Results 241-260 of 9,948 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (12 Jan 2011)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Central Bank Act, 1942 as amended by the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act 2003 provided for the establishment of the Irish Financial Services Appeals Tribunal (IFSAT). IFSAT is an independent body providing for appeals against certain decisions made by the Central Bank (formerly by the Financial Regulator) including administrative sanctions. The Act provides...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (12 Jan 2011)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The State Claims Agency (SCA) is a function of the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA). The administrative costs incurred by the NTMA in the performance of this function, which include the fees and expenses of the State Claims Agency Policy Committee, are included in the administration expenses of the NTMA and are charged to the Central Fund - 2007 2008 2009 2010 Administrative...

Written Answers — Universal Social Charge: Universal Social Charge (12 Jan 2011)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The position is that payments made under the Social Welfare Acts and payments that are of a similar nature, including social welfare payments made by authorities in other countries such as a UK social security pension, are exempt from the Universal Social Charge (USC). However, where an individual has both social welfare-type payments and other income, the other income will be liable to the...

Written Answers — Public Service Agreement: Public Service Agreement (12 Jan 2011)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Public Service Agreement (Croke Park Agreement) provides a sustainable framework to manage the provision and delivery of our essential public services in a period of unprecedented pressure on public resources. In this regard, the Exchequer Pay Bill will be approximately 8% less in 2010 over 2009 while the number of public servants has reduced by almost 12,000 since March 09, resulting in...

Written Answers — EU-IMF Fund: EU-IMF Fund (12 Jan 2011)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is important to understand that while there has always been the possibility under the EU-IMF Programme for this Government or any new Government to substitute alternative measures within the programme where they are as economically efficient and of equal fiscal effect and that the agreed size and speed of the budgetary adjustment is maintained, the position in relation to the interest rate...

Written Answers — Tax Reliefs: Tax Reliefs (12 Jan 2011)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As stated in my response to the Deputy's previous question in this matter, the decision to abolish the relief was taken in the light of a recommendation to this effect by the Commission on Taxation. The Commission's views on this relief were quite definitive. It found that it had not had the desired impact on innovation and R&D activity and that, despite various refinements to the scheme over...

Written Answers — Business Regulation: Business Regulation (12 Jan 2011)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that under the Auctioneers and House Agents Acts 1947 to 1973 licences are issued to auctioneers and house agents by their Office. I am further advised by the Revenue Commissioners that under the provisions of section 18 of the Auctioneers and House Agents Act 1947, whenever a Court cancels or suspends a licence or an auction permit, or declares a...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (12 Jan 2011)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As outlined in the National Recovery Plan 2011-2014 (published 24 November 2010), the Government decided, in the context of present budgetary constraints, that it would be appropriate for some retired public service pensioners to make a contribution to required financial adjustments. This decision was taken having regard to the gap between the burden being borne by those currently in public...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (12 Jan 2011)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The mid-Shannon Corridor Tourism Infrastructure Investment Scheme provides for capital allowances to be available in relation to tourism infrastructure facilities. The allowances are for qualifying construction and refurbishment expenditure incurred in the qualifying three-year period. The Scheme is subject to the measures relating to property-based reliefs as announced in the Budget....

Written Answers — Public Service Contracts: Public Service Contracts (12 Jan 2011)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Department of Finance does not maintain information centrally about the individual contracts awarded by each public contracting authority, so I am not immediately aware whether the particular companies about which the Deputy is enquiring at present hold any public sector contracts. However, I will seek to have the data sought by the Deputy ascertained, and I will communicate with him as...

Written Answers — Agreements with Members: Agreements with Members (12 Jan 2011)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As Minister for Finance, I receive representations from many deputies supporting the government, and indeed some opposition deputies, about budgetary matters at budget time. I had discussions on these matters with many of these deputies. Ultimately, decisions on budgetary matters are a matter for the Government.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (12 Jan 2011)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As I announced in the recent Budget, the Business Expansion Scheme (BES) is being replaced by the new Employment and Investment Incentive (EII). Under the new incentive, the lifetime limit that can be raised by companies will be increased from €2 million to €10 million, and the amount that can be raised in any twelve month period will be increased from €1.5 to €2.5 million. The...

Written Answers — National Recovery Plan: National Recovery Plan (12 Jan 2011)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The National Recovery Plan 2011-2014 was published on 24 November 2010 and provides a blueprint for a return to sustainable growth in the Irish economy. In particular, the Plan sets out the measures that will be taken to restore order to our public finances. Adjustments of nearly €15 billion have already been implemented over the past two and a half years and, as the recent end-2010...

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (12 Jan 2011)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am considering how best to implement the commitment contained in the National Recovery Plan 2011-2014 to identify further ways to tackle increases in insurance costs, building on the achievements of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB). The experience of the PIAB suggests that significant savings can be achieved compared with the prior adversarial approach and I am anxious that...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (12 Jan 2011)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As I advised the House on 21 October 2010, the Government has approved the appointment of a Chief Information Officer. Work has been underway in my Department to give effect to this decision. This work includes consultations with other Departments on the precise terms of the job description. Once this has been completed the actual recruitment process will commence.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (12 Jan 2011)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In accordance with section 55 of the Finance (No.2) Act 2008, an air travel tax is levied on air travel. Subject to some exceptions, the tax is charged at the rate of €2 per passenger in the case of a flight from an airport in the State to another airport located not more than 300 kilometres from Dublin Airport and at the rate of €10 per passenger in all other cases. The yield from the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (12 Jan 2011)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 295 and 296 together. I have no plans to exempt any sector from the carbon tax or to introduce a special low excise fuel scheme for the haulage industry. The only reliefs from the carbon tax are for those companies that participate in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS).

Written Answers — Illicit Trade in Fuel: Illicit Trade in Fuel (12 Jan 2011)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners, who are responsible for the collection of mineral oil tax and for tackling the illicit trade in mineral oil products that they are aware of the various illegal activities that lead to a loss to the Exchequer of mineral oil tax. The most serious risk in this regard is the large scale laundering of markers from mineral oil, [including marked ultra...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (12 Jan 2011)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I do not accept that the air travel tax has a material impact on tourism numbers. Prospective visitors will base their choice of destination on a range of issues. These will include the cost of travelling to a destination but are more likely to be influenced by the cost structure within that destination, and the range of activities and visitor attractions on offer. However, taking account...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (12 Jan 2011)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The tax exemption for patent income has been in place for over 30 years and has applied to income received by an individual or company from a qualifying patent subject, since 2008, to an annual limit of €5 million. A tax exemption has also applied, subject to certain conditions, to distributions paid by companies from exempt patent income. These exemptions have been abolished with effect...