Results 6,081-6,100 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (8 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Numbers 171 and 172 together. To my knowledge, no reasoned opinion on this issue has been received from the European Commission by Ireland. During the preparation of the NDP, the question of undertaking a Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) was considered by the Government. The outcome of this consideration, which included taking legal advice, was that an SEA...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (8 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Based on cigarettes costing €8.35 per pack of 20, following the most recent increase of 25 cent from midnight on 7 April, 2009, the price includes a total of €6.67 in taxation (€5.19 excise duty and €1.48 VAT). The increases in excise, inclusive of VAT, made over the past 15 years are set out in the following table. In accordance with section 3 of the Appropriation Act, 1999, the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (8 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: EU VAT law requires Member States to apply a single standard rate of VAT of not lower than 15%, and there is also political agreement that the standard rate applying in each Member State does not exceed 25%. Member States may also apply up to two reduced rates of VAT of no less than 5% and not more than 15% on those goods and services listed in Annex III of the EU VAT Directive. In...

Written Answers — Motor Industry: Motor Industry (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am aware of the current challenges facing the motor industry, along with most other industries, arising from the impact of weak world economic activity. As the Deputy will be aware the Supplementary Budget announced the introduction of a VAT Margin Scheme for second-hand cars, with effect from 1 July 2009. Under the scheme, dealers would be taxed for VAT purposes on their margin (i.e. the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the taxpayer has been exempted from making Income Tax Returns since 1999. If there are any further questions on the case contact should be made with Mr Diarmuid O'Connor, Revenue Commissioners, Revenue House, Blackpool, Cork. Telephone No. 021 6027506.

Written Answers — Consumer Debt: Consumer Debt (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Private sector credit growth and debt levels are, in the first instance, a matter for the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland and details are published by the Bank in their Quarterly Bulletins. Set out as follows is a breakdown of personal (consumer) debt outstanding at the end of the first quarter of 2009. Information is available for total personal sector lending, house...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Since my appointment as Minister for Finance in May 2008, my Department has paid a fixed monthly sum which covers voice, data and roaming charges in respect of the mobile phone assigned to me by the Department of Finance.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The position is that under the provisions of Article 13 of the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Communities salaries, wages and emoluments paid to designated officials and other servants of the Communities are liable to tax for the benefit of the Communities only and such income paid by the Communities is exempt from national taxes. Accordingly under European Law it...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In general, my department and the offices under its aegis (the Office of Public Works, the Public Appointments Service, the Commission for Public Service Appointments, the State Laboratory and the Office of the Appeals Commissioner) use the services of the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Chief State Solicitor, for services of this nature. The cost of any cases taken by...

Written Answers — Property Valuations: Property Valuations (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The revaluation exercise is governed by the terms of the Valuation Act 2001, which, among other things, provides that the specification of publication dates for valuation lists is a matter for the Commissioner of Valuation, who exercises that function by means of the making of Valuation Orders. In each case, the Valuation Order was made by the Commissioner of Valuation only after formal...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the earliest Income Tax Return held for the taxpayer in question is in respect of the income tax year 6th April 1995 to 5th April 1996. Clarification is required on a number of issues and contact is being made with the taxpayer's agent regarding these matters. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that Mr. Gerry Maher, who can be contacted...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy will appreciate that this is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that for reasons of taxpayer confidentiality, they cannot comment on any tax issues relating to the transaction referred to.

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Government Supplies Agency (GSA), a Business Unit of the Office of Public Works, provided a centralised procurement service to Government Departments, Offices and Agencies for a range of goods and services including printing and stationary. This service is provided principally by means of drawdown contracts, which set out prices, terms and conditions under which supplies are delivered;...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: A special Interdepartmental Review Group reviewed the operation of the Disabled Drivers Scheme. It examined the current benefits, the qualifying medical criteria, the Exchequer costs, relationship with other schemes and similar schemes in other countries. The report also made a number of recommendations, both immediate and long-term, referring respectively to the operation of the appeals...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have been informed by the Office of Public Works that they manage around 500 leases on behalf of various Government Departments. The leases have an annual rental charge of €10,000 and above associated with 400 Properties/Buildings and relate to general office space, Garda Stations, Warehouses, Car parks, etc. Details in respect of the properties rented on behalf of my Department by the...

Written Answers — Banking Sector: Banking Sector (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Section 22 of the Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Act 2009 provides that I shall appoint an Assessor at an appropriate time having regard to the public interest, to determine the fair and reasonable aggregate value of the transferred shares and extinguished rights and the consequent amount of compensation, if any, that may be payable to persons in respect of Anglo shares transferred and rights...

Written Answers — Financial Services: Financial Services (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy's question refers to the redemption fee applied by mortgage providers in circumstances where a customer seeks to break a fixed rate mortgage. On 26 March 2009 I undertook to contact the Consumer Director of the Financial Regulator about these fees. As a result the Financial Regulator carried out a review, a report of which has been submitted to my Department. The Financial...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Civil servants who travel outside Ireland and Britain as members of a delegation representing Ireland at meetings of the EU or other international organisations, or with representatives of another government or governments, qualify for payment of a delegate's allowance. Additional payments are made to those who act as Chairpersons of EU committees or Working Groups during Ireland's tenure of...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: There is no €3,000,000 turnover requirement for companies to tender for public contracts. A general requirement of this kind would be inappropriate. However, it is essential that contractors performing any public contract be of sufficiently sound economic and financial standing. The general position is that criteria used to determine the appropriate level of financial capacity must be...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a claim for tax relief on the Maternity Benefit from the person in question was received on 29th June 2007. The claim was processed and a repayment cheque for €1,168.76 issued to the taxpayer on the 12th July 2007. This cheque was cashed on the 16th July 2007. The recent claim submitted by the taxpayer is a duplicate of the earlier claim...