Results 3,841-3,860 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that data in relation to the estimated loss to Revenue as a result of liquidations, receiverships and examinerships in each of the past four quarters in 2009 is not available due to the current industrial action in the public service. The Revenue Commissioners are charged with responsibility for collection and recovery of a wide range of taxes and...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have not made any changes to Stamp Duty on property in the Finance Bill. The Deputy may be aware that no Stamp Duty is payable by first time purchasers of new or second hand residential property or by owner-occupier purchasers of new residential property under 125 square metres in size. If Stamp Duty on residential property was reduced or abolished, any shortfall in Exchequer receipts...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The seven-year time limit for mortgage interest reliefs refers to seven tax years. A tax year is the period from 1 January to 31 December inclusive. Based on the information provided, there would be an entitlement to mortgage interest relief from 2003, including entitlement on the new mortgage taken out when the person traded up to a new property in 2008. Having received mortgage interest...

Written Answers — European Investment Bank: European Investment Bank (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am only aware of one EU programme which has been introduced post financial crisis to improve the flow of credit which Irish banks have accessed. The European Investment Bank announced on 3 October 2008 that it was increasing lending for European small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to help mitigate the effects of the credit crisis. This support was in the form of a €30 billion facility to...

Written Answers — Civil Service Staff: Civil Service Staff (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Civil servants, including Assistant and Deputy Secretaries, are subject to the Performance Management & Development System for the Civil Service under which short and medium term performance objectives are set for individual officers and performance is assessed at the end of the year.

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The position regarding the remuneration of the Assistant Secretary Grade was considered by Cabinet on 9 December 2009 in the context of its discussion on the draft legislation providing for reductions in public service pay. It was recognised that the draft legislation could allow the particular circumstances of the grade to be addressed although no decision was taken on the manner in which...

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I refer to my reply to Parliamentary Question No: 4890/10 of 2 February 2010: "The pay reductions provided for in the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009, apply to the instruments setting rates of pay. It is a well established principle that the pay of job or work sharers and those on atypical work patterns is calculated by reference to the whole time...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Section 469 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 specifically provides that tax relief for health expenses is allowable for the cost of transport by ambulance. Travelling expenses within the State other than transport by ambulance are not normally regarded as allowable health expenses. However, Revenue, in their published leaflet on health expenses relief (IT6), have stated that where...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I presume the Deputy is referring to the windfall tax rate of 80% which applies to disposals of rezoned land where both the rezoning and the disposal take place after 30 October 2009. The windfall tax applies to the portion of any profit or gain which arises from the rezoning. The balance of the profit or gain is taxable at the appropriate income tax, corporation tax, or capital gains tax...

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am willing to give the Deputies five minutes.

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is not quite policy in the Deputy's profession.

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I thank the many Deputies who made their considered and useful contributions to the debate yesterday evening and today and I look forward to a constructive discussion on Committee Stage. I will try, as far as possible in the time available to me, to address the points raised by the Deputies yesterday and today. Of course, there will be a further opportunity on Committee Stage to deal in...

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is quite clear from the note, which is now on my Department's website, that the IMF fully backed the Government's policy on the banks and the establishment of NAMA.

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I do not intend to revisit the debate this evening, but Deputies are aware that there was a very intensive debate culminating in the enactment of the legislation. I remind Deputy Burton that time and again during that debate I stated that we need to be clear that it is not in the interests of the banks or of this economy for the banks return to the excessive and imprudent lending of the past.

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: That is the last thing we need. It was in the context of a discussion about that very point that Mr. Seelig made his remarks about the impact of NAMA on the availability of credit. I am very pleased that Mr. Seelig has, at my request, agreed to serve on the board of NAMA when he retires from the IMF this year.

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: We are all concerned about the availability of credit.

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: This is why the credit guidelines were included in the NAMA legislation and this is why NAMA was set up to cleanse the banks' balance sheets of toxic loans. The IMF delegation agreed with this view and that point was made in the debate. I refer to measures contained in the Bill. I welcome the support given by Deputies Bruton and Kennedy and the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, on the...

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have put the record straight. The Deputy can examine the record. A number of Deputies referred to the carbon tax.

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The purpose of the carbon tax is to send a price signal which recognises the environmental cost associated with the consumption of fossil fuels.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (9 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 186 together. The Deputy may wish to note that the 2009 Budget publications announced that arrangements would end whereby the annual payment to the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund would be automatically calculated by reference to the previous year's betting duty or the contribution to the Fund in the year 2000 adjusted for inflation. On the general...