Results 7,681-7,700 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue but, as I understand it, the Bill already provides for what the amendment seeks to achieve. The Bill provides for an amendment to the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 whereby income chargeable under Schedule E will be reduced by the amount of the deduction. It also provides, crucially, for amendments to regulation 41 of Statutory Instrument No. 559 of...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Section 15 deals with the issue, amending the Income Tax Act and the Income Tax (Employments) (Consolidated) Regulations 2001, which has the effect of including the contribution for social welfare purposes, which means the deduction will be disregarded in full before means from earnings are assessed for welfare purposes. I agree with the Deputy that it would not have been transparently...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Yes. These core provisions in the 1997 Act and the Income Tax (Employments) (Consolidated) Regulations 2001 are the reference points for such schemes.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The ICTU solidarity pact does not require a statutory mechanism. Such a mechanism is not required for re-engagement to take place between the social partners and the Government.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: On the matters arising from the amendments before us, I emphasise that the obligation to conduct the review is on the Minister for Finance. Words such as "consultation", "consultant" and "subcontract" have been used. Under section 13, the obligation to do the review is imposed on the Minister. Clearly, the review must be done before 30 June 2010. This is not temporary legislation but...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is not temporary legislation and because it is emergency legislation——

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Yes.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Yes.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy refers to an emergency under the constitutional provision in Article 28. This is not an emergency under the constitutional provision in Article 38.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is called an emergency because it is an emergency. While the Deputy may have been pleased to see the banks go west last September or the economy go west now, these important decisions must be taken now. This is the reason the legislation is before the House this afternoon and the reason the Government intends to implement it. This legislation must be enacted. Questions were raised about...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It would be inappropriate to exempt public servants in receipt of medical cards from this deduction, which applies to a wide base. As Deputies are aware, the purpose of a medical card is to ensure those with medical needs have access to health care without undue financial hardship. The guidelines for determining eligibility allow for the application of discretion over and above the income...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Deputies opposite insist on characterising this measure as a tax and are debating it in taxation terms. The measure is described in the legislation as a contribution, against which tax relief is available. I do not know of any form of taxation against which tax relief can be claimed other than, for example, local rates and elements of corporation tax. In regard to the cost of exempting...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: You are a long way from Government yet.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have provided for the inclusion of a review section in the legislation. Section 13 provides for an annual review of the operation of the measures included in the Bill, consideration of whether the provisions continue to be necessary and the making of findings, as the Minister thinks appropriate. A report on the review will be laid before each House of the Oireachtas. There is nothing to...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: No, I will not. This is Committee Stage and I can take a question when I have completed my contribution.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Next year I will carry out a review of the operation, effectiveness and impact of the legislation having regard to the overall economy and national economic competitiveness. A similar approach has been adopted under section 11 of the Minimum Wage Act 2000 in which the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment takes account of these considerations when setting the minimum...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Will the Deputy repeat these allegations outside the House?

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I did not threaten the Deputy.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (24 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The pension related deduction applies to public servants who are employed by or hold an office or position in a public service body and who are members of a public service pension scheme, or who are in receipt of a payment in lieu of membership of a pension scheme. The definition of a "public service pension scheme" is set out in section 1 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public...

Written Answers — National Lottery Funding: National Lottery Funding (24 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Under Section 5 of the National Lottery Act, 1986, the surplus from the National Lottery may be used for: Sport and other recreation; national culture (including the Irish language); arts (within the meaning of the Arts Act, 1951); health of the community; and for such other purposes as the Government may determine. The following additional categories have been so determined: youth, welfare,...