Results 5,241-5,260 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Cigarette Smuggling: Cigarette Smuggling (3 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I can confirm that arrangements under the procurement process have been completed for the acquisition of a new mobile scanner for the Revenue Commissioners. Revenue has completed Factory Acceptance Testing, and the new Scanner is due to arrive in Dublin Port in November. Following testing the new scanner will be commissioned and operational soon after.

Written Answers — National Asset Management Agency: National Asset Management Agency (3 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: While the actual NAMA Business Plan will not be published until the NAMA legislation has been enacted, and the Board has been appointed, I instructed the interim NAMA managing director to draw up a draft Business Plan, setting out how NAMA will carry out its functions and duties, on the basis of the information that was already available to him. I saw the draft Plan as a key element to...

Written Answers — National Asset Management Agency: National Asset Management Agency (3 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy will be aware that I am proposing to introduce, by way of a Report Stage amendment to the NAMA Bill, a future tax surcharge on the participating institutions in the event of NAMA making a loss. The basis of this charge, if applicable, will be a report by NAMA on its aggregate profits or losses from its establishment to the date that the Minister looks for the report. These profits...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (3 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The decision on the interest rate to be charged by lending institutions for mortgages is a commercial decision for the financial institution concerned. This decision will reflect a range of different factors including funding costs, market conditions, profitability and business strategy as well as the competitive environment overall. The Deputy will appreciate it is a core function of the...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (3 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As the Deputy will be aware, several regulatory bodies are carrying out investigations of behaviour at Anglo Irish Bank including in particular, the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, the Garda Fraud Office and the Financial Regulator. The various regulatory bodies will make their reports in due course. I am of course anxious that the investigations are completed as swiftly as...

Written Answers — Consumer Price Index: Consumer Price Index (3 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Central Statistics Office (CSO) publishes monthly both the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP). The latter is compiled on a common basis across the European Union. The main difference between the CPI and the HICP is that the latter excludes mortgage interest costs. The CPI fell by 6.5 per cent in the twelve months to September while the HICP fell...

Written Answers — Debt Management: Debt Management (3 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The main points contained in the revised Programme for Government dealing with personal debt are: · Introducing new measures to protect families having difficulties with their home mortgage payments; · Examining ways of expanding the existing options available for dealing with debt situations; · Examining ways of expanding existing state sponsored mortgage-support measures; · Regulating...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (3 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Government has agreed a range of reforms of the financial regulatory structures. A new single fully integrated institution, the Central Bank of Ireland, will be established, replacing the current two pillar structure under the existing Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland. The new structure will be responsible for both the supervision of individual firms and the...

Written Answers — Small and Medium Enterprises: Small and Medium Enterprises (3 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Specifically in relation to the NAMA Bill 2009, I will be introducing a Report Stage amendment to the Bill to provide a power to issue guidelines to the participating institutions on lending practices and procedures to improve the flow of credit to SMEs and, if necessary, other sectors. The power will be a wide ranging one and will allow for a response adapted to the particular circumstances...

Written Answers — National Asset Management Agency: National Asset Management Agency (3 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Summary information provided in the draft NAMA business plan, and by me during the Second Stage debate on the NAMA Bill, is of a provisional nature. The figures provided to date relate to the covered institutions who have indicated they intend to apply to participate in NAMA. The loan quality, geographic distribution and loan type will all vary from institution to institution. Any further...

Written Answers — National Asset Management Agency: National Asset Management Agency (3 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) is being established to address the systemic threat posed to the Irish financial system by certain portfolios of risky assets on the banks' balance sheets. 'Opportunity cost', in economic terms, refers to the opportunities forgone in the choice one expenditure over another. As the Deputy is no doubt fully aware, the monetary costs involved in NAMA...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (3 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Government has agreed a range of reforms of the financial regulatory structures. A new single fully integrated institution, the Central Bank of Ireland, will be established, replacing the current two pillar structure under the existing Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland. The new structure will be responsible for both the supervision of individual firms and the...

Written Answers — Employment Levels: Employment Levels (3 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Quarterly National Household Survey contains data for the period up to end June 2009. That survey shows an annual decrease in employment of 8.2%. The largest annual falls in employment have been in construction (down 86,000), wholesale and retail trade (down 29,600) and industry (down 29,000) sectors. While the fall in employment is a cause for concern, it is nevertheless not unexpected...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (3 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Any changes to child benefit will be considered in the context of the 2010 Budget.

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (3 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Appointments to the board of a State body, including those under the aegis of my Department, are generally made by the Minister with responsibility for the Body in question. The arrangements for such appointments are normally set out in the legislation establishing the State Body. In recent years the system of appointments to State boards has been refined and the overall calibre of...

Written Answers — Customs Service: Customs Service (3 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the Customs controls at the location in question and at private airports in general are risk-based. The controls are carried out by mobile Customs enforcement staff, whose attendance is selective and targeted, based on analysis and evaluation of national and international seizure trends, traffic frequency, routes and other risk indicators....

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (3 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As with all financial institutions, Anglo Irish Bank is subject to legal and regulatory requirements with regard to lending to its Directors and employees. Any breach of these obligations would be a matter for investigation by the relevant authorities, including the Financial Regulator, as appropriate. Also, I am informed by Anglo that, in order to avoid any potential conflicts of interest,...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (3 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the air travel tax arising from travel undertaken in any month is payable by airline operators by the 23rd of the following month. The yields from the air travel tax received in the period from May to October 2009, in respect of travel undertaken during the months April to September 2009 are as follows: Month €m May 9.6 June 11.5 July...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (3 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The renewed Programme for Government provides for the taking on of 1,000 Third and Fourth level graduates to provide additional capacity and skills across the public service and in Government Departments and to provide valuable work experience. My Department is currently examining the options in relation to this proposal and how it can best be implemented. In the context of the current...

Written Answers — Statutory Instruments: Statutory Instruments (3 Nov 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In general, statutory instruments made on or after 1 January 1948 are allocated statutory instrument numbers under the Statutory Instruments Act 1947 (the Act). However, under section 2 of the Act, the Attorney General has the power, where certain criteria are met, to exempt certain statutory instruments from the operation of section 3(1) of the Act. Statutory instruments so exempted do not...