Results 3,541-3,560 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that, in general, the exchange rate which is used by them for converting Sterling income into Euro amounts is the fiscal year average market mid-closing exchange rate as supplied by the Central Bank and based on daily reference rates as published by the European Central Bank. For 2009, the average rate so supplied for converting Sterling to Euro was...

Written Answers — Tax Clearance Certificates: Tax Clearance Certificates (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the C2 certificate was withdrawn from the person in question on the 1st October 2009, due to non compliance with their tax obligations. Queries raised in connection with Income Tax returns for the years 2006, 2007 and 2008 must be resolved before they are deemed eligible to receive a C2 certificate. The person in question may contact Mr. Pat...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I understand that there is no correspondence with me on this specific matter but that the details supplied relate to the application of the pay reductions under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act, 2009 to contract researchers employed in Universities. The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No 2) Act, 2009 makes provision for the reduction in...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that as statistics on income tax and corporation tax receipts do not generally distinguish between the yields from different sources of income the figures of tax yields in 2009 from stallion stud profits are not separately identifiable. Figures of the profits earned from the provision of stallion stud services are required to be returned in income...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism that the total number of stallions registered in 2009 is 271. Information in relation to the registration status is not readily available.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that since the previous tax exemption scheme for stallion stud fee income ended in July 2008, stallions are treated as stock-in-trade. This means that where the owner (including a part owner) of a stallion is carrying on the trade of farming, any profits or gains arising in respect of stallion stud services are treated as if they arise in the course...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The position is that tax relief is available for the costs of a doctor, medical consultant, or hospital treatment where the costs are incurred on the diagnosis or treatment of an eye injury or defect other than sight testing, advice on the use of spectacles and the actual provision of spectacles or lenses. Tax relief is also available on expenses incurred in relation to orthoptic or vision...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: My Department made an application to the EU Commission on 27th January 2010 for funding under the EU Solidarity Fund based on estimates of damage received from Departments and local authorities. The application was formally acknowledged by the Commission on 24 February 2010. The EU Solidarity Fund does not fund full reconstruction nor does it fund prevention works. It funds emergency...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: My officials continuously monitor and analyse how cost developments are impacting on our economic performance and I am briefed accordingly. Consumer prices are falling in Ireland while they are rising in many of our trading partners. In January, for instance, harmonised consumer prices fell at an annual rate of 2.4 per cent in Ireland compared with an increase of 1.0 per cent in the euro...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Over the last two years tax receipts have been severely impacted by the sharp deterioration in the economic environment. The following table sets out the trend in tax receipts over the last five years and the 2010 forecast for tax revenue: 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Budget forecast Total Exchequer Tax Receipts €m 39,254 45,539 47,249 40,777 33,043 31,050 Year-on-Year change 10% 16%...

Written Answers — National Asset Management Agency: National Asset Management Agency (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: NAMA has already helped to generate greater confidence in the recovery of our economy. The spreads on Irish Government securities have narrowed in recent months on the back of the policies pursued by the Government in tackling the economic crisis. NAMA is one of these policy initiatives. I have been advised by NAMA that the transfer of the first tranche of loans will commence before the...

Written Answers — National Asset Management Agency: National Asset Management Agency (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 161 together. It is not clear as to which targets and performance indicators the Deputy refers. The NAMA legislation provides for an annual statement to be produced by NAMA and for NAMA to submit quarterly reports, which I will make available to the Oireachtas. The first of these quarterly reports is in respect of the quarter ended 31 March 2010 and...

Written Answers — National Asset Management Agency: National Asset Management Agency (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have stated that accurate figures on NAMA costs will be available only after NAMA has had an opportunity to assess the eligible loans, which will be independently valued. To date the five participating institutions have advised NAMA that approximately €80 billion of loans are eligible for transfer to NAMA. The consideration to be paid for these loans will depend on valuations,...

Written Answers — National Asset Management Agency: National Asset Management Agency (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: My officials receive daily, weekly and monthly reports from the Financial Regulator, Central Bank and the NTMA and maintain a constant dialogue with same agencies and are kept aware of any developments. The Department also engages in direct contact with the covered institutions periodically when matters arise. Some of the key reports which my Department receives include: Regular funding...

Finance Bill 2010: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is about cement and combined heating and power.

Finance Bill 2010: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: These amendments raise complex and difficult issues and I will address amendment No. 33 first. I previously indicated the only exemptions from the carbon tax are for those companies within the EU emissions trading scheme, where a carbon pricing mechanism is already in place. I did not offer any exemptions for sectors outside the ETS. For combined heat and power technology, the amendment...

Finance Bill 2010: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: We have provided tax exemptions for many of the new technologies which are coming to the market. In this instance, however, we are discussing a tax which is of necessity general in its application. The longer the debate continues, the greater my fear that a series of exemptions will be made for special interests. The carbon tax is of general application and the number of exemptions has...

Finance Bill 2010: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The more exemptions one provides, the smaller the discouragement available.

Finance Bill 2010: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I move amendment No. 35: In page 107, line 36, to delete "a taxable person within the meaning of" and substitute "an accountable person for the purposes of". This is a technical amendment required to correct a drafting error.

Finance Bill 2010: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (10 Mar 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I move amendment No. 39: In page 139, line 15, to delete "Minister" and substitute "Minister for Finance". This amendment is required to correct a drafting error. Section 91 introduced a long amendment to Part 2 of the Finance Act 2001 arising from the implementation of a new EU directive on general arrangements for excisable products which takes effect from April fool's day this year. The...