Results 1,601-1,620 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Statements re Minister for Finance's announcement on banking of 30 September 2010: Questions (20 Oct 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I apologise to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for engaging in any direct conversational way. I am trying to deal with Deputy Higgins's questions. He raised the macroeconomic forecasts of the ESRI. I understand it will publish a document tomorrow. However, the position is incontestable that there is a substantial gap between what the State receives and what the State spends and that what the...

Statements re Minister for Finance's announcement on banking of 30 September 2010: Questions (20 Oct 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I will reflect on the Deputy's suggestion in that regard in the context of the budget.

Statements re Minister for Finance's announcement on banking of 30 September 2010: Questions (20 Oct 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is a long list of questions. The opinions of my officials have been conveyed in the form of scenarios to the party spokespersons-----

Statements re Minister for Finance's announcement on banking of 30 September 2010: Questions (20 Oct 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As I understand, opinions about the fiscal position have been conveyed and clearly the Government and myself, as Minister, will have to come to a final conclusion on all the opinions in this matter in the context of the formulation of the four-year plan. I refer to the question of NAMA and why when NAMA individually valued the loans the discount was far higher than that originally envisaged....

Statements re Minister for Finance's announcement on banking of 30 September 2010: Questions (20 Oct 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: We are talking about institutions with a proven track record of utter recklessness in the provision of credit and the Deputy is suggesting that the State should give a fresh guarantee to banking institutions in Ireland.

Statements re Minister for Finance's announcement on banking of 30 September 2010: Questions (20 Oct 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am giving the Deputy my thoughts-----

Statements re Minister for Finance's announcement on banking of 30 September 2010: Questions (20 Oct 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am giving the Deputy my thoughts-----

Statements re Minister for Finance's announcement on banking of 30 September 2010: Questions (20 Oct 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: If the Deputy is suggesting we should look at the option of guaranteeing the loans, irrespective of the consequences in terms of the repayment of the loan, a guarantee means, of course, just that. I believe we must proceed with great care in this matter. There may be some scope, however, for guaranteeing arrangements which facilitate the flow and repayment of credit. I have asked the...

Statements re Minister for Finance's announcement on banking of 30 September 2010: Questions (20 Oct 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: -----fiscal issue. The Deputy has asked a large number of questions and I am trying to conclude. On the question of payment for advice, at the time of the guarantee and of the various banking decisions, the public servants who advised me are not given any specific fee for their advice; they perform their duties as public servants. Various advisers were retained by my officials and they...

Statements re Minister for Finance's announcement on banking of 30 September 2010: Questions (20 Oct 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: No. A Deputy might have a difficulty with a particular loan and I would simply forward the correspondence.

Statements re Minister for Finance's announcement on banking of 30 September 2010: Questions (20 Oct 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Government is under no pressure from external influences in that regard. Bondholder instruments are traded on markets so there is no register of the current holders. It cannot be established with reliability at my Department who is the current holder. Deputy Ó Caoláin provided a list of names and I recognise some of the names as institutions that subscribe to Irish State debt. Some...

Statements re Minister for Finance's announcement on banking of 30 September 2010: Questions (20 Oct 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: They are crucial in international funding. Ireland is crucially dependent on international funding. I mentioned our salaries in the House. It is a matter of public record that the State requires to be funded on a day-to-day basis with borrowed moneys, the vast majority of which are borrowed from lenders of the character described by Deputy Ó Caoláin. I recognised several of the names...

Statements re Minister for Finance's announcement on banking of 30 September 2010: Questions (20 Oct 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: That is exactly the point. We are also talking about the funding of this State and the funding of the rest of the banking system, which is crucially dependent on bond finance.

Statements re Minister for Finance's announcement on banking of 30 September 2010: Questions (20 Oct 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: We are also discussing the fact that one of the major factors sustaining this economy through this difficult time is the presence of a substantial multinational sector providing much employment and jobs.

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (19 Oct 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that it is assumed that the Deputy is referring to Operation Viking which was established in early 2005 in the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, Dublin Region, with the objective of countering the suspected evasion of Vehicle Registration Tax and VAT on new high value vehicles entering the State. The Operation ran until late 2005 and is no longer...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (19 Oct 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 195 and 196 together. The questions raised by the Deputy relate to the estimated savings to the Exchequer if both the Standard Fund Threshold (that is the maximum capital value of pension benefits that an individual can draw upon in their lifetime from tax-relieved pension arrangements) and the maximum lifetime limit for the tax-free retirement lump sum were...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (19 Oct 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I do not have the information requested by the Deputy. Information on the value of pension funds of individuals on retirement is not required to be returned by the administrators of pension schemes to my Department or to the Revenue Commissioners.

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (19 Oct 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed that on 1st September, Ethiopia's Central Bank devalued the Ethiopian Birr by 16.5%. The latest in a series of devaluations since January 2009 and I understand is in keeping with a Government policy of allowing the Birr to fall against foreign currencies so as to bolster Ethiopia's competitiveness. Ethiopia is one of the world's poorest countries. I understand that its...

Written Answers — National Car Test: National Car Test (19 Oct 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The requirement to have all used vehicles presented for pre-registration examination has presented some new challenges for both Revenue and the competent person appointed to carry out these functions, namely, the NCTS. In consultation with other stakeholders, e.g. the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), the Farm Tractor & Machinery Trade Association Ltd (FTMTA), Revenue and the NCTS...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (19 Oct 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Prior to 1974 female officers were generally required to resign on marriage and, depending on their service, received a marriage gratuity in lieu of any pension benefits. Following the abolition of the marriage bar, any officer appointed before 1974 has the option of resigning within two years of marriage and receiving a marriage gratuity, preserving benefits when she resigns, or of...