Results 5,101-5,120 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (4 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: A niche bank can be still systemically important.

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (4 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 and 161 together. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the latest relevant sector-based information available on employees taxed under the PAYE system is derived from income tax returns filed for the income tax year 2007 and represents about 96 per cent of all returns expected at the time the data were compiled for analytical purposes. On this...

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (4 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: There are no guidelines in place as regards the amount of redundancy that is payable to public service workers. Neither are there an agreed number of weeks that are payable in addition to statutory redundancy entitlements. Approved redundancy terms in the past have varied, depending on the circumstances of the termination of employment concerned.

Written Answers — Public Sector Staff: Public Sector Staff (4 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The deliberations of my Department in regard to a targeted Voluntary Early Retirement Scheme for the health sector referred to in my response to PQ 6276/09 culminated in the Incentivised Scheme of Early Retirement (ISER) for the Public Service announced in the 2009 Supplementary Budget. The ISER was intended to apply in the health sector. However, its application in the health sector was...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (4 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Bus Éireann is not covered by the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) and there are no proposals to bring it under the remit of the Act. The position on commercial state bodies and FOI is that they should not be included under FOI legislation because it would compromise their ability to compete effectively in the markets within which they operate.

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (4 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that PAYE Balancing Statements P21 for the years 2005 to 2008 together with any refunds due will issue to the person concerned shortly.

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (4 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is estimated that a 5% reduction on all incomes from €35,000 to €100,000, a 10% reduction on all incomes from €100,000 to €200,000 and a 20% reduction on all incomes greater than €200,000 if introduced would save a total of around €750m. Of this amount, around 75% would be accounted for by the reduction on incomes from €35,000 to €100,000.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (4 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: There is no provision whereby a homeowner could offset the €200 local authority charge in respect of non principal private residences. Nor is the €200 charge a deductible expense in respect of rental income where such properties are let.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (4 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that Section 611 of the Taxes Consolidation Act (TCA) 1997 provides relief from Capital Gains Tax (CGT) involving the donation of an asset by a taxpayer to a charity. The donation must be a bone fide donation and not a commercial transaction at arm's length. In such circumstances, the transaction is treated as giving rise to neither a gain nor a loss...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed). (4 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy is not listening. I said I do not see how it would be necessary for it to be in private. I am open and will ask the Chief Whip to prepare the necessary resolution. The terms of reference can be discussed between the Whips. I have also included a provision at a later stage for appointment to the audit committee of a Member of the Oireachtas, if the Opposition parties are so...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed). (4 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: There was no crash, not in Irish Nationwide.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed). (4 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy is referring to a particular period in the spring and summer of 2008 and I made my comments in that context.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed). (4 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I said scrutiny.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed). (4 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Fine Gael would not do it.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed). (4 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputies are having a private conversation.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed). (4 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I get that kind of remark every day.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed). (4 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Yes.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed). (4 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Having listened to Deputy Rabbitte I have become more and more convinced of the need for a Dáil committee to scrutinise this matter.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed). (4 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I hope we can reach an all-party agreement on it. I believe we will. It is important that we establish one. I do not believe it is desirable to entrench it in legislation. Deputy Jim O'Keeffe referred to the example of the Committee of Public Accounts. However, it hears the audits of accounts for a whole range of Departments. In this case, it is only a single statutory authority.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed). (4 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Yes, but there is a real issue about the oversight which the board must exercise and the proper relationship which the Oireachtas must have with it. I agree with Deputy Pat Rabbitte that to sustain public confidence in NAMA we must accept there should be a Dáil committee devoted to it. Again, we will have to decide whether it will be a committee or a sub-committee.