Results 3,861-3,880 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have no plans to introduce a port tax on international lorries coming into the state.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (9 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Just over 3,000 posts have relocated to date under the decentralisation programme, to almost 40 locations. Moves to Buncrana (Department of Social and Family Affairs) and to Trim (OPW) are under way at present and the buildings at Wexford (Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government) and Newbridge (Department of Defence) are expected to be ready for occupation by the Summer. This...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (9 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 195 together. Home repossession should be and generally is the last resort for the lender. The preferred method of dealing with cases of arrears should be early intervention and engagement. In the revised Programme for Government we have stated that we will be: · Introducing new measures to protect families having difficulties with their home...

Written Answers — Departmental Procurement: Departmental Procurement (9 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 182 together. The table below sets out the details of contracts granted by my Department and by the offices under its aegis, for projects worth more than €10 million in the period 2000 to date in 2010. Contracts for projects worth more than €10m granted in the period 2000 to 2010 Office Date Company Name Contract Value Brief outline of the...

Written Answers — European Bank for Reconstruction and Development: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (9 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) was established in 1991 to provide finance to help build market economies in the former Soviet Bloc countries following the fall of Communism. In more recent times the mandate of the Bank has been expanded to allow lending in Mongolia and Turkey. The EBRD provides project finance and equity for banks, industries and businesses, both...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Transfers from a parent to a child of a site not exceeding one acre in size and €500,000 in value are exempt from both Capital Gains Tax and Stamp Duty, where the site is to be used to build the child's only or main residence. The Commission on Taxation recommended the abolition of these exemptions (recommendation 8.20). The Government considered this and other recommendations of the...

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (9 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 and 178 together. I refer to my reply to Questions Nos. 4758/10, 5095/10 and 5137/10 on 2 February 2009. I directed under Section 6 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest No. 2 Act, 2009 that the pay adjustments should be modified in respect of Assistant Secretary, Deputy Secretary and related grades in the civil and public service on...

Written Answers — Public Service Recruitment: Public Service Recruitment (9 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As stated in my reply to the Deputy on 3 December 2009, the position in relation to the opportunities for employment to the Public Service generally is limited by the recruitment and promotion moratorium which was announced on 27 March last year, but the moratorium does not apply to the "Willing, Able, Mentoring Programme" and the 3 per cent target for employment for persons with...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (9 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The details of the external consultants currently working for or in my Department/the offices under its aegis, together with a brief outline of the work they are carrying out, is set out in the table. Office Details Office of the Minister for Finance Arthur Cox has an acknowledged expertise in the field of commercial law and its size allows it to dedicate sufficient resources to the...

Written Answers — Ethics in Public Office: Ethics in Public Office (9 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The schedule to SI No 698 of 2004 (Ethics in Public Office (Designated Positions in Public Bodies) Regulations 2004) lists positions of employment in departments and offices that are prescribed for the purposes of the definition of "designated position of employment" in section 18 of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995. Typically, these are positions that interface with the commercial...

Written Answers — Civil Service Staff: Civil Service Staff (9 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As the Deputy will be aware the Special Civil Service Incentive Career Break Scheme 2009 was introduced as a once-off measure that was included in the Supplementary Budget on 7 April 2009. There is no current proposal to extend the scheme.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (9 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I understand that the Deputy is referring to the Central Bank and Financial Service Authority of Ireland. Under the Central Bank Acts and the Statute governing the European System of Central Banks the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (the Bank) is an independent institution not subject to direction by either the Minister for Finance or the Government in the discharge...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (9 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: On 27 February 2009 a Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears (the Code) was introduced for all mortgage lenders. This Code contained a requirement that lenders must wait six months from the time arrears first arise before applying to the courts to commence enforcement of any legal action on repossession of a borrower's primary residence. In response to the continuing difficulties being faced...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Finance Bill, which was published on Thursday 4 February, includes provision to make public bodies subject to VAT in accordance with the European Court of Justice ruling against Ireland of 16 July 2009 in Case C-554/07. In summary, the VAT Act is being amended to provide that public bodies, including local authorities, are made subject to VAT where they engage in activities that could...

Written Answers — Civil Service Staff: Civil Service Staff (9 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy will be aware that the appointment and promotion of civil servants in Government Departments is regulated by the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004. The Minister for Finance is responsible for all matters relating to recruitment in the Civil Service, including: eligibility criteria, staffing numbers, grading, pay and all working conditions of civil...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The position is that maternity benefit, in common with other social welfare payments, is not subject to the income levy. If income levy has been deducted from the wages of an employee in respect of maternity benefit, the employer may deal with any levy refund arising when the employer is carrying out the end of year reconciliation. For income levy deducted and not refunded by an employer,...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Farmers who are not registered for VAT are not in the normal course entitled to credit for, or repayment of, VAT incurred by them on their business inputs. The Value-Added Tax (Refund of Tax) (No 25) Order, 1993 provides for refunds to unregistered farmers for tax borne on the "construction, extension, alteration or reconstruction of any building or structure which is designed for use solely...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (9 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am aware of the requirement under section 81 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulation SI No. 299 of 2007 of the requirement to have certain portable electrical equipment, inspected and certified. I am advised that not all portable electrical equipment used at the workplace requires a test certificate. Under the General Application Regulations 2007,...

Written Answers — Financial Institutions Support Scheme: Financial Institutions Support Scheme (9 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As a condition of State Aid approval, in relation to the recapitalisation by the Irish Government of both AIB and Bank of Ireland, the EU Commission required that the two banks each prepare and present restructuring plans to the Commission. The plan for Bank of Ireland was submitted on 30 September 2009 and the plan for AIB was submitted on 13 November 2009. The restructuring plans must...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (9 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Entities regulated by the Financial Regulator that provide credit include banks, building societies, credit unions, retail credit firms, home reversion (equity release) firms and moneylenders. These entities, excluding credit unions, must comply, inter alia, with the requirements of the Financial Regulator's Consumer Protection Code, with the exception of moneylenders who must comply with...