Results 3,801-3,820 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (16 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Packaging, including biodegradable packaging, is liable to VAT at the standard rate of 21%. However, where goods are supplied packed for sale and no separate charge is made for the package in which the goods are contained, the rate of VAT chargeable on that packaging is the rate that applies to those goods. With regard to incentivising environmentally friendly goods or packaging, there is no...

Written Answers — Financial Institutions Support Scheme: Financial Institutions Support Scheme (16 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The meeting referred to in recent media reports took place in April 2009, almost 10 months ago. At that meeting, I agreed with the IMF delegation that a surge in lending designed to re-inflate the property market to near "boom" levels was not going to happen and neither was it desirable. Furthermore the IMF delegation agreed with me that NAMA was critical to the Government's objective of...

Written Answers — Financial Institutions Support Scheme: Financial Institutions Support Scheme (16 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As the Deputy will be aware, Anglo Irish Bank is run on an arms length commercial basis. Consequently, decisions which relate to the normal business of the bank are a matter for the Board of Anglo, and the Board is responsible for making such decisions in the best commercial interests of the Bank. I understand from the bank that in order to reduce its exposure on certain property assets it...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (16 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Irish Credit Bureau (ICB) is an independent, commercial organisation which provides credit history information to its members and helps credit institutions to be better informed when making decisions on the provision of credit. I, as Minister for Finance, have no role in determining its operations or the scope of its activities. However, my officials have been in consultation with...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (16 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I announced the appointment of Mr. Klaus Regling to conduct one of the preliminary investigations into the crisis in our banking system on 29 January 2010. Mr Regling brings extensive experience of senior economic and financial positions in the German Ministry of Finance and the European Union to this role which will ensure a robust preliminary report that identifies the key causes of the...

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (16 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The consumer information and education functions currently carried out within the Consumer Directorate in the Financial Regulator are to be transferred to the National Consumer Agency (NCA) in the forthcoming Bill to reform the structures for financial regulation. I expect that the Bill will be published in the current session. In the interim, and in the interests of making the transfer of...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (16 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have requested the Financial Regulator to carry out a strategic review of the credit union sector in Ireland. This will involve an examination of the structure, operation, regulation and legislation of the credit union sector with a view to providing a report making recommendations, including specific proposals to strengthen prudential soundness, which will advise and inform an assessment...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (16 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Credit unions are regulated by the Registrar of Credit Unions within the overall framework of Financial Services Regulation. In the programme of reform of financial services regulation the Government decided that the Registrar would continue to operate in the context of the proposed new structures. These arrangements are intended to ensure that regulation of credit unions is carried out in...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (16 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have requested the Financial Regulator to initiate a strategic review of the credit union sector in Ireland. This will involve an examination of the structure, operation, regulation and legislation of the credit union sector with a view to providing a report making recommendations, including specific proposals to strengthen prudential soundness. Its conclusions and recommendations will...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (16 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the relevant information available on the cost to the Exchequer of each of the property and area based tax reliefs is based on personal income tax returns filed by non-PAYE taxpayers and corporation tax returns filed by companies for the year 2007, the latest year that this information is available. These are set out in the following table:

Written Answers — Cigarette Smuggling: Cigarette Smuggling (16 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that as regards the point of sale display ban that was introduced last July, there is no evidence that this has contributed to increased cigarette smuggling and illicit cigarette trades. Prior to the introduction of the ban, counterfeit and contraband cigarettes were not on open display in the retail outlets where they were detected and were usually...

Written Answers — Statutory Instruments: Statutory Instruments (16 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The requirement under Section 3(1)(a) of the Statutory Instruments Act 1947, as amended in 1955, is still in force. Since 2007 all Departments and State Agencies with the power to make Statutory Instruments have been obliged to use the electronic Statutory Instruments System (eSIS), and a comprehensive set of user guidelines was produced to accompany the system. It is clearly stated in...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (16 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Minister for Finance has statutory responsibility for civil service pensions and for pensions paid from the Central Fund. Statutory responsibility for other public service pension schemes is a matter in the first instance for the respective Ministers in other Departments, as appropriate. As the person to whom the question relates is an employee of the health sector, the matter should be...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (16 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that approximately 2,700 customers, who appear to have taken out top up mortgages, have provided additional information required of them by Revenue. This information is being evaluated by Revenue to decide if there is in fact an entitlement to mortgage interest relief on those top ups. Revenue expects to be in a position during March to determine...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (16 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The provisions of the car scrappage scheme as set out in Section 102 of the Finance Bill as published on 4 February 2010, provide for a scrappage scheme to run from 1 January to 31 December 2010. VRT relief of up to €1,500 will be available where a person purchases a new category A car of emission Bands A or B (i.e. with CO2 emissions of 140g/Km or less) and an old car is scrapped. The...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (16 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that for the purposes of both Gift and Inheritance Tax, the relationship between the person who provided the gift or inheritance (i.e. the disponer) and the person who received the gift or inheritance (i.e. the beneficiary), determines the maximum tax-free threshold- known as the "Group threshold" below which gift or inheritance tax does not arise....

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (16 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: This is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. I am advised by Revenue that the businesses in question have significant debts, some of which are the subject of enforcement action by the sheriff, and that there have been ongoing difficulties with these businesses in securing timely compliance. A proposal to address some of the debt was made very recently to Revenue. I am advised by Revenue...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (16 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: A Relationship Framework, pursuant to Section 3 of the Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Act 2009, specifies the relationship between me as sole shareholder of Anglo, and the bank. Anglo Irish Bank is run on an arms length commercial basis by the Board of the bank. The commercial relationship between the bank and its customers is a matter for the bank itself.

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (16 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In matters relating to the application of VAT, I am constrained by the requirements of EU VAT law with which Irish VAT law must comply. The EU VAT Directive provides that Member States must apply VAT to goods and services at specified rates, and does not provide for temporary VAT-free arrangements for particular economic sectors such as the retail sector. In this respect, it is not possible...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (16 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I do not consider it appropriate to disclose the level of detailed personal information sought by the Deputy. Details of the total amount paid, the number of interview days and the number of individuals/organisations who received payment during 2009 have already been disclosed in response to Parliamentary Question No. 204 of 9 February 2010. Apart from the payments to individuals who acted as...