Results 6,861-6,880 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Order of Business (30 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It cannot.

Order of Business (30 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I understand the referendum legislation will be taken this session. There is a commitment to introduce the NAMA legislation in this session.

Order of Business (30 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Yes.

Order of Business (30 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I understand the legislation is in committee and that the Minister proposes to introduce further amendments.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 118 together. As I mentioned in reply to previous Parliamentary Questions on this matter, the implementation of the bicycle purchase scheme for the Civil Service is being dealt with by my Department. Introducing the scheme in the Civil Service has given rise to a number of issues including that of public procurement. These issues will be resolved...

Written Answers — Public Service Contracts: Public Service Contracts (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Standard forms for Suitability Assessment for Works Contractors have been developed in compliance with EU procurement rules and health and safety legislation. Suitability assessment procedures involve inviting applicants to submit information in response to a customised standard questionnaire. This questionnaire was developed in response to difficulties which had been experienced by firms,...

Written Answers — Property Prices: Property Prices (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Valuation Act 2001, which came into effect on 2 May 2002, provides for the revaluation of all commercial and industrial property. The revaluation programme began in November 2005 in the South Dublin County Council area and has since been rolled out to Fingal and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Councils. The South Dublin County Council revaluation was completed in December 2007. Fingal...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As I stated during the Finance Bill process, it has been my intention to widen if possible the tax base on which betting duty would be applied. Bets placed either on-line or over the phone are generally with out-of-State companies so applying betting duty is therefore problematic. My officials, in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners,...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The implementation of the bicycle purchase scheme for the Civil Service is being dealt with by my Department. Introducing the scheme in the Civil Service has given rise to a number of issues including that of public procurement. These issues will be resolved shortly. I also understand that the Office of Public Works will be advertising soon seeking expressions of interest from those selling...

Written Answers — Financial Institutions Support Scheme: Financial Institutions Support Scheme (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The purpose of the charge is to cover the long-term costs of borrowing to the Exchequer that arise out of the provision of the Guarantee to the covered institutions. These additional costs initially were estimated to be about €1 billion. The charging model for recouping these costs was based on covered liabilities of circa €450bn. However, as I have pointed out previously, about €90bn...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (29 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Section 848A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 allows tax relief on donations made by either individuals or corporate bodies to eligible charities and other approved bodies, including first and second level schools and third level institutions providing education based on a programme prescribed or approved by the Minister for Education and Science. The arrangements for allowing tax relief...

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (28 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the person in question declared the vehicle for registration at Tullamore Vehicle Registration Office on 24 March 2009. The V5 UK registration document, which was presented in support of the application, was issued on 24 February 2009 by the UK Authorities and shows the date of acquisition of the vehicle as 12 February 2009. Since 1 July 2008...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The position is that cohabitating couples are expressly recognised for the purpose of social welfare law but are not recognised for the purposes of income tax law. Although this may appear contradictory, the main aim of both the welfare code and the tax code is to uphold the constitutional right of married couples not to be treated less favourably than unmarried couples. The basis for the...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (28 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In March, the Government, on my request appointed Dr Alan Ahearne as one of my Special Advisers. The manner in which such appointments are required to be made is specified under the Standards in Public Office Act 2001 and does not involve public competition. That Act also requires me to lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas, within 60 days of the appointment, certain documents including Dr...

Written Answers — Judicial Remuneration: Judicial Remuneration (28 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I can confirm that Members of the Judiciary are liable to pay the income levy. The Deputy will be aware that in early April, the Chief Justice announced that arrangements have been made to enable judges to pay the pension related deduction voluntarily. I will not be announcing the names of those who choose to pay the contribution as it is entirely a personal matter for each judge. I have...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The position is that Mortgage Interest Relief for principal private residences will continue for first-time buyers and others who bought their homes within the last 7 years. From the first of May 2009 Mortgage Interest Relief is only being withdrawn for those individuals that have already been in receipt of mortgage interest relief for more than seven years. I believe the decision to...

Written Answers — Average Industrial Wage: Average Industrial Wage (28 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The average industrial wage for 2005 was €30,310 as measured by the old CSO survey 'Industrial Earnings and Hours Worked'. The average industrial wage as measured by the new release 'Earnings and Labour Costs' is used for the subsequent years. The two measures are not directly comparable but the new series provides better coverage of earnings data. The averages for 2006 and 2007 were...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The position is that all payments made by the Department of Social and Family Affairs, and similar type payments made by other government departments and agencies, are specifically exempted from the income levy and are disregarded for the purposes of determining an individual's income for the application of the income levy.

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (28 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As Members of the Oireachtas are not employed in a civil or public service capacity they will not be eligible to participate in the three year career break scheme announced in the Supplementary Budget. By virtue of their constitutional status, the granting of career breaks would not be compatible with the role and duties of Members of the Oireachtas.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (28 Apr 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Long service increments, payable after 3 and 6 years' service on the maximum of the scale, were introduced as part of restructuring deals agreed for various grades under the Programme for Competitiveness and Work (PCW). Payment of such increments is dependent on the individual recipients attaining the appropriate rating under the Performance Management and Development System (PMDS). The...