Results 10,081-10,100 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In line with my predecessor's Budget 2008 announcement, the Department of Finance has engaged in the efficiency review exercise on the same basis as all other Government Departments, with a view to identifying possible savings on administrative spending. The exercise has included the bodies within the aegis of my Department. I am now considering the various responses my Department has...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: At Budget time, an Exchequer deficit of €4,866 million was projected for this year. At end-April, my Department published information which showed that overall tax receipts for the first four months of the year were €736 million, or 5.3 per cent, behind target. At the time it was indicated that it was not expected that the tax shortfall would be recouped. Later today, as is the norm, my...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The relevant projections for the public finances in the run-up to last year's election were the three year projections published in Budget 2007 on 6th December 2006. Based on GDP growth of 4.6% for 2008 and a projected stronger fiscal position in 2007 than materialised, an Exchequer deficit of €1,559 million was anticipated for 2008. Since then revised projections were published on 5th...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Programme for Government is a five year programme in which a number of guiding principles in relation to economic and budgetary matters have been set out. As the Deputy is aware, the first instalment of the delivery of this five year Programme for Government — Budget 2008 — was published in December last. Budget 2008 announced all new spending and taxation measures in a single,...

Written Answers — Credit Union Regulation: Credit Union Regulation (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) has since 1989, operated a savings protection scheme (SPS) for credit unions. The SPS aims to protect the individual savings of members by ensuring that credit unions are financially and administratively sound and provides for savings protection for each individual credit union member. It is important to note that under the SPS regime no member of a...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the only monthly information available as a basis for estimating the extra VAT generated as a result of the rise in international oil prices is the monthly clearances of Oil Products on which Mineral Oil Tax has been paid to the end of April. The estimates of the additional VAT yield, provided below, are based on the monthly indicative prices...

Written Answers — Gambling Regulations: Gambling Regulations (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Casino Regulation Committee, established in 2006 by the then Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, in undertaking its work examined the issue of gambling. As the Deputy will be aware, in my previous capacity as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I informed the House on 17 April that the whole issue of regulating gaming in Ireland was best addressed through the...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Carbon Tax issue is being examined by the Commission on Taxation. The Commission is due to report by September 2009, at the latest. The Deputy will appreciate that how the Commission organises its work is a matter for the Commission itself. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce a carbon tax/levy over the lifetime of the Government and that remains the position.

Written Answers — General Election Expenses: General Election Expenses (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: There are no outstanding claims to hand in respect of the expenses for the 2007 General Election. My Department has completed examination of most of the accounts submitted by the Returning Officers. As a result of this examination, in a number of instances Returning Officers were asked to repay outstanding balances, being the difference between the amount advanced and the actual cost. Most of...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am aware of the recent decline in consumer sentiment as measured by the Consumer Sentiment Index, which is prepared by the ESRI in conjunction with a commercial bank. The Consumer Sentiment Index aggregates consumer views on present economic conditions and their perception of prospects over the next 12 months. This year the economic environment has become more challenging. There are a...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 108 together. On Budget day, my Department projected that unemployment, based on the classification used in the CSO Quarterly National Household Survey, would average 5.6 per cent for this year, a pick-up of 1 per cent compared to the 4.6 per cent average unemployment achieved in 2007. While employment would continue to rise — an increase of 1.1...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The NDP will be subject to a comprehensive mid-term review in 2010 in respect of the first three years' implementation from 2007 to 2009. Any possibilities for reprioritisation of investment that arise from the review will be considered at that juncture. In the meantime, priorities for Exchequer investment will be considered in the annual estimates process in the normal way.

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have no list of projects that may or may not be subject to the risk referred to in the question. Individual Ministers are responsible for the projects in their area and apart from the one recent case in the media, I have not been notified of any concerns in this regard.

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: With regard to the fees that apply under the Freedom of Information Act, I am aware of the OECD's recommendation and I do not agree that the fees for FOI requests are a disincentive to greater openness. The application fee of €15 was first introduced in 2003 and has not been increased since then. FOI requests for non-personal information, to which a fee applies, have gone down from 7,216 in...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that, generally speaking, the direct yield of taxation to the Exchequer on the sale of new houses relates to VAT which is charged at the reduced VAT rate of 13.5%. According to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government statistics, the average price of a new home in 2007 was €322,634. The amount of VAT included in that price...

Written Answers — Pay Awards: Pay Awards (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Following a decision by the Government on the implementation of recommendations in Report No. 38 of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector, schemes of performance-related awards were introduced for the levels of Deputy Secretary and Assistant Secretary in the civil service, the Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner ranks in the Garda SÍochána and the ranks of...

Written Answers — Revenue Investigations: Revenue Investigations (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Under recently introduced regulations certain financial institutions (Banks, Building Societies and the Post Office Savings Bank) are required to submit to Revenue details of interest earned on accounts where that interest exceeded €635. For the years 2005 and 2006 the information will be submitted to Revenue by the 15th September 2008, and for the year 2007 by the 31st October 2008. In...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the amounts of tax revenue collected from Mineral Oil Tax and VAT on these products for the years 2004 to 2007 and the first four months of 2008 are as follows: Mineral Oil Tax 2004 2005 2006 2007 Prov 2008 â'¬m â'¬m â'¬m â'¬m â'¬m Petrol 970.7 1,001.9 1,026.4 1,051.3 382.4 Auto Diesel 870.7 920.5 1,016.7 1,075.8 392.6 Marked...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Public Appointments Service (PAS) will decentralise one hundred (100) posts to Youghal. Arrangements are proceeding in accordance with their Decentralisation Implementation Plan. In accordance with the indicative timescale set out in the Decentralisation Implementation Group's Report to Government in July 2007 the PAS is working towards decentralisation to Youghal in the 3rd quarter of...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I should first explain that policy responsibility for market abuse legislation is a matter for my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. It is important to emphasise that the statutory framework for financial regulation in Ireland is largely shaped by a detailed and comprehensive EU template, which applies across the Union. The Irish financial services...