Results 9,901-9,920 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: That is to ignore the serious implications for a small, open economy like Ireland of problems that even the world's largest economies are having difficulties in coming to terms with. Ireland is not immune to international developments. Since the late 1950s it has been clear that Irish prosperity is strongly associated with deep international links. If Fine Gael does not understand and...

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The first thing we must reflect on is the international position. If we do not do that and draw intelligent conclusions from it, we will not give the people the right leadership. We are determined to give the people the right leadership.

Order of Business (10 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: They are two different items.

Order of Business (10 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: We are voting for Opposition Members' holidays.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (9 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The benefit-in-kind system on company cars was substantially revised in 2004. Under the revised system the benefit to an employee of a car provided by his or her employer is calculated by reference to the original market price of the car and the employee's annual business mileage. For example, where an employee's annual business mileage is 15,000 miles or less the benefit of the car is...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (9 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am not aware of any study having been carried out into the cost to the Exchequer on average of dealing with Parliamentary Question and I am less than convinced that any such study would result in a meaningful average cost. As the costs of answering a parliamentary question vary according to the nature and phraseology of the questions asked, an average cost for any period on the basis of...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (9 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I understand from the Chief State Solicitor's Office that it is in correspondence with the applicant's solicitor and that, as noted in my reply to the Deputy on 1 July last, it is awaiting certain information to progress this matter. I should also explain to the Deputy that this type of case normally involves the Chief State Solicitor taking out letters of administration and advertising for...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (9 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 105 together. From the outset the Government made it clear that participation in the decentralisation programme is voluntary. Across the public service, recruitment and promotion practices are being managed in a way that facilitates the achievement of the Decentralisation Programme in an efficient manner. Agreement has been reached with the unions...

Written Answers — Official Travel: Official Travel (9 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that neither myself nor the Minister of State have any plans to visit Beijing in an official capacity, to coincide with the 2008 Olympic Games. Similarly, there are no plans in relation to advisers or Department officials.

Written Answers — Departmental Publications: Departmental Publications (9 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The table that follows this reply lists the publications and booklets produced by my Department between 1 January 2007 and June 2008. Costs associated with the production of these publications are listed in the table. As most of the publications and booklets have been prepared internally by the Department's staff or with the assistance from other public servants and published on the...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (9 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The value of Ireland's net receipts from EU transfers over the period 1973 to 2007 totals €69.242 billion in 2007 prices. Table 1 provides an annual overall breakdown between EU receipts and payments in 2007 prices. Table 2 provides information for Ireland's net annual receipts (in 2007 prices) under the different funds. Ireland has been a net recipient from the EU receipts mainly...

Written Answers — Motor Fuels: Motor Fuels (9 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The 2003 EU Energy Tax Directive incorporated special derogations which allowed specific excise duty reliefs to be applied in a number of Member States. In the Irish context, these derogations allowed inter alia for reduced rates to apply to fuel used for public transport services which includes school transport services. While these derogations expired on 31 December 2006, Ireland, along...

Written Answers — Clinical Indemnity: Clinical Indemnity (9 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the State Claims Agency that to date 100 claims have been received relating to MRSA. Liability in those cases is still to be decided. Until the question of legal liability is settled, it is not possible to indicate what role, if any, the clinical indemnity scheme will play. In the circumstances, it is also not possible to estimate the number of cases, or the costs, that...

Written Answers — Clinical Indemnity: Clinical Indemnity (9 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the State Claims Agency that it has not received any claims from people whose homes have been allegedly damaged by defective pyrite infill. Claims of defects in homes are a matter between the home buyer, the builder and the builder's insurer.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (9 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The scheme of capital allowances for the construction or refurbishment of buildings used as private hospitals was introduced in the Finance Act 2001 and came into effect in May 2002. Provided that capital expenditure on the proposed co-located private hospitals, which are designed to free-up capacity in public hospitals, conforms with the existing legislation governing that scheme, normal...

Written Answers — Motor Fuels: Motor Fuels (9 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Assistance is provided through the VRT system towards the purchase of hybrid vehicles. The Finance Act 2001 introduced a 50% VRT relief for category A (passenger car) and category B (car and jeep derived vans) series production hybrid electric vehicles. A hybrid electric vehicle is one which uses a combination of petrol and electricity for motive power, being capable of running on the...

Written Answers — e-Government Proposals: e-Government Proposals (9 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Since 1999, two Information Society Action Plans were published by the Department of the Taoiseach. Both of the Action Plans contained sections dealing with e-Government. The Information Society Policy Unit in the Department of the Taoiseach was preparing a new Knowledge Society Action Plan which it intended to publish during the summer. I understand that this new Action Plan was to...

Seanad: Economic Policy: Statements (9 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this Seanad debate on the stewardship of the economy by the Government and to acknowledge the productive investment being made under the national development plan. This plan consolidates and enhances Ireland's economic competitiveness. In particular, I would like to take the opportunity to outline the main measures that the Government is taking to...

Seanad: Economic Policy: Statements (9 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Táim ag éisteacht.

Seanad: Economic Policy: Statements (9 Jul 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: We made it clear yesterday that there is no commitment to pay rises.