Results 1,701-1,720 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: Under the terms of the moratorium posts may only be filled by recruitment or promotion with the sanction of the Minister for Finance but this does not preclude public service organisations from internally reorganising work or redeploying staff internally to accommodate changes in work priorities. The deployment and management of staff in a Government Department or Office is primarily a matter...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No 2) Act 2009 provides for the reduction in the pay rates of all persons employed by public service bodies, as defined under the Act, with effect from 1 January 2010. Such reductions apply irrespective of whether a particular post is funded in whole or in part through non-Exchequer funds or income. The non-teaching staff referred to...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008 will significantly extend the remit of the Ombudsman to a much wider range of public bodies including third level institutions. The Bill completed all stages in the Dáil in June 2010 and is currently awaiting second stage in the Seanad.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: The individual who is the subject of the Deputy's question was appointed on 01/01/2008 following an open public competition by the Top Level Appointments Committee (TLAC) to the position of Assistant Secretary in the Public Expenditure Division (PED), later the Sectoral Policy Division (SPD) in my Department. Subsequently, he was appointed by the Government to the position of Secretary...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 97 together. The Government decided that Ministers and Ministers of State, the Attorney General and the Ceann Comhairle can appoint two civilian drivers on a contract of employment that is co-terminus with their period of appointment as Office Holder. Alternatively, Office Holders have the option to appoint civilian drivers to a twelve month contract...

Written Answers — National Asset Management Agency: National Asset Management Agency (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: NAMA informs me that the retail businesses referred to in the Deputy's question are owned by a partnership and that differences have emerged among some of the partners as regards the ongoing management of the businesses. NAMA is committed to contributing to the purposes of the Act which, inter alia, require it to contribute to the social and economic development of the State in addition to...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: A derogation under EU Directive 2003/96 on Energy Taxation allowed the application of a reduced rate of Mineral Oil Tax to fuel used for the purposes of certain road passenger services. That derogation has expired and the arrangement was, therefore, terminated by the Finance Act 2008. It would not be possible, having regard to the relevant provisions of EU law, to re-introduce a scheme of...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: My officials have informed me there was an inaccuracy in the reply to the earlier question. I apologise to the Deputy for any inconvenience or confusion this may have caused. Section 106B Stamp Duty Consolidation Act 1999 previously provided for a stamp duty exemption on a conveyance of property either by or to a housing authority or the Affordable Homes Partnership. This section was...

Written Answers — Interest Rates: Interest Rates (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Government is conscious of the difficult environment commercial mortgage holders are facing. Operating in this challenging economic climate is not easy for businesses. As I informed the Deputy in the House last week, I will ask the regulatory authorities to examine this area to see if something can be done.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: There is a commitment in the Programme for Government to help homeowners in distress to weather the recession. One of these proposals relates 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 mortgage interest relief for new buyers from June 2011. When this proposal has been thoroughly examined and...

Written Answers — National Anthem: National Anthem (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: In response to the Deputy's question, my Department is aware that the copyright to the National Anthem will expire in December 2012. I can assure the Deputy that consideration will be given prior to that date to protect the National Anthem to ensure that is not used in an inappropriate context and without due deference, such as to render it an object of scorn or derision.

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: The Government is determined that public service management will be proactive and ambitious in delivering on the full range of productivity and change measures envisaged in the Public Service Agreement (Croke Park Agreement), and accepted as necessary by all parties to it. The Government is on record as saying that it would like to see an accelerated implementation of the ambitious reform...

Written Answers — Expenditure Reviews: Expenditure Reviews (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: Given the nature of the EU/IMF Programme and the resulting content of the Programme documents, there are numerous references to assessments, reviews and reports. Most of these concern regular reporting requirements that Ireland has to comply with or the quarterly reviews of Programme compliance by the EU, ECB and IMF (Troika). However, there are references to a number of assessments,...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (10 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that traders in any EU Member State who sell goods at the zero rate of VAT to traders in another EU Member State have legal obligations in relation to verifying the VAT numbers of the purchasers; this may be done through the European Commission website at http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/. Traders also have obligations in relation to...

Written Answers — Departmental Functions: Departmental Functions (11 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 59 together. The process of transferring functions from one Department to another is carried out by means of Government Orders under powers contained in section 6(1) of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1939, while in some cases primary legislation may be needed. Each Order is carefully drafted so that all relevant legislation is listed in...

Written Answers — Fuel Smuggling: Fuel Smuggling (11 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners, who are responsible for the collection of mineral oil tax and for tackling the illicit trade in fuel products, that they are conscious of the threat posed by laundered fuel, and that they have undertaken ongoing extensive enforcement action, which has led to the detection of oil laundries and the prosecution of individuals and companies involved....

Written Answers — Compensation Schemes: Compensation Schemes (11 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: There are no plans to introduce a compensation scheme for persons who may have lost money as a result of purchasing shares in privatised State companies.

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (11 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: Following my Statement on the restructuring of the domestic banking system on 31 March last, each of the covered institutions is required to prepare comprehensive plans detailing how the restructuring, reorganisation and deleveraging process will be implemented. Under the revised terms of the Financial Measure Programme agreed with the IMF and EU, these plans will also form part of the...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (11 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: My intention is that Minister, Deputy Howlin, and I will present the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill for consideration by the Government at its meeting next Tuesday 17 May, with a view to publishing it as soon as possible thereafter. Staff of both the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will continue to work in their existing locations in...

Written Answers — National Anthem: National Anthem (11 May 2011)

Michael Noonan: I understand that the Irish translation which became generally known and used was written perhaps as early as 1917 by Liam Ó Rinn, who later became Chief Translator to the Oireachtas. He translated the first line of the chorus, "Soldiers are we, whose lives are pledged to Ireland" as "Sinne fianna fáil, atá fá gheall ag Éireinn"'. With regard to the history, development and...