Results 10,061-10,080 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (17 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the taxpayer is entitled to the married personal tax credit of €3,660 and the employee (PAYE) tax credit of €1,830, making a total of €5,490 per annum, with a standard rate cut-off point of €44,400. A certificate of tax credits and standard rate cut-off point, with this breakdown, issued to the taxpayer on 9 February 2008. As...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (17 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 214, 221 and 222 together. 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...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (17 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that in the case of the company referred to, VAT repayments claims for the company are being held pending receipt of satisfactory explanations to queries outstanding. When these are provided the question of whether or not repayments are due will be dealt with.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (17 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Tax relief is available to an individual in respect of rent paid on a 'residential premises' that, during the period in respect of which the rent is paid, is his or her main residence. Relief is due at the standard rate of income tax(20%) to an individual under 55 years to a maximum limit of €2,000 at 20% for a single person and €4000 at 20% for a married person for the tax year 2008....

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (17 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Exemption from Stamp Duty for first time buyers of residential property was introduced in the Finance (No.2) Act 2007. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the yield to the Exchequer in a full year from reintroducing stamp duty on purchases of residential property by first time buyers is estimated at approximately €7.5 million for option 1, at €2.5 million for option 2 and at...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (17 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In terms of Government spending, the end-May Exchequer returns showed that expenditure was broadly on target for the first five months of 2008. The 2008 spending plans were set out in detail in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2008 which were published on 21 February 2008. While the fiscal position has weakened from that envisaged at Budget time, this has to be considered in the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (17 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As Minister for Finance I seek to ensure that value for money is achieved in all areas of expenditure. This includes projects where public relations services are utilised. My department requires that every department and office conduct a review of all such contracts twice yearly. Departments and offices must confirm, amongst other things, that value for money is being achieved. In...

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (5 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 to 73, inclusive, together. The following tables set out the details sought by the Deputy in respect of advertising campaigns proposed or undertaken by my Department, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, the Valuation Office and the Office of Public Works. The Department of Finance Campaign/Purpose Cost (incl VAT) of Advertising in Publications...

Written Answers — Price Inflation: Price Inflation (5 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The increase in fuel prices generally, and the increase in the price of diesel, is an international phenomenon. Fuel prices are driven by a number of factors including the price of oil on international markets, exchange rates, production costs and refining costs. The rise in oil prices over recent periods reflected additional factors such as geopolitical uncertainty, supply disruptions and...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (5 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The information sought by the Deputy is set out in tables A and B below. Table A: Interest paid to suppliers in each of the past five years. Interest Paid as % of Total Voted Expenditure 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 â'¬503.92 â'¬305.06 â'¬5,476.51 â'¬8,620.18 â'¬6,016.28 0.0005% 0.0003% 0.006% 0.009% 0.006% Table B: Top three beneficiaries in each year and the amount they...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: While the promotion of biofuel is primarily a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, the Deputy will be aware the Finance Act 2006 provided for significant tax measures to promote biofuels in Ireland. Under the scheme, biofuel produced under projects approved by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources are exempt from...

Written Answers — Household Indebtedness: Household Indebtedness (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As the Deputy may be aware, within the implementation of the overall legislative and policy framework for financial services, household credit growth and debt levels are, in the first instance, a matter for the Central Bank and the Financial Services Authority of Ireland (CBFSAI). This follows from its role as part of the European System of Central Banks and its functions as the Financial...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As the Deputy will be aware the Carbon Tax issue is being examined by the Commission on Taxation. The Commission are due to report by September 2009, at the latest. It is open to the Commission if they wish to report prior to that date. However it seems reasonable to assume that there is unlikely to be legislation introducing a carbon tax in 2008. Notwithstanding that, as Minister for...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I want to assure the House that the Government's position on our corporate tax regime is unambiguous. It is clearly stated in the Programme for Government that the 12.5 per cent rate of corporation tax will remain. Corporate taxation matters are and will remain within the competence of Member States. Our corporation tax system is protected, in an EU context, by the principle of unanimity in...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Section 110 of the Finance Act 2007 made provision for a charge to stamp duty where license agreements and other such arrangements are used when land is purchased for development without conveyance or transfer. The provision ensured that these arrangements will incur a Stamp Duty charge where a landowner receives a payment amounting to 25% or more of the market value or consideration...

Written Answers — Departmental Estimates: Departmental Estimates (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have no plans to alter the process for the 2009 Estimates at this stage. The wide-ranging reforms introduced by my predecessor in 2008 seem to have worked well and I would like to see them bedded down before embarking on further change. In addition, the priority for next year will be on further controlling the rate of increase in spending rather than on the process.

Written Answers — Price Inflation: Price Inflation (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I would like to reassure the Deputy that my Department monitors inflation developments on an ongoing basis. As measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), annual inflation in Ireland was 3.3% in April 2008. Using the domestic measure — the Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the annual inflation rate was 4.3%. The pick-up in inflation in recent years has been driven primarily by...

Written Answers — Public Private Partnerships: Public Private Partnerships (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I presume the Deputy is referring to the comments that Mr. John Purcell, the former Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), made during his recent appearance on a television programme. Speaking after his retirement, Mr. Purcell noted that Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) are not a panacea for all of our infrastructure requirements and that PPP procurement suits appropriate projects. In...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 101 together. The arrangements for appointments to the boards of State bodies are normally set out in the legislation establishing the bodies in question and are designed to ensure the efficient management of the organisation. Appointments to the boards are generally made by the Minister with responsibility for the body in question, subject to the...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I assume the Deputy is referring to a recent newspaper report attributing this view to an unpublished National Economic and Social Council (NESC) Economic Report. Given that NESC have not published this report, I do not intend to comment as to its content. The implementation of the National Development Plan is key to enhancing Ireland's competitiveness. However it was prudent management of...