Written answers
Tuesday, 28 February 2006
- Freedom of Information
Question 52: To ask the Minister for Finance the public bodies which remain excluded from the freedom of information legislation; his plans to extend the remit of the legislation to include them;... - Social Finance
Question 53: To ask the Minister for Finance the progress made to date with regard to the plan announced by him in budget 2006 for the establishment of a €100 million fund for social finance;... - Financial Services Regulation
Question 54: To ask the Minister for Finance his views of the decision of the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority not to proceed with plans that would have required anyone being... - National Development Plan
Question 55: To ask the Minister for Finance the preparations which have taken place regarding a replacement for the national development plan; and the way in which the inputs will be cobbled... - Tax Code
Question 56: To ask the Minister for Finance the discussions he has had with the Portuguese Government concerning the taxation agreement between Ireland and Portugal that would restrict high... - Decentralisation Programme
Question 57: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of posts which have been vacated and scheduled to remain in Dublin as a result of the decentralisation programme; the number of people... - Tax Code
Question 58: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on whether any other elements of the Irish tax code could be subject to challenge under state aid rules. [7974/06] - Freedom of Information
Question 59: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on a consolidation of exclusions from the Freedom of Information Act 1997 as recommended by the Information Commission and to make... - Tax Yield
Question 60: To ask the Minister for Finance the assumptions and methodology underpinning his estimate of the increase in revenue from capital taxes in 2006 (details supplied). [7987/06] - Revenue Commissioners' Audits
Question 61: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of random audits carried out by the Revenue Commissioners in 2005; the way in which this compares with each year from 2002; the number... - Price Inflation
Question 62: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the recent increase in the consumer price index; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7856/06] - Tax Collection
Question 63: To ask the Minister for Finance the amount paid to date to the Revenue Commissioners in respect of settlements made in connection with its investigation into the use of life... - Public Service Employment
Question 64: To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which the target of reducing public service employment has been achieved. [7976/06] - Duty Free Allowances
Question 65: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on whether the thresholds for personal purchases overseas are set at unrealistic levels and are unenforceable; and if he will make a... - Wage Levels
Question 66: To ask the Minister for Finance if research has been conducted into the gap between public sector and private sector pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7959/06] - Banking Services
Question 67: To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to prevent financial exclusion faced by people on low incomes who often face difficulties opening bank accounts; the steps he has taken in... - Prison Building Programme
Question 69: To ask the Minister for Finance the position in relation to the Mountjoy Prison site. [1869/06] - Fiscal Policy
Question 70: To ask the Minister for Finance when he next expects to receive a report from the working group on basic incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39762/05] - Taoiseach's Residence
Question 71: To ask the Minister for Finance if it is intended to establish a Taoiseach's residence; the projected capital cost and running cost of such a residence; the guidelines for its use;... - Financial Services Regulation
Question 72: To ask the Minister for Finance if his Department's attention has been drawn to the mis-selling of and excessive commission on payment protection products; the measure he intends to... - Tax Code
Question 74: To ask the Minister for Finance the number and percentage of income earners who are paying tax at the higher rate and the standard rate for 2005; the anticipated figures for each... - Benchmarking Awards
Question 75: To ask the Minister for Finance the membership and terms of reference of the recently established Public Service Benchmarking Body; when the body is expected to report; and if he... - Fiscal Policy
Question 76: To ask the Minister for Finance the progress made to date with regard to the implementation of the 12 point programme to improve value for money in public spending, announced by him... - Decentralisation Programme
Question 77: To ask the Minister for Finance the anticipated costs, in terms of acquiring and equipping premises and other related costs, at the latest date for which figures are available, of... - Tax Code
Question 78: To ask the Minister for Finance the way in which the Revenue Commissioners have encountered problems with regard to the issue of tax certificates in 2006; and if he will make a... - Price Inflation
Question 80: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the CSO consumer price index showing that the rate of inflation has risen 0.5%, leaving the annual rate of inflation at 3% for January... - State Property
Question 81: To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding the planned sale of State property announced; the property sold to date and the amount raised; the way in which the money used... - Decentralisation Programme
Question 82: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of civil servants and other public servants who applied for relocation under the Government's decentralisation programme and who... - Film Industry Development
Question 84: To ask the Minister for Finance the revisions he may be considering to the section 481 scheme for investment in film production here; the reason these revisions may be required; if... - Ministerial Responsibilities
Question 85: To ask the Minister for Finance if he intends to make changes to the Civil Service code of standards and behaviour or the code of conduct for office holders in view of recent... - Credit Unions
Question 87: To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to change policy in order to facilitate the development of credit unions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7993/06] - State Property
Question 88: To ask the Minister for Finance the reason for the sale of the Reception and Integration Agency property in Macroom, County Cork at a loss of over €2 million to the taxpayer in the... - Private Sector Debt
Question 89: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the increase in 2005 in mortgage credit and in non-mortgage credit. [7957/06] - Public Expenditure
Question 90: To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of public spending in terms of capital and public expenditure for 2005; the estimated spending in both categories for 2006; and if he will... - Tribunals of Inquiry
Question 91: To ask the Minister for Finance the status of his proposals to reduce the fees payable at tribunals. [7990/06] - Pension Provisions
Question 92: To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated average of the 2 million people at work in respect of pension cover; the number of workers who avail of tax relief-credits for pension... - Economic Competitiveness
Question 93: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the latest quarterly economic commentary from the ESRI, in particular its remarks on the partnership process; and if he will make a... - ICT Projects
Question 94: To ask the Minister for Finance if the promised peer review system for large ICT projects is in place; the way in which it will operate; the threshold figure above which the peer... - Special Savings Incentive Scheme
Question 95: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of special savings investment scheme accounts opened at the latest date for which figures are available; the average amount of savings per... - Tax Code
Question 96: To ask the Minister for Finance if reports of a stricter interpretation of tax rules for US parent companies located abroad have been investigated; and the potential impact on... - Financial Services Regulation
Question 97: To ask the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied regarding the level of supervision of the financial sector and particularly firms operating out of the Irish Financial Services... - Tax Code
Question 98: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will confirm that there is no benefit in kind rule for taxation purposes on the use of company helicopters or planes, as there is with company... - Financial Services Ombudsman Scheme
Question 99: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the 23% rise in complaints against the insurance sector and credit institutions to the Financial Services Ombudsman in 2005. [7892/06] - Industrial Development
Question 100: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on whether there is consistent neglect by the Government of the Ballina and north Mayo region and that Ballina remains a notorious... - Decentralisation Programme
Question 101: To ask the Minister for Finance the status of the decentralisation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7799/06] - Dormant Accounts Fund
Question 103: To ask the Minister for Finance the stage at which his plans to bring forward legislation to incorporate uncashed bank drafts into the dormant accounts fund are at; and if he will... - Decentralisation Programme
Question 104: To ask the Minister for Finance if the issue of confining promotions to only persons willing to decentralise has been modified as a result of recent Labour Court hearings; and if he... - Fiscal Policy
Question 106: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has exercised his powers to block the emergence of a common corporate tax base; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7965/06] - National Agreements
Question 107: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the financial commitments envisaged by his Department in the context of a new social partnership programme over ten years. [7953/06] - Pension Provisions
Question 108: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to ethical guidelines being put in place by the Norwegian Government for its national pension fund; his views on... - Consumer Price Index
Question 109: To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which an examination has been done of the impact on the economy in terms of inflation caused by items currently not included in the... - Employment Figures
Question 110: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the contrasting trends reported by the Central Statistics Office in relation to employment growth and output growth in the economy,... - Tax Evasion
Question 112: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of court prosecutions initiated as a result of tax evasion in respect of each year since 1997; the number of cases in which convictions... - Tax Code
Question 113: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has conducted an evaluation in conjunction with the Department of Health and Children of the tax relief for private hospital investment; and if... - Departmental Properties
Question 115: To ask the Minister for Finance if his Department instructs the Commissioner of Public Works to consult local authorities to ensure that they can obtain requisite planning... - Mortgage Protection Insurance
Question 117: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has satisfied himself that homeowners are facilitated in switching their providers of mortgage protection insurance; and if he will make a... - Revenue Investigations
Question 118: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of persons, companies and trusts being investigated by the Revenue Commissioners arising from the Clerical Medical Insurance-NIB inquiry... - Special Savings Incentive Scheme
Question 119: To ask the Minister for Finance the underlying assumptions which he has made in relation to the impact of consumption and on saving of the maturing of SSIAs. [7984/06] - Tax Incentive Schemes
Question 120: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the recently published Goodbody Economic Consultants review of area based tax incentive renewal schemes; the action he intends to take... - Public Service Contracts
Question 121: To ask the Minister for Finance the steps he intends to take to ensure that public service contracts are awarded only to those companies that meet minimum standards in terms of pay,... - Tax Collection
Question 122: To ask the Minister for Finance the amount collected to date by the Revenue Commissioners through special investigations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7870/06] - Tax Code
Question 125: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has received any fresh analysis of the tax relief availed of by top earners as revealed by the revenue study of the 400 highest earners; if he... - Disabled Drivers
Question 128: To ask the Minister for Finance when the review of the disabled drivers and passengers tax concessions regulations commenced; if he plans to extend the scheme; and, if so, when.... - Tax Code
Question 129: To ask the Minister for Finance the reason the stallion tax exemption was excluded from the terms of reference of the consultants asked to consider the cost of various tax reliefs... - Decentralisation Programme
Question 130: To ask the Minister for Finance the latest information available from the central applications facility in respect of applications from civil servants and other public servants... - Tax Code
Question 131: To ask the Minister for Finance if he intends to set a deadline for the receipt of a report on tax residency rules from the Revenue Commissioners; and if he will make a statement on... - Tax Collection
Question 133: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of persons, companies and trusts being investigated by the Revenue Commissioners arising from the Ansbacher accounts at the latest date... - Decentralisation Programme
Question 134: To ask the Minister for Finance the progress to date in the decentralisation programme; the extent to which original targets have been met or are likely to be met; the costs... - Pension Provisions
Question 135: To ask the Minister for Finance the terms on which funds in the national pension reserve fund have been made available for public sector projects; and the reason they have not been... - Budgetary Process
Question 136: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will report on progress toward reforming the budgetary process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7939/06] - Financial Services
Question 137: To ask the Minister for Finance the measures he intends to take to improve access to bank accounts for people on low incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4654/06] - Decentralisation Programme
Question 138: To ask the Minister for Finance the discussions he has had with other Departments or State agencies which are concerned at the potential loss of expertise and corporate knowledge as... - Tax Code
Question 141: To ask the Minister for Finance the amount repaid by the Revenue Commissioners to individual taxpayers in respect of overpayments of tax for each of the years 2002 to 2005; his...
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