Results 1,661-1,680 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

EU-IMF Programme: Statements (4 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: I welcome the opportunity to update the House on the outcome of the first and second quarterly programme review of the EU-IMF programme of financial support. Since taking office, the Government has addressed the banking situation, with the measures set out in the announcement made on 31 March. The Government has also engaged in a more co-operative fashion at European level with a view to...

EU-IMF Programme: Statements (4 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: I can circulate the script in which there is other material. If necessary, when I am concluding the debate I can use some of the material.

EU-IMF Programme: Statements (4 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: It took Sinn Féin 30 years to get back to Sunningdale.

Banking Sector Regulation (4 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: I thank Deputy Daly for his contribution. One of the difficulties in replying to the Adjournment debate is that one works from a prepared script and I had no previous sight of the Deputy's views. I will read out what I have and then comment on what he stated. The Deputy will appreciate that a balance must be achieved by the Government between influencing the banks through the bank guarantee...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (4 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: It must be recognised that emissions from the transport sector remain significant. The carbon tax is about sending price signals to the sector as a whole. The carbon tax does not differentiate between private and public transport per se, however, the impact on public transport will be far less than on private transport by virtue of the fact that the carbon tax is dispersed amongst more...

Written Answers — Revenue Commissioners Staff: Revenue Commissioners Staff (4 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 to 55, inclusive, together. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that Revenue is an integrated Tax and Customs administration, and all Revenue staff are available for assignment to any required functions in accordance with currently identified priorities and risks. Currently (30 April) the Revenue Commissioners have 881 staff serving in the Border,...

Written Answers — Customs Searches: Customs Searches (4 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that all private aircraft arrivals at Ireland West Airport Knock are monitored on an ongoing basis, and based on risk analysis, profiling, review of intelligence etc., a decision is made on whether or not to search a private aircraft. While private aircraft are boarded from time to time at Ireland West Airport Knock, to check for drugs and other...

Written Answers — Motor Vehicle Registration: Motor Vehicle Registration (4 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Deputy may be aware that the rate of €50 for Category C vehicles had not been increased since its introduction in 1993 (when it was set at £40 and converted to €50 in 2002). Given that the rate hardly covered the administration costs of registering a vehicle, in particular when the pre-registration examination cost from 1 September 2010 is deducted from the VRT rate, it was decided...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (4 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the information requested by the Deputy, insofar as it is available, is as follows. Total No. of SPVs Section 110 companies have been obliged to submit Form S110 notifications since 6 February 2003. The number of notifications received from that date is 1694. It is likely that a number of these companies have ceased business in the interim. No...

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (4 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: The purpose of the Insurance Compensation Fund (ICF) is to protect policy holders in the event of their insurer becoming insolvent. As the Deputy is aware, the Joint Administrators of QIL (in administration) last week announced the sale of certain QIL assets and liabilities to Liberty Mutual Direct Insurance Company Ltd, representing the best option for policy holders of QIL. The Joint...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (4 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Central Bank of Ireland is not Exchequer funded. This matter is the responsibility of the Central Bank Commission and the Minister for Finance had no role in the matter. However, the Central Bank has informed me that the final consultancy cost is expected to be in the region of €30m, including VAT. It is important to note that the costs relate to the three firms and third party...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (4 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: Legislative provision for the protection of whistleblowers in the financial services sector will be considered in the context of the commitment in the Programme for Government for the introduction of whistleblowers' legislation.

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (4 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Valuation Act 2001 which came into effect on 2 May, 2002, provides that all buildings used or developed for any purpose including constructions affixed thereto are rateable unless expressly exempted under Schedule 4 of the Act. Such exempt buildings would principally include those used for public worship, education and health care provided on a not-for-profit basis, and charitable...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (4 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: The universal social charge (USC) was introduced with effect from 1 January 2011. There is an exempt annual threshold of €4,004 (€77 per week). However, where this threshold is exceeded, the entire amount is chargeable. The standard rates of charge are: - 2% on the first €10,036, - 4% on the next €5,980, and - 7% on the balance. As the Deputy is aware, the Finance Act 2011...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (4 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 66 together. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they initiate legal action in a broad range of circumstances as part of their debt management, compliance, investigations and prosecution programmes, and the results since 2006 are set out in the following tables. The numbers are small, having regard to the size of the taxpayer base, but these...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (4 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Deputy will appreciate that the concerns raised by him – which are indeed shared by this Government and the citizens of the country – are subject to various on-going investigations. Bodies such as the Director of Public Prosecutions, Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, Central Bank and Garda Síochána are statutorily independent in the exercise of their executive...

Written Answers — State Banking Sector: State Banking Sector (4 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: As the Deputy may be aware, responsibility for the normal ongoing business of the bank, which includes staffing levels and the pay and conditions of the bank's staff, is a matter for the Board of Anglo. Significant progress has been made by the Board in reducing staffing levels in the bank. Anglo Irish Bank publishes information on its staffing levels and costs in its annual report and...

EU-IMF Programme: Statements (Resumed) (5 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: This from the people who took 30 years to get as far as Sunningdale.

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (5 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: There is no change in the position I set out in my response to Deputy McLellan's Question No. 56 of Tuesday last, 3 May 2011. The position remains the same. The Joint Administrators announced last week the acquisition by Liberty Mutual Direct Insurance Company Limited (LMDI), which is a joint venture between Liberty Mutual and Anglo Irish Bank, of certain assets and liabilities of Quinn...

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (5 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: As there is no change in the position I set out in my response to Deputies Ó Caoláin and Feighan (Questions Nos. 52 and 177) on Tuesday last, 3 May 2011, the position remains the same. The Joint Administrators announced last week the acquisition by Liberty Mutual Direct Insurance Company Ltd (LMDI), a joint venture between Liberty Mutual (LM) and Anglo Irish Bank, of certain assets and...