Results 8,101-8,120 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy will be aware that a revised VRT system for Category A vehicles was announced in Budget 2008 and came into effect on 1 July 2008. I have no plans to change the criteria in relation to the VRT categories at this time.

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the breakdown of drug seizures by Revenue Customs officers at Shannon Airport in 2007 and 2008 requested by the Deputy is: In 2007 there were 45 seizures. Drug Amount Street Value â'¬ Heroin 15 grams 3,050 Ecstasy Tablets 199 tablets 1,990 Amphetamine 3 grams 45 LSD 5 tablets 50 Cannabis 168 grams 745 Khat 50 kilos 100,000 In 2008...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is not clear which bodies the Deputy has precisely in mind. If it is non-commercial semi-state bodies there are 117 of these with spending of Euro 6 billion, almost Euro 4 billion of which is accounted for by the Higher Education Authority, the National Roads Authority, and FÁS. There are also many other bodies that he may be referring to such as hospitals (there are 53 in the HSE's...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The broad purpose of the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) 1997 as amended in 2003, is to enable citizens to obtain access to official information to the greatest extent possible consistent with the public interest and the right to privacy. As Minister for Finance I am responsible under section 15(5) of the Freedom of Information Act for ensuring that appropriate measures are taken by public...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: My Department received 180 requests in 2008. Of these, 123 were "part-granted" and 10 were refused. Five of those 133 requests (74% of total received) were appealed to the Information Commissioner. In one case a settlement was reached. My Department's position on two other appeals was upheld and there are two cases pending.

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: A decision to refuse a Freedom of Information (FOI) request can only be made on the basis that the information is exempt or the refusal of the information is allowed under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 1997, as amended in 2003. In view of this, it is not accurate to suggest that a decision maker can wrongfully refuse a request as any such refusal must be based in law. If...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As the Deputy is aware PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) were commissioned by the Financial Regulator to review the loan books and the capital position of six of the covered institutions as at 30th September 2008. The terms of reference did not specifically cover loans to directors. PwC's work concentrated on a review of the top exposures which did not specifically include any loans to directors....

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Anglo Irish Bank is being run on an arms length commercial basis. The terms applied to customers relate to the bank's normal ongoing business, and is accordingly a matter for the Board of Anglo. As with all financial institutions, Anglo Irish Bank is subject to regulation and supervision of its commercial activity by the Financial Regulator. The Deputy will be aware that the Financial...

Written Answers — Financial Institutions Support Scheme: Financial Institutions Support Scheme (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: All entities regulated by the Financial Regulator including those credit institutions (Banks, and Building Societies) who are being supported under the Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Scheme 2008 (Scheme), are required to comply with the terms and provisions of the Consumer Protection Code (Code). Under the provisions of the Code a regulated entity must ensure that in all its dealings...

Written Answers — Financial Institutions Support Scheme: Financial Institutions Support Scheme (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As I have mentioned in previous answers to parliamentary questions, under the terms of the Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Scheme 2008, I established the Covered Institutions Remuneration Oversight Committee (CIROC) to oversee the remuneration of senior executives of the covered institutions. The Scheme requires each covered institution to prepare and submit a plan to structure the...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Acting Chief Executive's annual salary amounts to €285,341. This is the same salary as applied to the previous Chief Executive and also covers the Acting Chief Executive's continuing role as Consumer Director. The contract does not provide for performance related payments. The Regulatory Authority has informed me that pension benefits to the Acting Chief Executive are payable in...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Chief Executive of the Regulatory Authority is appointed by the other members of that Authority and the conditions of employment are agreed between the person and the other members of the Authority. I am informed that the Chief Executive's contract did not provide for performance related payments. The Regulatory Authority has informed me that pension benefits to the former Chief...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 190 and 228 to 232, inclusive, together. The projected expenditure on public service pensions for 2009 is estimated at €2.7 billion. This figure covers superannuation payments in respect of all public service pension schemes and covers main scheme pensions, spouses pensions and retirement lump sums. As with all estimates of future pension payments there is...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I understand that in 2007 Aer Lingus made a payment of €104 million for pension fund purposes from the proceeds of the Initial Public Offering. Details of this transaction are reported in the company's published annual accounts for 2007.

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As the Deputy is aware PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) were commissioned by the Financial Regulator to review the loan books and the capital position of six of the covered institutions as at 30th September 2008. The summary PwC report which I received from the Governor of the Central Bank in November 2008 provided a detailed sectoral and geographic breakdown of the loanbooks in each of the...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Financial Regulator and the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement are currently conducting investigations into certain issues at Anglo Irish Bank. These investigations were ongoing prior to the decision to nationalise Anglo Irish Bank, and I was appraised of this. A due diligence inquiry was conducted on my behalf, in December and early January, as part of the then proposed...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Financial Regulator and the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement are currently conducting investigations into corporate governance issues at Anglo Irish Bank. These investigations were ongoing prior to the decision to nationalise Anglo Irish Bank, and I was appraised of this. A due diligence inquiry was conducted on my behalf, in December and early January, as part of the then...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In preparing the GDP, GNP and tax forecasts recently published in the Addendum to the Stability Programme Update, account was taken of the macroeconomic and fiscal impact of a reduction in Government expenditure of up to €2 billion. While the specific details of what the Government announced last week were not known when the Department published the Addendum, the broad order of magnitude of...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Table 5 of the Addendum to the Irish Stability Programme Update sets out the likely evolution of the public finances and the necessary amount of adjustment required the current budget to balance by 2013. Table 6 sets out the budgetary prospects for the General Government for 2008-2013 by detailing first, the breakdown of the GGB by sub-sector of government, and then the breakdown of estimated...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (10 Feb 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In relation to the issue of recapitalisation of banking institutions, the Government has made clear that any injection of capital into the banks will be made with the expectation of a return on the investment. In this case, in line with EUROSTAT guidelines, the transaction is treated as a financial transaction, and consequently, will have no impact on the General Government Balance. It was...