Results 5,921-5,940 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that credit claims and requests for refunds from PAYE taxpayers are checked on a tiered basis based on value. Larger claims are subject to a higher proportion of examination as they are thought to be higher risk. I am further advised that overall, about 1% of claims for all tax credits, including One Parent Family Credit, are verified in this way....

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that based on personal income tax returns filed by non-PAYE taxpayers for the years 2003 to 2007, the latest year for which this information is available, the estimated amount of tax foregone by allowing a deduction for interest on borrowings to be offset against rental income assessable under Case V, Schedule D is set out in the following table. ...

Written Answers — Customs Service: Customs Service (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that they will be taking delivery of the new cutter at the end of September 2009. Following normal sea-trials the cutter will be brought into service in mid October 2009. This will bring the number of Revenue Customs cutters to two. Both cutters will have a national remit, to include the Donegal coastline. Either or both vessels can and will be...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy's question refers to the commitment I gave in this House on 26 March 2009 to request the Consumer Director in the Financial Regulator - which has a statutory mandate to safeguard customers' interests - to examine the level of redemption fees charged by banks to customers wishing to exit from fixed rate mortgages. My Department received a copy of the Financial Regulator's report on...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: This is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the mortgage holder in question has been in receipt of mortgage interest relief since 2006 as a first-time buyer and will continue to be entitled to claim mortgage interest relief until the end of 2012. I am also advised that the mortgage interest relief in this instance is on a joint mortgage where...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the matter is still ongoing as the issues involved are complex and the person concerned has not to date provided proof that tax was deducted from the payments made to him. The nature or status of Revenue's enquiries into the tax affairs of other parties is confidential. Therefore it not possible to make any comment on the position...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: When a regulated firm has assigned its rights and responsibilities under a contract which is subject to the Consumer Credit Act 1995 (CCA), to a third party, this will not negate the application of the CCA to that agreement. It is important to note that a consumer's statutory right cannot be set aside or contracted out of by the assignee of an agreement. No new rights are created, and the...

Written Answers — Public Sector Salaries: Public Sector Salaries (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is estimated that a saving of approximately €25m would be achieved through the application of a percentage cut of 10% on that element of public service salaries over €100,000. The figure does not include the local authority area which is outside of the public service pay and pensions bill. As the Deputy is aware Members of the Government, Ministers of State, Secretaries General of...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Taoiseach gave an undertaking in the Dáil last week to provide a considered response on behalf of Government to the proposals in Fine Gael's NewEra document. I understand that the Government's response is currently being prepared and I expect that it will issue to Deputy Kenny shortly.

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In formulating policy responses to the impact of the financial crisis on the Irish financial system, I have welcomed all constructive observations, comments or advices that have been offered. The Government examined a number of ways to deal with the risky assets on the balance sheets of Irish banks, which were preventing banks from lending into the economy and thereby supporting economic...

Written Answers — Capital Investment: Capital Investment (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 29 from Deputy Richard Bruton on Wednesday 8 July which provides an update in relation to this issue.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: You will be aware that I identified in the Budget last October the priority elements agreed by Government under the decentralisation programme which could proceed at this time. The Government's preference would have been not to delay any aspect of the Programme but, in light of the deterioration in the public finances, it has been necessary to defer other projects pending an overall review of...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy will appreciate that the issue he raises is one that falls within the remit of the Financial Regulator in its on-going engagement with the various financial institutions. I am advised by the Financial Regulator that, at this time, they are unaware of the proposal mentioned. It needs to be borne in mind that a balance must be struck between the influence the Government brings to...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a further explanation regarding the issue of the 2004 reviews issued to the person concerned on 8th July 2009.

Written Answers — Public Service Contracts: Public Service Contracts (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that they have entered into contracts with six firms of external solicitors to provide legal services associated with debt collection and the enforcement process. These contracts will cease, for new referrals, on 31 December 2009. Revenue is currently undertaking an open tendering process in order to select the most suitable firms of solicitors to...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The rationale for giving various tax reliefs to statutory and Revenue-approved pension savings schemes is to encourage and promote savings over the long term in order that individuals will have an adequate replacement income in old age. Any proposal, however well-intentioned, that would allow pre-retirement access by individuals to retirement savings could significantly reduce the quantum of...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I understand that the Deputy's question relates to the tax exemption of certain earnings of writers, composers and artists. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the relevant available information relates to the overall cost to the Exchequer of the exemption and the total numbers of claimants as included in income tax returns filed for the income tax year 2006, the latest year for...

Written Answers — Public Sector Staff: Public Sector Staff (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The number of people employed in the public service at the 31 December for the last five years is presented, as reported to my Department, in the attached table. The numbers employed in the public service is constituted by the numbers of whole time equivalents employed in the civil service, the education sector, the justice sector, the health sector, the local authorities and the...

Written Answers — Public Sector Salaries: Public Sector Salaries (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Factors such as differences in staff work patterns present difficulties in compiling meaningful average figures on earnings. However, the Central Statistics Office publishes statistics on average weekly earnings in the public sector. These are available on the website of the Central Statistics Office www.cso.ie. These figures produced by the Central Statistics Office relate to the public...

Written Answers — Public Service Recruitment: Public Service Recruitment (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 163 together. The public service is composed of the civil service, the education sector, the justice sector, the health sector, the local authorities and the non-commercial agencies. While numbers for some areas within the public service are collected on a monthly basis, numbers for other areas are collected on a quarterly basis, and these are...