Results 381-400 of 9,948 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (2 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Salaries payable to Members of the Oireachtas are established under legislation, the Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) Act 1938. Members of the Oireachtas as office holders, are not covered by the terms of the Croke Park Agreement. Following a recommendation of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector (Report Number 38 in 2000) salaries paid to Members are linked to that...

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (2 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Policy in relation to Company Law matters are the responsibility of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Innovation in the first instance.

Written Answers — National Pensions Reserve Fund: National Pensions Reserve Fund (2 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The National Pensions Reserve Fund (NPRF) was established on 2 April 2001 under the National Pensions Reserve Fund Act 2000 with the objective of meeting as much as possible of the cost to the Exchequer of social welfare pensions and public service pensions to be paid from the year 2025 until at least 2055. The Act provided for the establishment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (2 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears (CCMA), a statutory Code issued by the Central Bank under Section 117 of the Central Bank Act 1989, sets out requirements for lenders in their dealings with borrowers who are having difficulties meeting their mortgage repayments. Lenders are required to comply with the CCMA as a matter of law and the Central Bank has the power to administer sanctions...

Written Answers — Tax Reliefs: Tax Reliefs (2 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Revenue Job Assist Scheme provides an incentive to encourage both the long-term unemployed to take up employment and employers to employ the long-term unemployed. Additional tax relief is available which is tapered over three years for the unemployed person returning to work. A tapering child allowance in respect of dependent children may also be due. A double wage deduction is available...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (2 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: An individual aged 65 or over is eligible for a refund of DIRT, or to have interest paid free from DIRT, if his or her taxable income, including deposit interest, does not exceed the relevant income tax exemption limits, currently €20,000 for single individuals and €40,000 for married couples. The National Recovery Plan 2011 – 2014 (NRP) provides for the abolition of a number of...

Written Answers — Tax Reliefs: Tax Reliefs (2 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In line with a recommendation of the Commission on Taxation, Finance Act 2010 provided for the abolition of tax relief for service charges. The relief was abolished for the tax year 2012 and subsequent tax years in respect of service charges paid in the financial year 2011 and subsequent financial years. Under existing legislation, the tax relief is available for the tax year 2011 in...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (2 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The National Recovery Plan contains proposals for changes to the tax and other relief arrangements for private or supplementary pension provision over the period of the Plan, including a gradual reduction to standard rate income tax (20%) relief on employee/individual contributions to pension arrangements commencing in 2012. Pension contributions are made by certain employees in both the...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (2 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Government announced on 28 November 2010 that it had agreed in principle to the provision of €85 billion of financial support to Ireland by Member States of the European Union through the European Financial Stability Mechanism and the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF); bilateral loans from the UK, Sweden and Denmark; and the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Extended Fund...

Written Answers — European Single Currency: European Single Currency (2 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I attend meetings of the Eurogroup and Ecofin, which comprise the Finance Ministers of the Euro area and the EU respectively, together with the European Commission and the European Central Bank (ECB). It is a priority of the Eurogroup, ECOFIN and the European Council (EC) to ensure the financial stability of the Euro area and the EU as a whole. I can assure the Deputy that the supportive...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I would point out to the Deputy that the 3 organisations operate in an arms length capacity in relation to operational issues. It is a matter for the respective individual boards and senior management to determine and implement pay policy in their organisations subject to their relevant operating environment. From enquiries made, I am informed by the respective institutions that the...

Written Answers — National Asset Management Agency: National Asset Management Agency (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 98 together. To date, as part of the debtor business plan process, NAMA has rigorously sought to ensure efficiencies in all areas of the debtor's businesses, including hotels, and is not in the business of supporting hotels that are not viable. I am informed by NAMA that it has acquired loans secured by 139 hotels in total of which 87 are located in...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that there has been an increasing number of PAYE service providers offering to obtain tax credits or tax refunds for PAYE taxpayers. Revenue encourages people to claim their entitlements to tax credits and tax refunds themselves, and has created an on-line service called PAYE Anytime as a free public service. PAYE Anytime is easy to use and lets...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As the Deputy is aware, the National Recovery Plan 2011-2014 was published last Wednesday. This plan sets out key reform measures required to return our economy to growth, including the abolition or curtailment of a number of tax expenditures. These measures are vital for the recovery of our economy. It is not the usual practice to comment on any possible changes in taxation prior to the...

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The increases provided for under the Towards 2016 Transitional Agreement which included provision for the implementation of the recommendations in the second report of the Public Service Benchmarking Body have not been paid as part of the Government programme of measures to restore stability to the Public Finances.

Written Answers — Public Private Partnership: Public Private Partnership (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In light of the publication of the Government's Four Year Plan last week, I am now in a position to consider proposals for sanction for Public Private Partnership capital projects submitted by departments. As the Deputy is aware, the Plan provides for reduced allocations compared with levels the Government had previously planned for, and therefore projects will have to be reassessed and...

Written Answers — Public Private Partnership: Public Private Partnership (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 104 together. In light of the publication of the Government's Four Year Plan last week, I am now in a position to consider proposals for sanction for Public Private Partnership capital projects when they are submitted by departments. As the Deputy is aware, the Plan provides for reduced allocations compared with levels the Government had previously...

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Public Service Agreement 2010 - 2014, or Croke Park Agreement, provides that to the greatest extent possible , there will be standardised terms and conditions of employment across the Public Service with the focus initially within sectors. As my responsibilities as employer extend only to the civil service, surveys of non–pay conditions applying in the public service are outside my...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the transport of passengers and their accompanying baggage is exempt from VAT under Paragraph 14(3) of Schedule 1 to the Value-Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010. Accordingly, the provision of a taxi service is exempt from VAT. The provider of a service that is exempt from VAT does not charge VAT on the service and is not entitled to deduct, or...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (1 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Approved Share Option Scheme was introduced in 2001 and is provided for in Chapter 4, Part 17 and Schedule 12C of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997. It is estimated that the scheme cost €0.5 million in 2009, the most recent year for which statistics are available. Abolition of the scheme was recommended by the Commission on Taxation in its recent report. The Commission indicated that...