Results 23,301-23,320 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Investigations (3 Jul 2013)

Michael McGrath: 191. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide details of each of the separate investigations currently underway by An Garda Síochána into the banking collapse; the subject matter being investigated; if he will provide an update in respect of each investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32529/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Investigations (3 Jul 2013)

Michael McGrath: 192. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if An Garda Síochána has launched an investigation into the leaking of certain tapes of Anglo Irish Bank telephone calls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32530/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Committals (3 Jul 2013)

Michael McGrath: 190. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality in the situation where a person receives a custodial sentence and in the absence of a specific direction for the judge, the person who decides in which prison the convicted person will serve his or her sentence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32524/13]

Other Questions: Banking Sector Remuneration (2 Jul 2013)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Minister for his reply. We had an exchange on this matter during our last session of finance questions. I am not naive enough to believe that there would not be pain for all bank employees. Clearly, there has already been pain and there will be more. In particular, difficult decisions about pension schemes have been made. In the case of Permanent TSB, for example, these...

Other Questions: Economic Growth Initiatives (2 Jul 2013)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Minister for his reply. There is a job of work to be done in marketing the potential role of the European Investment Bank in Ireland, particularly with SMEs. In my experience, SMEs' level of awareness of the EIB is quite weak. When I come across them and point out the various initiatives and sources of funding available, many of them are not aware of them, despite the efforts...

Other Questions: Economic Growth Initiatives (2 Jul 2013)

Michael McGrath: As the Minister indicated there were successes during the six-month Presidency, in particular with regard to his stewardship of ECOFIN and he is to be commended on this. Although there are issues with regard to some of the details, it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge this. The question I tabled is particularly relevant in the context of the very weak economic data we had last week....

Other Questions: Strategic Investment Fund Management (2 Jul 2013)

Michael McGrath: This is potentially a very positive development and I have a few questions on it. I assume the principle of retaining the NPRF remains and the Government will continue to have non-discretionary portfolios consisting of shareholdings in banks, for example. When the Minister refers to any returns from these commercial investments going back into the fund, is he talking about the strategic...

Other Questions: Strategic Investment Fund Management (2 Jul 2013)

Michael McGrath: Will the Minister clarify my first question? Will the NPRF be retained into the future and is the principle of providing for the long-term pension liabilities of the State still being subscribed to? Are returns from commercial investments drawn from the NPRF money to be returned to the NPRF? The Minister says that the ISIF will decide on which projects can proceed on a commercial basis but,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mortgage Arrears Proposals (2 Jul 2013)

Michael McGrath: We need the breakdown in aggregate form of the 25,000 sustainable solution offers the Minister said have been made. Under the definition provided in the mortgage arrears resolution targets it is up to the bank to make the call as to what that solution is but it can be interest only. That is fine for those in short-term financial difficulty but it can mean putting somebody into insolvency or...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mortgage Arrears Proposals (2 Jul 2013)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Minister for his reply. I believe that with all the focus in the last week or so understandably having been on the Anglo tapes, the revised code of conduct and the latest mortgage arrears statistics have not received the attention they deserve. More than 142,000 families are in mortgage arrears on the family home at present. This is a national crisis that deserves a decisive...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mortgage Arrears Proposals (2 Jul 2013)

Michael McGrath: At present, the evidence on the ground is that the banks are becoming more aggressive. They are being armed with more and more tools by the Central Bank and the Government.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mortgage Arrears Proposals (2 Jul 2013)

Michael McGrath: Will Members get information on the sustainable solutions that are being offered?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mortgage Arrears Proposals (2 Jul 2013)

Michael McGrath: 65. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the negligible number of split mortgage arrangements in place to deal with distressed borrowers at the end of March 2013; if he has sought assurances that the banks are putting in place genuinely long-term solutions as required by the mortgage arrears resolutions targets programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32226/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Parliamentary Inquiries (2 Jul 2013)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Minister for his reply. All of us in this House have an obligation to channel the understandable anger of the Irish people from the revelations over the past week into something positive, and to do something constructive. Above all else, the public want to see the criminal justice system work efficiently. I note from today's Irish Independent that the Central Bank is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Parliamentary Inquiries (2 Jul 2013)

Michael McGrath: That is a key weakness. It is one of the reasons why a political banking inquiry will not ultimately be successful. Even at this late stage, I am calling on the Minister for Finance to reconsider his view on that issue.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Parliamentary Inquiries (2 Jul 2013)

Michael McGrath: We will very much contribute to that process but the reality is that the House is controlled by the Executive and therefore the terms of reference will, in essence, be decided by the Cabinet. Let us be honest with people about that. Nobody wants to embark on an inquiry which would in any way compromise important criminal investigations. We all take that as a given, so whatever form of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Parliamentary Inquiries (2 Jul 2013)

Michael McGrath: 62. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on whether a comprehensive inquiry into the banking collapse in Ireland is required; the form he believes such an inquiry should take; when he believes that inquiry will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32225/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (2 Jul 2013)

Michael McGrath: 107. To ask the Minister for Finance the steps he is taking to ensure that the nature of Ireland’s corporation tax regime is not misrepresented internationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31897/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Bank Guarantee Scheme Bond Repayments (2 Jul 2013)

Michael McGrath: 247. To ask the Minister for Finance the losses imposed on subordinated bondholders in covered institutions from liability management exercises in each year since 2008; the number of legal actions currently under way against the State in respect of these actions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31963/13]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme Applications (27 Jun 2013)

Michael McGrath: 28. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he intends to seek applications for the next round of applications for the Sports Capital Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31076/13]