Results 3,561-3,580 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Public Relations Contracts Data (7 Jul 2016)

Michael Noonan: I take it that the Deputy is referring solely to external public relations and not to advertising that would be incurred by my Department in the normal course of business, such as entries into telephone directories, the placing of advertisements in national newspapers, recruitment advertising, etc. No new Public Relations firms have been employed in my Department since my coming into office...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Economic Growth (6 Jul 2016)

Michael Noonan: I am greatly encouraged by the latest data showing that the economic recovery is now firmly established with growth of 7.8 per cent recorded in 2015, the fastest rate in Europe. Importantly, the expansion in economic activity, initially led by the exporting sectors, is now more broadly based with growth now increasingly driven by domestic factors. Domestic demand made a strong positive...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: UK Referendum on EU Membership (6 Jul 2016)

Michael Noonan: In advance of the UK referendum, my Department conducted a risk analysis of the possible economic impacts on Ireland from a UK exit, the results of which were published in Box 2 of the Summer Economic Statement.  The analysis used the ESRI HERMES macroeconomic model to estimate the impacts on Ireland, based on a range of scenarios for the UK. The HERMES model has been used for over...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: IMF Loan (6 Jul 2016)

Michael Noonan: Ireland received SDR19.5 billion, circa €22.5 billion, from the IMF Extended Fund Facility as part of the three-year external financial support programme. The NTMA completed the third early repayment of Ireland's IMF loan facility on the 20 March 2015, bringing the total amount repaid to SDR15.7 billion, or approximately €18.3 billion. The SDR 15.7 billion repayment, 81% of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Pension Levy (6 Jul 2016)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by Revenue that the Pension Scheme Levy was introduced in 2011. For the years 2011, 2012 and 2013 the rate was 0.60% of the scheme assets. For the year 2014 the rate was 0.75% of the assets and for the year 2015, the final year of the levy, the rate was 0.15%. Under the legislation, the payment of the levy is treated as a necessary expense of a pension scheme and the trustees...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Home Renovation Incentive Scheme (6 Jul 2016)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 to 87, inclusive, together. The Home Renovation Incentive provides tax relief by way of a tax credit at 13.5% of qualifying expenditure on repairs, renovations and improvement works on a person's main home or rental property. Works such as the replacement of a gas boiler, replacement of pipes or the installation of triple-glazed windows come...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Vehicle Registration (6 Jul 2016)

Michael Noonan: Revenue has responsibility for the ongoing enforcement of the regulations relating to Vehicle Regulation Tax (VRT) payable on the registration of motor vehicles within the State. I am advised by Revenue that there has been no particular increase in the enforcement activity undertaken in relation to VRT matters. There is a provision whereby a State resident who is employed by an employer...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (6 Jul 2016)

Michael Noonan: A Post-Budget 2016 Ready Reckoner is available on the Revenue Statistics webpage at . In relation to the Deputy's question, this Ready Reckoner shows a wide range of detailed information, including, on Page 6, the estimated cost to the Exchequer of changes to the earned income tax credit. All figures provided in the Ready Reckoner are estimates for 2016 incomes from the Revenue tax...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (6 Jul 2016)

Michael Noonan: The annual investment limit per individual for the Employment and Investment Incentive is €150,000. This limit was increased from €31,750 in Finance Act 2007, when the Incentive was known as the Business Expansion scheme.  The Deputy may be aware that all of the relief available under the EII was removed from the scope of the High Earners...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (6 Jul 2016)

Michael Noonan: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that, as tax returns do not currently separately identify "entrepreneurial" gains from other gains, there are no data available to accurately cost these proposed measures. However, on the basis of making various assumptions, it is tentatively estimated that the costs of the changes proposed in the Deputy's question are as shown the table. It should...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Rate Reductions (6 Jul 2016)

Michael Noonan: VAT rates in Ireland are subject to the constraints of EU VAT law. In general, the EU VAT Directive provides that the standard VAT rate - 23% in Ireland - must apply to the majority of goods and services. Lower VAT rates may only apply where expressly provided for in the VAT Directive or where an historic derogation applies. One such historical derogation that applies to Ireland under...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Charities Regulation (6 Jul 2016)

Michael Noonan: As the Deputy will be aware, I do not have ministerial responsibility for grants or funding provided to a charity. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that for reasons of taxpayer confidentiality it cannot comment on individual cases. By way of general comment, Revenue is responsible for administering the Charitable Tax Exemption scheme in accordance with Section 207 and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Appointments to State Boards (6 Jul 2016)

Michael Noonan: In response to the Deputy's question, I have provided details of the appointments made, the names of those appointed and the relevant position on each State Board. In relation to names on shortlists created, the Public Appointments Service has advised me that it is strongly of the view that those names are covered by personal confidentiality and also that the public interest is not...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Public Sector Staff Data (6 Jul 2016)

Michael Noonan: As the Deputy may be aware, the Civil Service does not collect data pertaining to the ethnic and cultural background of its currently serving staff. In relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department such information is not generally available. Where the ethnic and cultural background of individuals may be evident within a body under my Department's remit due to the small numbers...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme (5 Jul 2016)

Michael Noonan: As the Deputy is aware, the initial assessment for a Primary Medical Certificate takes place in the local HSE office of an applicant, where a professional clinical determination is made by the Senior Medical Officer of that HSE administrative area. For those who wish to appeal the decision of their local Senior Medical Officer at their local HSE office, they must then attend an...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Property Tax Collection (5 Jul 2016)

Michael Noonan: Revenue has confirmed that all payment options for Local Property Tax (LPT) continue to be available. This includes the options available through the approved Payment Service Providers (PSP's) who are An Post, Omnivend, Paypoint, and Payzone. The PSP option is not and has never been available to owners of more than one residential property because Section 44 of the Finance (Local...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector Data (5 Jul 2016)

Michael Noonan: I can confirm that the Department of Finance does not have access to the information requested by the Deputy.  Officials in the Department of Finance have referred the Deputy's question to the bank and the bank has responded as follows: "Disclosures to the market in relation to Bank of Ireland products and services are provided in the Bank of Ireland Group Annual Results 2015."

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Credits (5 Jul 2016)

Michael Noonan: In recognition of the fact that e-workers can incur certain expenditure in the performance of their duties from home, such as additional heating and electricity costs, an employer may make a payment of up to €3.20 per day to such employees without deducting PAYE, PRSI or USC.  However, this does not prevent an employee making a specific expenses claim under Section 114 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme (5 Jul 2016)

Michael Noonan: As the deputy is aware, an application for tax relief in relation to an adapted vehicle for a disabled driver or disabled passenger who holds a primary medical certificate can only be made in relation to one vehicle. The Revenue Commissioners advise me that in a 2014 case where a couple had separated, Revenue re-stated the legislative provision that tax relief under the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Revenue Commissioners Staff (5 Jul 2016)

Michael Noonan: The deployment of resources to its compliance and customer service programmes is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. I am advised by Revenue that the operation of its service delivery programme is subject to ongoing monitoring and adaptation to meet the changing demands of taxpayers. Revenue envisages the continuation of the appointment service at its Tralee Office, accessible via a...