Results 5,681-5,700 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed). (6 Oct 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am trying to be helpful.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (24 Sep 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The proposed 80% windfall tax to which the Deputy refers is being considered as part of the NAMA legislation and it will be discussed at Committee Stage of the Bill. The analysis of the Commission on Taxation will help inform my consideration of the measure. However, it is not customary for the Minister of Finance to comment on the possible details of tax changes prior to publication of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (24 Sep 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Appropriations-in-aid are Departmental receipts which may be retained by a Department or Office to offset expenses instead of being paid into the Exchequer Account of the Central Fund. For the purposes of presentation of the overall public finances, expenditure by the Social Insurance Fund and the National Training Fund are treated in a similar fashion to appropriations-in-aid in that they...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (24 Sep 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Health Levy estimated yield on a no-policy-change basis is set out in the following table: 2008 €1,327m 2009 €1,892m 2010 €2,489m 2011 €2,506m 2012 €2,602m 2013 €2,737m The 2009 and 2010 estimates reflect the doubling of the Health Levy rates in the 2009 Supplementary Budget and these and subsequent years' estimates are based on projected economic activity at that time.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (24 Sep 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law with which Irish VAT law must comply. Under the VAT Directive, Member States may retain the zero rates on goods and services which were in place on 1 January 1991, but cannot extend the zero rate to new goods and services. As safety equipment, including motorcycle safety equipment, was not subject to the zero...

Written Answers — Tax Reliefs: Tax Reliefs (24 Sep 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the relevant information available relates to the cost to the Exchequer of tax relief in respect of a range of property-based incentives derived from personal income tax returns filed by non-PAYE taxpayers and corporation tax returns filed by companies for 2006 and 2007. The information on estimated costs is set out on an itemised basis in the...

Written Answers — Internet Betting: Internet Betting (24 Sep 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am aware of the portability of internet betting operations. It is the prerogative of a company to locate its businesses where it sees fit. In that regard, it should be noted that Ireland's tax regime, for example corporation tax, compares favourably to other countries. In addition, Ireland has a highly skilled and flexible workforce. The Deputy may wish to note, that my Department is...

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (24 Sep 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The insurance industry as a whole is governed by the Insurance Acts 1909 to 2000 and regulations relating to insurance and reinsurance made under section 3 of the European Communities Act 1972. This body of legislation deals with a range of issues including authorisation provisions, prudential supervision and governance matters. The day to day responsibility for ensuring that the insurance...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (24 Sep 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The total direct cost on the Central Fund for holding the first Lisbon Referendum was €17.193m. In addition, I am informed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs that the Referendum Commission costs were €5.0m and that his Department also spent €0.738m. on an information campaign for the referendum.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Sep 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Recruitment to the Civil Service is governed by the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act, 2004. The Act provides for the establishment of the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA) and of the Public Appointments Service (PAS). The CPSA establishes the standards of probity, merit, equity and fairness and other principles as they consider appropriate, to be...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (23 Sep 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I refer the Deputy to the comments I made in the course of my Second Stage Speech on the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) Bill 2009 on 16 September 2009 on the effect that NAMA will have on individual institutions. I indicated that while the banking system can be revived and serve the economy in a proper manner, the existing structures cannot remain the same. Already a number of banks...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (23 Sep 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners, who are responsible for enforcement and investigation associated with the illicit trade in cigarettes, that, in addition to the wide range of enforcement measures undertaken at national level, they actively engage on an ongoing basis with the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and also with other Customs Administrations in the Member States on the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (23 Sep 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The process to revise the Arterial Drainage Act 1945 as amended by the Arterial Drainage Act 1995 and the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations 1989, 1998 and 1999 for the purpose of giving effect to the Directive 2003/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of the 26th May 2003 is well advanced. I expect to sign the draft regulations within the next couple of weeks, after...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (23 Sep 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I refer the Deputy to the comments I made in the course of my Second Stage Speech on the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) Bill 2009 on 16 September 2009 on the effect that NAMA will have on individual institutions. I indicated that while the banking system can be revived and serve the economy in a proper manner, the existing structures cannot remain the same. Already a number of banks...

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (23 Sep 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have no role in the selection or appointment of the Chair of the Institute of Public Administration. The Institute is a company limited by guarantee founded in 1963. The Articles of Association of the Institute provide that the Chair of the Board shall be appointed by ordinary resolution passed at an Annual General meeting of the Institute following a recommendation from the Board.

Public Appointments Transparency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Sep 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Bill with which we are dealing here this evening raises important issues of public interest and I thank Deputy Varadkar for allowing the House the opportunity to discuss them. While the Government is opposing the Bill on a number of grounds, we acknowledge the concerns that have been voiced by many Deputies. We agree that the aim to achieve best practice in the corporate governance of...

Public Appointments Transparency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Sep 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have my doubts that an Oireachtas committee would deliver appointments to a wide variety of State bodies in a timely and efficient manner, a prerequisite to ensuring the continued smooth operation of the bodies in question. We should study the experience in the United States in that regard. Last night, Deputy Varadkar acknowledged there could be some difficulties. However, he was more...

Public Appointments Transparency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Sep 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I fish in all pools.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (22 Sep 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In 2008, all serving retained firefighters were given the option of either joining the Local Government Superannuation Scheme (LGSS), which is contributory for all reckonable service, and receiving a pension and lump sum on retirement, or remaining outside the LGSS in order to avail of the existing gratuity arrangements for retained firefighters, which are non-contributory. All retained...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (22 Sep 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 94 together. It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to work carried out in relation to the enforcement of Vehicle Registration Tax Regulations. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that Revenue enforcement officers, who are based at numerous locations around the country, carry out regular and on-going checks to identify and deal with breaches...