Results 1,141-1,160 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (11 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In my 2010 Budget Statement I said that I accepted the Commission on Taxation's recommendation that retirement lump sums below €200,000 should not be taxed. I further indicated that the tax treatment of retirement lump sums above €200,000 would be considered in the Government's National Pensions Framework. This position is reflected on page 41 of the Framework document published in March...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (11 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: My Department abides by the relevant legislation and Government policies regarding prompt payment for goods and services supplied by private sector organisations. Supplies that are in order and that have been invoiced in accordance with agreed arrangements are paid on average with a delay of only 8 days, which is comfortably within the Government policy objective of payment within 15 days and...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (11 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In the period in question there were eighteen external reports or reviews commissioned by my Department.Details of the reports and reviews are contained in the following tables: Year 2008 Title of external report or review commissioned Cost Review of the National Pensions Reserve Fund (NPRF) Nil Value for Money and Policy Review of the Construction Procurement Reform Initiative. €4,114...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (11 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The total capital budget allocated to my Department for 2010 together with spend to date is set out in the following tabular format: Programme Allocation Spend to date Centre for Management and Organisation Development - Government Networks Infrastructure, Cloud Computing Infrastructure Research and e-Government Infrastructure. 650,000 74,000 Peace Programme/Northern Ireland INTERREG -...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (11 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The following table sets out the total spend by my Department on public relations and advertising in the years 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010. Year Total Spend 2008 â'¬140,567 2009 â'¬76,776 2010 â'¬40,290

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (11 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that according to their records the person concerned ceased employment on 23rd July 2010. In order to claim an unemployment repayment the person concerned should complete a form P50 i.e. First Claim for Tax Repayment during unemployment, which is available on the Revenue website www.revenue.ie . When completed this document together with his...

Written Answers — Economic Forecasts: Economic Forecasts (10 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Question Nos. 55 and 156 together. As the Deputy will be aware, I have set out the Department of Finance's latest GDP growth forecasts in the Information Note on the Economic and Budgetary Outlook which was published on 4 November. In relation to the short term economic outlook, growth has stabilised in 2010 following two years of sharp declines and this provides the basis...

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (10 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: At the outset it should be noted that neither I nor the Central Bank can prohibit or restrict an insurance company from increasing its annual premium rates, as this is a commercial decision for the company in question. I am aware of increased pressure on insurance premiums in recent times particularly in the household insurance area. Much of this is due to the unprecedented level of claims...

Written Answers — Banking Sector: Banking Sector (10 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have no function in regard to the level of ECB lending as this is a matter for the ECB and the associated national central banks. Given the independence of the Eurosystem it would not be appropriate for me to comment on specific institutions, or indeed on the policy or approach of the ECB to the provision of liquidity support to banks in the Eurozone. The Government remains committed to...

Written Answers — Croke Park Agreement: Croke Park Agreement (10 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As the Deputy will be aware, over the last two years, the Government has taken a series of difficult but critical steps which have generated significant reductions in the potential public service pay bill. As a consequence, the public service pay roll will be over 8% less in 2010 compared to 2009, and nearly 12% less than in 2008. These measures include the non payment of proposed general...

Written Answers — National Asset Management Agency: National Asset Management Agency (10 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The issue of oversight and NAMA accountability was debated extensively during the NAMA Bill and there are substantial provisions on accountability in the NAMA legislation. Section 59 of the NAMA Act 2009 makes provision for the Chairperson and CEO of NAMA to appear before a Committee of the Oireachtas, if requested to do so, which is examining matters relating to NAMA. The chief executive...

Written Answers — Banking Charges: Banking Charges (10 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have no plans for banks to impose additional charges on bank customers accessing cash. The promotion of the use of electronic payments is a key Government policy and a number of initiatives have already been taken in this regard. The longer-term objective is a significant reduction in the volume of paper-based payments in use throughout the economy. This policy is fully aligned and is...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (10 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Receipts from Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) were c. €150 million below profile in October. The DIRT yield has displayed volatility in the past, with considerable increases in recent years, from €144 m in 2004 to a peak of €654 m in 2008. The DIRT yield in 2009 was €614 m. Interest paid or accrued in respect of relevant deposits is chargeable to DIRT at a rate of 25%....

Written Answers — Central Bank Reports: Central Bank Reports (10 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Central Bank that, although the exact publication date has yet to be finalised, as outlined in its paper 'Banking supervision: our new approach' published in June 2010, the Central Bank is committed to publishing a new Financial Stability Review, which is to replace the previous Financial Stability Reports, before the end of the year.

Written Answers — Forbairt na Gaeilge: Forbairt na Gaeilge (10 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Is féidir liom déimhniú don Teachta go bhfuil Gaeleagras, a fheidhmíonn lastigh de Lárionad Oiliúna agus Forbartha na Státseirbhíse i mo Roinnse, fós ag feidhmiú. B'éigin méid áirithe cúrsaí a bhí fógraithe a chur ar athló, toisc go ndeachaigh oifigeach lán aimseartha amháin amach ar scor, comh maith le líon áirithe oifigeach páirt aimseartha. Déimhním, áfach, go...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (10 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Government will be bringing forward a range of structural reforms, including in respect of the overall fiscal process, in the context of the forthcoming Four Year Plan. In this overall context, the Government has also decided that a legislative underpinning for some of these structural reforms would be appropriate, and preparatory work in this regard is now under way.

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (10 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Income tax receipts amounted to €8.6 billion for the first ten months of the year. This represented a decline of €579 million or 6.3% on the level collected in the same period of 2009. Budget 2010 forecast that income tax receipts would decline by 2.6% in 2010. At end-October, income tax receipts were €369 million or 4.1% below target. The underperformance in income tax receipts...

Written Answers — National Pension Reserve Fund: National Pension Reserve Fund (10 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Question Nos. 67, 74 and 77 together. The Financial Regulator determined on 30 September 2010 that AIB must raise a revised €10.4bn by the end of 2010 in order to meet its capital requirements. To date AIB has announced the sale of its Polish subsidiary BZWBK, which is expected to generate capital of €2.5bn and the sale of its holding in US bank M&T which has generated...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Departmental balances are those amounts issued from the Exchequer Account of the Central Fund to the Supply Account of the Pay Master General for Departmental spending from one year which remain undrawn from the Supply Account at year-end and are carried forward to be used the next year. These amounts are not in addition to agreed allocations as set in the Expenditure Estimates, but are...

Written Answers — Public Sector Staff: Public Sector Staff (10 Nov 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The actual cost and savings under the Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) and Voluntary Redundancy Schemes (VRS) for the health sector will depend on the overall take up of the schemes and the mix of take-up between the VER and VRS options. A maximum amount of €400m will be made available in 2010 to fund the upfront costs of the schemes. It will be included as an additional expenditure item...