Results 3,401-3,420 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the information provided in tax returns on the annual amounts of claims for the Town and Urban Renewal Schemes is not sufficiently detailed to provide a basis for deriving an estimate of cost to the Exchequer on a town by town basis. I am not therefore in a position to provide the information requested by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the supply of e-books is subject to VAT at the standard rate of 21% when sold by Irish based suppliers to consumers in Ireland or in any other EU Member State. The Irish rate applies also to sales of e-books into Ireland from suppliers outside the EU. However, when an Irish consumer purchases e-books from a supplier in another Member State the...

Written Answers — Parliamentary Questions: Parliamentary Questions (23 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As I said in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 10848/10 of 3 March 2010, the current work to rule and other actions, which are impacting on processing Parliamentary Questions and providing information to public representatives are part of a programme of industrial action undertaken by public service unions across the public sector. The industrial action is in response to the pay...

Written Answers — Information and Telecommunications Technology: Information and Telecommunications Technology (23 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The procurement policy of my Department regarding cloud computing is the same as that regarding any other area, namely that it facilitates open competition, best value for money and best technological fit to requirements while complying with all relevant national and EU legislation. I am aware that the National Public Procurement Operations Unit (NPPOU) recently issued a message to members...

Written Answers — Property Sector: Property Sector (23 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In determining the correlation of land prices with various factors as outlined in Section 5.1(b) of Statutory Instrument in question; projections were constructed for several key determinants of activity in the property market. These include; Gross Domestic Product CPI inflation Population Interest rates and Employment numbers I am informed by NAMA that data and analysis published by the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (23 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: There are 203.73 whole-time equivalent permanent staff employed in my Department at the level of Assistant Principal or above. Of these, 7 officers have professional accountancy qualifications. In addition, 3 staff at these levels have degrees in Accounting or accounting related disciplines. As regards Secretaries/Secretaries General, I understand the Deputy, following consultation, to be...

Written Answers — National Asset Management Agency: National Asset Management Agency (23 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The NAMA (Determination of Long-term Economic Value of Property and Bank Assets) Regulations 2010 provide that a charge of 0.25% be incorporated into the discount rate used in the valuation of loan assets transferring to NAMA. This charge is expected to cover all fees incurred during the valuation process.

Written Answers — Tobacco Prices: Tobacco Prices (23 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 215, 230 and 233 together. The European Court of Justice issued a Judgement on 4 March 2010 against Ireland, France, and Austria to the effect that the setting in Health legislation of the minimum price for which cigarettes can be sold is not in keeping with EU Law. The Judgement has only been issued recently and will require to be carefully examined by the...

Written Answers — Public Service Contracts: Public Service Contracts (23 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The total value of contracts advertised by Irish contracting authorities in the Official Journal of the European Union in 2008 is approximately €4.5 billion. The corresponding figure for 2009 is not yet available.

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (23 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The passage of the NAMA legislation provided me with an opportunity to further consider the division of work between my Department and the NTMA as a result of the demands of the banking crisis. On 19 March the National Treasury Management Agency Act 1990 (Delegation of Banking Functions) Order 2010 which sets out certain banking functions to be delegated to the NTMA was laid before each...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Since 1913, the United States (US) has had a system of citizenship-based taxation, under which a US citizen is liable to pay US Income Tax on their worldwide income, regardless of where they are resident. This is also combined with a residence-based system under which "resident aliens" (that is, non-US citizens who are resident in the US) are liable to US tax on their worldwide income. A...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: A number of Government Departments, including my Department, are exploring options for how best to offset the impact of the carbon tax on low-income households. A vouched allowance for solid fuels is one such option being explored as are other options for improving the energy efficiency of low-income households which will offset increases in fuel prices arising from carbon taxation.

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (23 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Any questions in relation to these matters should, in the first instance, be directed towards the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment who has policy responsibility for these areas.

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (23 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As the Deputy is aware, in my role as the Minister for Finance I have responsibility for the development of the legal framework governing financial regulation. However the day-to-day responsibility for the supervision of financial institutions is a matter for the Financial Regulator which is statutorily independent in the exercise of its regulatory functions. In relation to the Deputy's...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The rationale for the introduction of section 139 of the Finance Bill 2010 (as initiated) is to streamline and modernise the administration and collection of Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT). The changes will lower compliance costs for taxpayers and simplify and streamline administration for both agents and Revenue. The proposals originated out of an internal review of the existing procedures...

Written Answers — National Asset Management Agency: National Asset Management Agency (23 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In my reply to a Parliamentary Question of 10 March 2010 concerning remuneration of members of the National Assets Management Agency (NAMA), I indicated that, under section 21 (1) and 25 (9) of the NAMA Act 2009, I had approved the following fee arrangements. Chairperson - all inclusive fee of €170,000 per annum on the understanding that the incumbent is available without restriction....

Written Answers — National Debt: National Debt (23 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As previously outlined in reply to PQ10987/10 on 4 March 2010, expenditure on national debt interest amounted to €21⁄2 billion in 2009. Based on the projections for the Exchequer Borrowing Requirement for the years to 2014 set out in Budget 2010, the estimated cost of interest on the national debt is €41⁄2 billion in 2010, €53⁄4 billion in 2011, €61⁄2 billion in 2012,...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (23 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have no plans to establish a body similar to the US Congressional Budget Office. The Department of Finance provides comprehensive, independent and non-partisan budget projections and costings of Government budget measures. The Department of Finance also offers the facility to political parties of costing proposals in the context of general elections and in the formulation of programmes for...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (23 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I can assure the Deputy that I am aware of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) that, following its adoption in May 2003 by the 56th World Health Assembly, was signed by Ireland on 10 September 2003 and ratified on 7 November 2005. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the current discussions that are taking place at a meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (23 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 232 and 238 together. This matter is being considered at present in my Department. As in previous years, it is likely that a limited number of temporary clerical officers will be taken on in the civil service this Summer, but final decisions will depend on the business case made by each Department/Office.