Results 4,101-4,120 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Eurozone Membership: Eurozone Membership (2 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 256 and 257 together. In the recent Lisbon Treaty referendum the Irish people reaffirmed our place at the heart of Europe. The Treaty sets out the conditions necessary for participation in the euro area, and therefore Ireland's membership of the Eurozone is not in question. Furthermore, our membership of the European Union and the Eurozone in particular has...

Written Answers — Eurozone Membership: Eurozone Membership (2 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am aware of the proposals which have been made by some economists recently. As a member of the eurozone Ireland has benefited greatly over the last decade or so from being part of a large currency area. That said, there is no doubt that membership does mean adjusting to severe economic shocks must be done through improvements to our competitiveness and productivity. Clearly this involves...

Written Answers — Economic Forecasts: Economic Forecasts (2 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In my Budget speech last December, I outlined my Department's expectation that economic growth would be positive by the second half of this year. Developments since then are consistent with this. Furthermore, I note that the Central Bank, in its quarterly bulletin published last week, is also expecting positive annual growth by the second half of the year. So while there is more to be...

Written Answers — Income Data: Income Data (2 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that a breakdown of income data can generally be provided on a geographical basis on the basis of "bailiwick", which is the jurisdiction or boundaries within which Revenue Sheriffs, County Registrars or their officers operate. However, while separate breakdowns for "city" and "county" can be provided in the case of counties Dublin and Cork, the...

Written Answers — Consumer Credit: Consumer Credit (2 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As the Deputy is aware, consumer credit including hire purchase and consumer hire, together with money lending and home loans, are governed by the Consumer Credit Act 1995. This legislation sets out important consumer protection measures, including the form and content of the credit agreements in respect of those types of loans. The Consumer Protection Code requires that before providing a...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The decision of any eligible Irish undertaking, including financial institutions, to make an application under any particular EU scheme would be a commercial matter for the institution involved. Applications are between the undertaking involved and the relevant EU institution providing support. The Irish Authorities would not necessarily be made aware of individual applications made to EU...

Written Answers — Tax Clearance Certificates: Tax Clearance Certificates (2 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the C2 Tax Clearance Certificate is available for collection at the Kilkenny Revenue District Office and the person concerned has been advised of this.

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (2 Feb 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The question of considering the introduction of such supports does not arise at this time. It will be necessary in the first instance, in consultation with the insurance industry, to determine the extent to which the issue of the withdrawal of coverage gives rise to the difficulty highlighted in the Deputy's question. While the recent flooding in November 2009 may to lead to a situation...

Written Answers — Personal Debt Management: Personal Debt Management (28 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: There have been a number of developments relating to the Government's commitments in the renewed Programme for Government on protecting the family home and helping those in debt. I particularly refer to the recent Government decisions on matters relating to indebtedness, mortgage arrears, personal debt management and enforcement. I approved the establishment of an interdepartmental mortgage...

Written Answers — Tax Reliefs: Tax Reliefs (28 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The position is that the form Med 1 is the claim form for persons who wish to claim tax relief in respect of health expenses incurred in relation to the provision of health care. Section 469 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 defines "health care" as the prevention, diagnosis, alleviation or treatment of an ailment, injury, infirmity, defect or disability, and includes care received by a...

Written Answers — Consumer Price Index: Consumer Price Index (28 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As is the norm in the course of the Budgetary preparations my Department carried out various technical analyses, including an assessment of the impact of falling consumer prices on households by social type and income decile. The Department's technical analysis suggested that prices were falling – on average – for all households both by income decile and head of household type. While...

Written Answers — Public Service Pay: Public Service Pay (28 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No 2) Act, 2009 makes provision for the reduction in the pay rates of all persons employed by public service bodies with effect from 1 January 2010. Universities come under the definitions within the Act as public service bodies, contract researchers where they are employed by such a public service body are subject to the pay...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (28 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy will be aware that in my role as Minister for Finance, I set out the legislative framework within which offences and penalties are contained. The Financial Regulator is empowered under the Central Bank Acts to initiate administrative sanctions procedures (ASP) where it suspects, on reasonable grounds, that a prescribed contravention may have been committed by a regulated financial...

Written Answers — Land Rates: Land Rates (28 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I should point out that the Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the exercise of his duties under the Valuation Act, 2001 and that I, as Minister for Finance, have no function in decisions in this regard. The Valuation Act 2001 provides, in Schedule 4, for the exemption from rates of land developed for horticulture. This is defined in the Act as meaning land used for market gardening,...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: This is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners in the first instance who are responsible for the administration of mortgage interest relief through the tax relief at source (TRS) system. I am advised that, following clarification of the sequence of events leading to the purchase of a new home in 2007, the Revenue Commissioners are satisfied that there is a continued entitlement to relief....

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (28 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Under Circular 14/1980, special leave may be granted within limits, to authorised non-full-time representatives of staff for attendance at union meetings, conferences etc. The following table sets out the days taken for such leave in 2007, 2008 and 2009 in my Department and the bodies under its aegis: Department/Office 2007 2008 2009 Department of Finance 41.5 15 13.5 Office of the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The position is that, as announced in the Budget, I am extending mortgage interest relief up to the end of 2017 for those whose entitlement to relief would end in 2010 or after. This means those who took out qualifying loans from 2004. I would point out that if an individual has re-mortgaged since 2004 and the re-mortgage was made for the purposes of repair, development or improvement of the...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (28 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In the period from April 2008 to date, two retired civil servants made a voluntary surrender of some or all of their pensions.

Order of Business (28 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Deputy Kenny makes a fair point. I take it he is referring to the issue of whether it is implemented by statute or regulation and it is important that there should be parliamentary involvement in that. I will draw it to the attention of the Taoiseach.

Referral of Papers to Joint Committee on Health and Children: Motion (28 Jan 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In respect of the protection of homeowners, any required legislation will be brought forward. At this stage, the inter-departmental committee is doing its work and if legislation is required on foot of that work, it will be introduced as a matter of urgency. I refer to the question of remuneration levels of certain categories of higher public servant. Without opening up the discussion in...