Results 1,681-1,700 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Public Relations Contracts Data (13 Dec 2016)

Michael Noonan: I take it that the Deputy is referring solely to external public relations and not to advertising that would be incurred by my Department in the normal course of business, such as entries into telephone directories, the placing of advertisements in national newspapers, recruitment advertising, etc. The use of external public relations firms in respect of my Department since March 2011 is...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Fiscal Policy (13 Dec 2016)

Michael Noonan: As I am not aware of any recent decisions from the EU Commission changing the debt to GDP objectives under the Stability and Growth Pact, I'm assuming the Deputy is referring to the recent draft Council recommendation on the economic policy of the euro area (COM(2016) 726 final) proposed by the European Commission. For the euro area as a whole, the Commission suggests that in...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Exchequer Returns (13 Dec 2016)

Michael Noonan: Based on the recent end-November Exchequer Returns, we are currently on track to achieve our Budget 2017 forecast in respect of the Exchequer outturn for 2016. As the Deputy will be aware, an overall Exchequer deficit of c. €1.4 billion is projected for this year. In relation to our revised tax revenue forecast for 2016 of €48.1 billion, the position at end-November was...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Revenue Commissioners (13 Dec 2016)

Michael Noonan: I am informed by Revenue that Revenue has updated its guidance to confirm that opinions issued to taxpayers, whether multinational companies or other taxpayers, will remain valid for a maximum period of five years. If a taxpayer wishes for a confirmation to continue after that time, an application for a renewal or extension must be made. It has always been the case that an opinion will only...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector Data (13 Dec 2016)

Michael Noonan: I have been informed by the Central Bank that it does not publish data on this basis. However, the SME Credit Demand Survey, conducted on behalf of the Department, monitors the credit requirements of SMEs. The latest published survey indicates that demand for non-bank finance for SMEs is considerably lower than bank finance. For the period October 2015 to March 2016, the survey...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Repayments (13 Dec 2016)

Michael Noonan: I am informed by the Central Bank that their internal guidelines on "Sustainable Mortgage Arrears Solutions" specify that an age limit above 70 years can apply to mortgage restructure arrangements where there is appropriate evidence to support it. With regard to the sustainability of solutions to address mortgage arrears, the guidelines obligate the lender, in circumstances where a borrower...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Central Bank of Ireland Supervision (13 Dec 2016)

Michael Noonan: Personal Contract Plans are in effect a type of hire-purchase agreement and my Department does not collate statistics on the number and value of such plans that are entered into. The Consumer Credit Act, 1995, applies to the provision of hire-purchase agreements. Both the Central Bank and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) have certain functions and legal...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (13 Dec 2016)

Michael Noonan: The Finance Bill 2016 has been passed by Dáil Éireann and is currently being considered by the Seanad. In Section 52 of the Bill, I have provided for an amendment to section 86 of the Capital Acquisitions Tax Consolidation Act 2003, the section that provides an exemption from capital acquisitions tax on the inheritance or gift of a dwelling house in certain circumstances. I...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Ministerial Correspondence (13 Dec 2016)

Michael Noonan: In response to the Deputy, I wish to advise that I do not use any private unsecured email accounts for official business.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (13 Dec 2016)

Michael Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 to 164, inclusive, together. The primary purpose of Dividend Withholding Tax (DWT) is to collect tax at source from dividend payments and other distributions made by Irish resident companies to Irish resident individuals who are chargeable to income tax on such distributions (with a credit allowed for DWT deducted). The legislation dealing...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tracker Mortgage Data (13 Dec 2016)

Michael Noonan: I note that the Deputy previously raised this matter in a Topical Issues Debate in July 2015 and subsequently in Parliamentary Question 34323/15 in October 2015. The Central Bank has also written to the Deputy on this subject and the Central Bank has informed me that the position as outlined in its letter of July 2015 still stands. However, as the Deputy is...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (13 Dec 2016)

Michael Noonan: I am informed by Revenue that Irish resident artistes are taxable in Ireland on their worldwide income. Artistes who are not resident in the State for tax purposes have a  liability to Irish tax on income arising from the exercise of their profession in the State. However, because foreign resident artistes merely have a transitory presence in the State, there are numerous practical...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: NAMA Portfolio (13 Dec 2016)

Michael Noonan: It is important to stress that NAMA  is not a property developer and does not own the site to which the Deputy refers. Rather, NAMA's role is that of a secured lender to the property owner. As a secured lender, NAMA may provide funding to its debtors and receivers where it is shown that this will increase the overall recovery for NAMA from the security being funded....

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Data (13 Dec 2016)

Michael Noonan: I am advised by Revenue that on the basis of income tax returns filed, the following table sets out those income earners that have been assessed to tax on Foreign State Pensions or Foreign Other Pension. There are other individuals that report foreign pensions but these are not assessable for Irish tax. Due to the manner in which such returns are received by Revenue it is not possible to...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Legislative Measures (13 Dec 2016)

Michael Noonan: As the Deputy is aware, the provision in question, Section 56 of the Bill as passed by Dáil Éireann, is not yet signed into law. Once the provision is signed into law, I am advised by Revenue that they will be undertaking an appropriate campaign as regards the provision and its implications. In the meantime I am aware that detailed information on the proposed legislative change,...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Central Bank of Ireland Staff (13 Dec 2016)

Michael Noonan: I am informed by the Central Bank that by the end of this year it will have increased staff numbers by approximately 115 (on a net basis). The Central Bank Commission has recently approved additional complement for 2017 to bring its set complement to 1,801 full-time equivalents, which will be a target net increase of 170 staff. The 2017 expansion includes dedicated resources of an...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Legal Cases (13 Dec 2016)

Michael Noonan: My Department has been involved in court proceedings that involved non disclosure agreements in the past five years but in no case has the specific court ruling prevented knowledge of the court proceedings being known or knowledge of the participants being made known.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Treaties (13 Dec 2016)

Michael Noonan: Double Tax Treaties are agreements voluntarily entered into by countries to eliminate double taxation and to facilitate cross border investments. Countries typically agree in such treaties to allocate taxing rights in respect of activity carried out in one country by residents of the other country. This will be done to encourage trade and investment between the two countries. The...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Avoidance (13 Dec 2016)

Michael Noonan: I reject the assertion in the report mentioned that Advanced Pricing Agreements are "sweetheart deals" with taxpayers. Ireland does not do "deals" with taxpayers. Our tax system is founded on the strict application of the law, as enacted by the Oireachtas, without exception. Revenue do not issue unilateral Advance Pricing Agreements. The Apple case concerns two...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Primary Medical Certificates (13 Dec 2016)

Michael Noonan: My Department has been involved in court proceedings that involved non disclosure agreements in the past five years but in no case has the specific court ruling prevented knowledge of the court proceedings being known or knowledge of the participants being made known.