Results 9,421-9,440 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The number of civil servants employed at Principal Officer and above is about 1,750 at present. Based on current numbers 3% of the paybill for these staff would amount to approximately €6 million in a full year or about 0.3% of the overall paybill for the civil service.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy raises a number of distinct questions and, for ease of reference, I will address each separately. Firstly, I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that, as regards the fiduciary taxes (i.e. taxes collected by a third party on behalf of the State) such as VAT, PAYE, etc, the person responsible for accounting for each such fiduciary tax is the person who has a statutory obligation...

Written Answers — : (7 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that under the terms of the Value-Added Tax (Refund of Tax) (No. 25) Order, 1993, SI No. 266 of 1993, a farmer who is not registered for VAT may claim a refund of VAT paid by him or her in relation to the construction, extension, alteration or reconstruction of farm buildings and structures, including farm roads, on lands owned or occupied by him or...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (7 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The website of the Government's climate change awareness campaign, www.change.ie, provides a carbon calculator which enables everyone to work out their own carbon footprint. Using this tool, my Department has estimated that the carbon emissions in respect of air travel arising in the course of the ministerial functions of the Minister for Finance, amounted to 5.5 tonnes in the year to 30...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Year-to-year increases in allocations would not normally be granted to allow for increments. In the normal way, the overall cost of increments for some staff on incremental scales should be offset by reductions in cost arising from retirements or other movements by staff on higher incremental points and their replacement by staff on lower points. There is no increased provision for increments...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the information requested regarding the number of applicants who received tax refunds on maternity benefit payments in 2007 and their value cannot be provided. This is because the PAYE system does not identify the reason giving rise to a review of an individual's tax liability. It is the outcome of the review that is recorded — for example,...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 187, 188, 189 and 194 together. The tonnage tax scheme for shipping companies was provided for in the Finance Act 2002 and introduced in 2003 following the granting of State aid approval by the European Commission. In common with most other EU member states which operate Commission approved tonnage tax schemes, it is not a requirement of the Irish tonnage tax...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Government decision of 8 July in relation to expenditure savings in the remainder of 2008 identifies savings of €82.732m to be delivered across the Finance group of votes. The proportion of these savings to be realised in the Consultancy & Advertising category are set out in the following table. Department/Office Savings Requirement 08/07/08-31/12/08 Advertising Spend...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The costs of specific Tribunals are met from the Votes of the Ministers with responsibility for these Tribunals, and the matter should be raised with the relevant Minister.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Based on current numbers, 3% of the paybill for all civil servants above principal officer level would amount to about €1.3 million in a full year. As regards the wider public service, information on the paybill for those at particular grade levels in individual state agencies and other public service organisations is not readily available in my Department and details would have to be...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The new draft Agreement, if ratified, will cover a period of 21 months from 1 October 2008 to 30 June 2010 in the public service. The draft agreement provides for a pay pause of 11 months in the public service followed by increases as follows: An increase of 3.5% from 1 September 2009; and An increase of 2.5% from 1 June 2010 — except for those earning up to and including €430.49 per week...

Written Answers — Bank Deposits: Bank Deposits (7 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy will be aware that, since the Government decision of 20 September 2008 to increase the statutory limit for the Deposit Guarantee Scheme for banks and building societies from €20,000 to €100,000 per depositor per institution, the Government has now put in place a guarantee arrangement to safeguard all deposits (retail, commercial, institutional and interbank), covered bonds,...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (7 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Plant and machinery used for the generation of energy from renewable sources already qualifies for capital allowances at the rate of 121⁄2 per annum over 8 years. Allowing farmers double capital allowances would be excessively generous and would inevitably lead to calls for similar concessions from other sectors. In addition I should point out that there are already tax incentives in...

Written Answers — Agriculture Reforms: Agriculture Reforms (7 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is a long-standing practice of the Minister for Finance not to comment in advance of the Budget on any tax or expenditure matters that might be the subject of Budget decisions.

Written Answers — Agriculture Reforms: Agriculture Reforms (7 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is a long-standing practice of the Minister for Finance not to comment in advance of the Budget on any tax or expenditure matters that might be the subject of Budget decisions.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The carbon tax issue is being examined by the Commission on Taxation and the Commission is due to report by September 2009 at the latest. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce a carbon tax/levy over the lifetime of the Government. With regard to Budget 2009, as the Deputy will be aware it is not the usual practice for the Minister for Finance to speculate in...

Written Answers — National Minimum Wage: National Minimum Wage (7 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The arrangements referred to by the Deputy are to apply as part of the new draft Partnership Agreement. Some preliminary work has been undertaken and discussions will commence on ratification of the Agreement.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I take it that the Deputy is referring to the review of Tax Relief for Pensions Provision carried out jointly by the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Finance in 2005, the report of which was published in 2006 as part of Volume III of the Budget 2006 Review of Tax Schemes — Internal Reviews of Certain Tax Schemes. The main conclusions reached in the Review are set out in paragraph...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (2 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Using the data in the Pre-Budget 2009 income tax ready reckoner, a €100 and a €200 increase in the threshold of the health levy would cost about €120 million and €240 million in a full year, respectively. The costs quoted are provisional, subject to revision and estimated to the nearest €5 million. The ready reckoner is available on my Department's website, at www.finance.gov.ie.

Written Answers — Public Service Staff: Public Service Staff (2 Oct 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Family-friendly policies have made, and will continue to make, a vital contribution to the recruitment and retention of staff across the public sector. The Civil Service, in particular, is acknowledged as offering a wide range of flexible and family friendly options including flexitime, work-sharing, term-time working and career breaks. Requests for access to work-life balance schemes are...