Results 941-960 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Corporation Tax: Motion (Resumed) (24 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have no particular problem with the motion as drafted, although there is an amendment in our name which can be considered. It was prepared with the advice of officials in my Department. It makes a case-----

Corporation Tax: Motion (Resumed) (24 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: There is no point in being contentious.

Corporation Tax: Motion (Resumed) (24 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am not blaming anybody but simply making the point that the alternative motion presents the case rather better than Fine Gael. If the party wishes to press the issue, I will not cause a vote when there is agreement on it. I thank all Members across all parties for their contribution over the past two nights. My colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Martin...

Corporation Tax: Motion (Resumed) (24 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: There is a difficulty in the context of external funding, with the idea that any of the relevant organisations might have a negative view about our corporate tax regime. They do not have such a difficulty. One of the facilities is contingent not just on support from the European Commission, but from the different member states of the eurozone. Both President Sarkozy and Chancellor Merkel...

Corporation Tax: Motion (Resumed) (24 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: There are positive signals in our economy and we should build on those positive elements. We should conclude our discussions on the external negotiations and above all we should send a clear signal to the world on 7 December about how we manage our budgets.

Corporation Tax: Motion (Resumed) (24 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: That sovereignty extends to all forms of taxation.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Income tax relief on employee and individual pension contributions is currently allowed at the taxpayer's marginal income tax rate, that is, at the standard or higher rate of income tax as appropriate in each case. The National Pensions Framework published in March 2010 sets out a policy approach for the longer-term development of the pension system in Ireland. In that regard, the Framework...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As I announced in Budget 2010, the Government is committed to the introduction of a new single public service pension scheme for new joiners. The new scheme is aimed at securing considerable long-term Exchequer savings, while continuing to offer fair and reasonable pensions to retired public servants. Its principal features will include career-average benefit accrual, inflation-indexation of...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: My Department made an application to the EU Commission for funding under the EU Solidarity Fund. A regional application was made as the estimate of the extent of the damage does not meet the Solidarity Fund's threshold of 0.6% of GNI or 935.5m euro for a national disaster. Some 111.5m euro of the 276.9m euro costs to the State were eligible for assistance under the EU Solidarity Fund...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that section 598 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 grants relief from Capital Gains Tax on the disposal by an individual of all or part of his or her farming assets. The relief also applies to the disposal by an individual of all or part of the shares of a company, which is both a farming company and the individual's family company. Finally, the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: There are no proposals for additional voluntary redundancy plans before Government.

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Revenue Commissioners are charged with responsibility for collection and recovery of a wide range of taxes and duties including VAT. Revenue expects businesses, notwithstanding the difficult economic and financial circumstances in which they are operating, to organise their financial affairs so as to ensure that tax debts are paid as they fall due. Apart from the critical importance of...

Written Answers — Corporate Accountability: Corporate Accountability (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I understand that the Deputy's question relates to large, globally active, investment firms. It would not be appropriate for me to comment directly on the Deputy's concerns as set out in his question in the absence of more specific information on the issues to which it might relate. However, I would like to advise the Deputy of a number of important initiatives that have taken place at EU...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Consideration of how to ensure that the financial sector contributes to the cost of dealing with crises is under way in various fora internationally, including the EU and the UN. The European Council in June agreed that EU Member States should introduce systems of levies and taxes on financial institutions to ensure fair burden-sharing and to set incentives to contain systemic risk. The...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Scheme of Payments to the Promoters of Certain Charitable Lotteries is paid from the Vote for my Department. The total amount of funding paid to charities under the Scheme was €7.618m in each of the years 2002, 2003 and 2004, €7.730m in 2005 and €8.618m in the years 2005 to 2009 inclusive. Details of the amounts paid to each of the charities under this Scheme in each of the years...

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The decision about whether to renew cover in any insurance situation is a commercial matter for insurance companies, which is considered on a case by case basis, as this allows the insurance company to properly assess the risk they are accepting. In my role as Minister for Finance I have no function or influence in this matter. In this regard, it should also be noted that there can be...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The savings likely to arise from the proposed new single pension scheme will depend on the final details of that scheme. These are under active consideration in my Department in the context of the preparation of the necessary legislation to give effect to the new measure and have not yet been decided by Government. While I am not in a position to give the detailed figures requested by the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Senator Quinn's Private Members Construction Contracts Bill 2010 is currently before the Seanad and is expected to proceed to Committee Stage shortly. The Government appreciates that this is an important piece of legislation and is working closely with the Senator in relation to it. It will then have to proceed to the Dáil in the New Year.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Section 848A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (TCA) already provides for a generous scheme of tax relief for donations of money or designated securities to eligible charities and other approved bodies. Schedule 26A, Part 1, of the TCA, sets out the approved bodies for which donations relief is available. The majority of educational establishments in the State are eligible. The precise...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (23 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I presume that the Deputy is referring to the Review Group on State Assets and Liabilities which I established in July 2010 under the Chairmanship of Mr. Colm McCarthy. I have not yet received the Group's report, which is due to be submitted by the end of the year. Publication of the report will then be a matter for Government.