Results 4,881-4,900 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: This is in Part 2 of Schedule 2, to insert "the Bank or" after "relating to". It is a technical amendment which clarifies the independence of the Governor of the Central Bank in the restricting of budgetary or funding or matters concerning the bank as well as the regulating authority. Its aim is to ensure the independence of the Governor is preserved in respect of his or her functions at a...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: This is the amendment to ensure the provision in this Act mirrors the equivalent provision in the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 which is being revised. The Bill, as approved by the Dáil, permitted a period of extension of planning permission from five to seven years in exceptional circumstances. The amendment reduces the maximum period of extension to five years. This...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is true that one is empowered to apply and the decision is taken on a set of criteria different from the original planning application, and to that extent NAMA has an element of entitlement to obtain the permission but it is not unrestricted. My amendment is in the same sense as the Labour Party's amendment to harmonise with the new legislation. The authority must be satisfied: (I) there...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: This relates to the windfall tax. A total of six amendments has been proposed on the definition of rezoning. For a word that is used commonly in political discourse it is extraordinarily difficult to give it an exact legal definition. The amendments have been made to remove any possible doubt about what is encompassed by the definition of rezoning in the sections. The proposed changes in...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I know there was considerable controversy within Dublin City Council on this subject and I do not want to enter into that controversy. I am not satisfied that institutional land use is a recognised legal land use category because the way land use is branded for legal categorical purposes is developed land, whether it is industrial, commercial, residential or for other uses such as...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is not a recognised legal category, as I understand it.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As far as I understand, it can be done but I do not want to be authoritative about it. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government could give a better explanation. Whether this could be done without triggering a claim for compensation against a local authority would be an issue.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The EUROSTAT position on the balance sheet treatment of NAMA and the SPV took account of the balance between State and private engagement in the proposed organisation structure. The proposed amendment could result in EUROSTAT changing its preliminary decision on the treatment of NAMA operations in the national accounts. The amendment also runs the risk of making the SPV so unattractive to...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: An interesting amendment. NAMA, like the National Treasury Management Agency annual report or any bank annual report, will publish the type of derivative, the nominal value of the derivative, the mark to market value of the derivative and all of those values as of the financial account reporting date. NAMA will also publish the maturity date of derivatives by calendar year, for example,...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am sorry.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Yes.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Yes, it is correct.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: All politics is local.

Written Answers — National Lottery Funding: National Lottery Funding (11 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Government decides on an annual basis how much funding is to be allocated to subheads which are part-funded by the proceeds of the national lottery. This occurs in the context of decisions on the Estimates for Public Services for the following year. The allocation of the national lottery funds for 2010 will therefore be considered during the forthcoming Estimates process.

Written Answers — Liquor Licensing: Liquor Licensing (11 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 134 together. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that it is not possible to provide a detailed reply within the time available. Accordingly, I will have the information forwarded to the Deputy at an early date. I am also informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the information provided will be the actual numbers in the two categories...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (11 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The 2009 estimate of receipts for the health levy is €1,892m following the doubling of the levy in the 2009 Supplementary Budget. Health levy receipts to end-October amount to €1,217m, some €190m below the HSE profile. I understand from the Department of Social & Family Affairs that a significant element of this shortfall is as a result of timing issues and that this will be reflected...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (11 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: While there are uncertainties regarding what is meant by the term 'non-Governmental organisation', information is provided below in relation to the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and the Institute of Public Administration (IPA), which are in receipt of funding from within the Finance Vote. 2009* 2008 2007 2006 2005 Current 3,300 3,370 3,168 3,052 2,900 Capital 0 2,130**...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (11 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Government took steps in October 2007 via an amendment to the Central Bank Act 1997, to provide for an appropriate system of authorisation and supervision of retail credit firms by the Financial Regulator engaged in specialist or so-called sub-prime lending. Such lenders were not previously subject to financial regulation in respect of lending activities. The primary purpose of this...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (11 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Following a review of the Agreed Programme for Government 2007-2012, the Government published its Renewed Programme for Government last month. The renewed programme includes a commitment in relation to the tax treatment of pensions to "introduce a single 30% rate for tax relief on private pension provision in the context of the national pensions framework." The detail and timing of the...

Written Answers — Budget Submissions: Budget Submissions (11 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 to 142, inclusive, together. As part of the Budget process all submissions are reviewed. I have stated previously that it is my intention to widen, if possible, the tax base on which betting duty would be applied. Bets placed either on-line or over the phone are generally with out-of-State companies so applying betting duty is therefore problematic. My...