individual when he is transferring his normal residence from a place outside the State...

Written Answers — Public Sector Staff: Public Sector Staff (2 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As is customary, I do not propose to comment in advance of the Budget on any matters that might be the subject of Budget decisions.

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (2 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Salaries payable to Members of the Oireachtas are established under legislation, the Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) Act 1938. Members of the Oireachtas as office holders, are not covered by the terms of the Croke Park Agreement. Following a recommendation of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector (Report Number 38 in 2000) salaries paid to Members are linked to that...

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (2 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Policy in relation to Company Law matters are the responsibility of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Innovation in the first instance.

Written Answers — National Pensions Reserve Fund: National Pensions Reserve Fund (2 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The National Pensions Reserve Fund (NPRF) was established on 2 April 2001 under the National Pensions Reserve Fund Act 2000 with the objective of meeting as much as possible of the cost to the Exchequer of social welfare pensions and public service pensions to be paid from the year 2025 until at least 2055. The Act provided for the establishment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (2 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears (CCMA), a statutory Code issued by the Central Bank under Section 117 of the Central Bank Act 1989, sets out requirements for lenders in their dealings with borrowers who are having difficulties meeting their mortgage repayments. Lenders are required to comply with the CCMA as a matter of law and the Central Bank has the power to administer sanctions...

Written Answers — Tax Reliefs: Tax Reliefs (2 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Revenue Job Assist Scheme provides an incentive to encourage both the long-term unemployed to take up employment and employers to employ the long-term unemployed. Additional tax relief is available which is tapered over three years for the unemployed person returning to work. A tapering child allowance in respect of dependent children may also be due. A double wage deduction is available...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (2 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: An individual aged 65 or over is eligible for a refund of DIRT, or to have interest paid free from DIRT, if his or her taxable income, including deposit interest, does not exceed the relevant income tax exemption limits, currently €20,000 for single individuals and €40,000 for married couples. The National Recovery Plan 2011 – 2014 (NRP) provides for the abolition of a number of...

Written Answers — Tax Reliefs: Tax Reliefs (2 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In line with a recommendation of the Commission on Taxation, Finance Act 2010 provided for the abolition of tax relief for service charges. The relief was abolished for the tax year 2012 and subsequent tax years in respect of service charges paid in the financial year 2011 and subsequent financial years. Under existing legislation, the tax relief is available for the tax year 2011 in...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (2 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The National Recovery Plan contains proposals for changes to the tax and other relief arrangements for private or supplementary pension provision over the period of the Plan, including a gradual reduction to standard rate income tax (20%) relief on employee/individual contributions to pension arrangements commencing in 2012. Pension contributions are made by certain employees in both the...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (2 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Government announced on 28 November 2010 that it had agreed in principle to the provision of €85 billion of financial support to Ireland by Member States of the European Union through the European Financial Stability Mechanism and the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF); bilateral loans from the UK, Sweden and Denmark; and the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Extended Fund...

Written Answers — European Single Currency: European Single Currency (2 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I attend meetings of the Eurogroup and Ecofin, which comprise the Finance Ministers of the Euro area and the EU respectively, together with the European Commission and the European Central Bank (ECB). It is a priority of the Eurogroup, ECOFIN and the European Council (EC) to ensure the financial stability of the Euro area and the EU as a whole. I can assure the Deputy that the supportive...

Budget Statement 2011 (7 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: This has been a traumatic and worrying time for the citizens of our country. They are concerned that we had to seek external support to help us with our economic and financial difficulties. They are worried about the impact of this momentous and difficult decision on all our lives. Yet, in fact, even in this most intractable and complex crisis, there are clear signs of hope. Amid the...

Budget Statement 2011 (7 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: -----along with a number of other changes to social welfare schemes and entitlements. Extra Fuel Allowance Payment In view of the harsh weather conditions experienced in recent weeks, I am allocating an additional €14 million to the fuel allowance scheme to enable a payment of €40 to households that receive the fuel allowance payment. The Department of Social Protection is putting...

Budget Statement 2011 (7 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The 10% reduction in the pay of new entrants to the public service contained in the national recovery plan will be applied to the salary rate of those appointed to hold office in the Judiciary in 2011. The €250,000 maximum will be applied to all such offices. A reduced maximum rate of pay of €250,000 will apply to the next President of Ireland. I want to record the significant...

Budget Statement 2011 (7 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Public service pensions have until now been unaffected by the pay reductions. The grace period, under which previous salary levels are to be used to calculate pension entitlements, was due to expire by the end of 2011. This is being extended by two months to prevent a build up of public service retirements in 2011 and to spread the extra pension lump sum costs over a more manageable period...