Results 2,981-3,000 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Costs (29 Sep 2016)

Michael Noonan: First, I am not responsible for policy on child care, there is a Minister who is. To establish the Government policy on child care, along the lines of the Deputy's supplementary question, he should put down a question for the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and not to me. I have referenced for the Deputy a reply to the notion that different parents should be treated differently...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Costs (29 Sep 2016)

Michael Noonan: Deputy Ryan is ascribing views to me which I do not hold. On no occasion in the preparation for this budget have I indicated that I am introducing any particular measures on child care. I have never spoken about it and I do not know from where the Deputy's assumptions are coming.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Costs (29 Sep 2016)

Michael Noonan: If one was to rely on the newspapers, I would not be here at all. According to last Sunday's newspaper, I should be dead long ago. The Deputy should not assume that what is on the front of a newspaper is a policy position. The Deputy was in government. He knows that quite well. I am sure he was misquoted on several occasions as well. The point is, if the Deputy wants a debate on child...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: NAMA Operations (29 Sep 2016)

Michael Noonan: There are strong accountability requirements under the NAMA Act, and they have been implemented since the Act became law. The activities of NAMA are reviewed as I described, that is, in accordance with the Act. The Committee of Public Accounts is reviewing the value-for-money report produced by the Comptroller and Auditor General into Project Eagle. In the normal process of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: NAMA Operations (29 Sep 2016)

Michael Noonan: If the committee makes recommendations on strengthening accountability and if, in the opinion of the Government, they are fit-for-purpose of course we will implement them. I do not want to give a commitment, sight unseen, on possible recommendations, the content of which I do not know. In principle, I agree with the Deputy.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: VAT Exemptions (29 Sep 2016)

Michael Noonan: VAT is a tax on consumption and is applied to supplies being made by a person and not to supplies received by him or her. In this context, it is not possible under EU VAT law, with which Irish VAT law must comply, to introduce VAT exemptions based on services received or on the basis of the recipient of a service, nor is it possible to allow for zero rating of such supplies. Non-profit...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: VAT Exemptions (29 Sep 2016)

Michael Noonan: I thank the Deputy for that information. The European Commission's action plan on VAT was adopted on 7 April 2016. It contains a proposal to consider VAT rate policy across the EU in 2017. The action plans proposals on rates may offer member states more flexibility in the future in determining VAT rates applicable to goods and services. We will avail of it if it comes through. I am sure...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: NAMA Assets Sale (29 Sep 2016)

Michael Noonan: I have served as Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts and worked closely with different Comptrollers and Auditors General. I have great respect for the work they do. I also have great respect for NAMA, the chairman of the board and the chief executive who have carried out their functions in accordance with law. No charge of irregularity, wrongdoing or improper behaviour has been...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: NAMA Assets Sale (29 Sep 2016)

Michael Noonan: The Deputy is doing what his party has done in Northern Ireland. He is trying to use the issue to damage his opponents politically. The Sinn Féin chairman of the committee in Northern Ireland corrupted the inquiry by coaching a witness to cause damage to the former First Minister. I advise the Deputy very strongly not to do the same in this House. I am going before the Committee of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: NAMA Operations (29 Sep 2016)

Michael Noonan: As per NAMA's most recent section 55 quarter 1 report which is available on its website, the par value of its outstanding loans was €39.6 billion at the end of March. I am advised by it that its section 55 quarter 2 report will be finalised shortly and disclose the par value of its outstanding loans at the end of June. I am further advised that its disposal strategy is, as previously...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: NAMA Assets Sale (29 Sep 2016)

Michael Noonan: It is important to recognise that in no way has the integrity of NAMA or the NAMA board or the integrity of its decisions been brought into question, so I have no intention of directing NAMA to halt sales activities. To do so would irreparably damage NAMA's positive contribution to our recovery and damage our reputation as a credible, open and transparent market. By extension, any such...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Property Tax (29 Sep 2016)

Michael Noonan: Under the LPT legislation the initial valuation of a property on 1st May 2013 was valid until 31 October 2016, and would not have been affected by any increase or decrease in property prices or other changes, including repairs or improvements made, during this period. The next valuation date would have fallen on 1st November 2016. During the passage of the Finance Bill in 2014 I gave a firm...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (29 Sep 2016)

Michael Noonan: A comprehensive review of tax measures in the farming sector was announced in Budget 2014, as a joint initiative between the Department of Finance and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The review focused on three key policy objectives for agri-taxation policy, including: -increasing mobility and productive use of land -assisting succession, and -complementing wider...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Motor Insurance Regulation (29 Sep 2016)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 71 together. The Cost of Insurance Working Group, which I chair, is undertaking a review of the factors which are influencing the increased cost of motor insurance.  The Working Group brings together all the relevant Departments and Offices involved in the process. Its objective is to identify immediate and longer term measures which...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Corporation Tax Regime (29 Sep 2016)

Michael Noonan: On 2 September 2016, the Government decided that a motion would be put forward to the Dáil to support an appeal in the Apple State Aid case. At that time the Government also decided as follows: - to commit to the highest international standards in transparency in the taxation of the corporate sector; - to affirm its commitment to the 12.5% corporation tax rate;...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Motor Insurance Regulation (29 Sep 2016)

Michael Noonan: Motor insurance companies are authorised under the European Union (Insurance and Reinsurance) Regulations 2015. This regulation transposes the EU regulatory framework for insurance and reinsurance known as Solvency II into Irish law. It provides that the authorisation and the day-to-day responsibility for the supervision of insurance companies is a matter for the Central Bank...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: NAMA Investigations (29 Sep 2016)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 41 and 50 together. I assume that the Deputy is referring to allegations of wrongdoing regarding conduct of certain individuals in relation to Project Eagle and in relation to unrelated allegations of disclosure of confidential information.  In each case criminal investigations are being...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Stability and Growth Pact (29 Sep 2016)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 26 together. The fiscal rules - formally known as the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) - have direct application through a number of EU regulations. Changes to these regulations would have to follow the normal EU approach starting with a proposal from the Commission before consideration by Member States and the European Parliament. Having...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Avoidance (29 Sep 2016)

Michael Noonan: I am informed by Revenue that it publishes cost estimates and numbers claiming for a wide range of tax expenditures on the Revenue website, up to 2014 or 2015 (the most recent year available depends on the relief). Updates for later years will be published in due course as newer data becomes available. I am advised that there are some other tax expenditures, not included in the above, for...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: State Aid Investigations (29 Sep 2016)

Michael Noonan: On 30 August 2016, the European Commission issued a negative decision in the Apple State Aid case. The Government profoundly disagrees with the Commission's analysis in the Apple case and will now challenge the decision before the European Courts.  Dáil Éireann has also passed a motion supporting the Government's decision to appeal the European Commission's decision....