Written Answers Nos. 75-80
75. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in tabular form the amount paid to each independent TD under the leader's allowance payment since 1997; if any Independent TD did not claim the full amount available; if this payment was ever taxable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5729/14]
View answerThe amounts paid under the party leader's allowance from 2001 to 2013 are set out in the following table. The current data systems in use allow for detailed payment records in the manner requested by the Deputy from 2001, however this system does not permit detailing the payments to independent TDs prior to 2001.
Deputy Beverley Flynn waived her entitlement to the party leader's allowance from 2009 to 2011. There have not been any other waivers by independent TDs in receipt of the allowance in the period referred to by the Deputy.
Under the legislation, the payment under the party leader's allowance is not subject to income tax.
Following a review of the allowance and a consultation process with leaders of qualifying political parties, qualifying independent members and with the Standards in Public Office Commission, I published the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013 in October 2013.
The Bill has passed all stages in Seanad Éireann and is currently in passage through Dáil Éireann. The Bill provides for a reduction of 10% in the rates of the allowance, representing an estimated full year Exchequer saving of €0.84 million. The Bill includes other necessary measures all of which will increase transparency and accountability in the use of the allowance.
|
- |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
|
Beverly Flynn |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€23,984.07 |
€40,319.50 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
|
Catherine Murphy |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€27,752.04 |
€39,829.71 |
€12,893.48 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
|
Finian McGrath |
€0.00 |
€18,990.75 |
€30,648.96 |
€31,883.51 |
€33,809.28 |
€39,829.71 |
€36,877.55 |
€41,087.07 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
€39,437.30 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
|
Jackie Healy Rae |
€18,906.44 |
€28,945.29 |
€30,648.96 |
€31,883.51 |
€33,809.28 |
€39,829.71 |
€36,877.55 |
€41,085.07 |
€37,722.63 |
€41,151.96 |
€4,654.09 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
|
James Breen |
€0.00 |
€18,990.75 |
€30,648.96 |
€31,883.51 |
€33,809.28 |
€39,829.71 |
€12,893.48 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
|
Jerry Cowley |
€0.00 |
€18,990.75 |
€30,648.96 |
€31,883.51 |
€33,809.28 |
€39,829.71 |
€12,893.48 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
|
John Halligan |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
|
Luke Flanagan |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
|
Marian Harkin |
€0.00 |
€18,990.75 |
€30,648.96 |
€31,883.51 |
€33,809.28 |
€39,829.71 |
€12,893.48 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
|
Mattie McGrath |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
|
Maureen O Sullivan |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€24,005.31 |
€41,151.96 |
€39,437.30 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
|
Michael Healy Rae |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
|
Michael Lowry |
€18,906.44 |
€28,945.29 |
€30,648.96 |
€31,883.51 |
€33,809.28 |
€39,829.71 |
€36,877.55 |
€41,085.07 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
€39,437.30 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
|
Michael Wallace |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€75,935.16 |
€41,151.96 |
|
Mildred Fox |
€18,906.44 |
€28,945.29 |
€30,648.96 |
€31,883.51 |
€33,809.28 |
€39,829.71 |
€12,893.48 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
|
Noel Grealish |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
|
Paddy McHugh |
€0.00 |
€18,990.75 |
€30,648.96 |
€31,883.51 |
€33,809.28 |
€39,829.71 |
€12,893.48 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
|
Paudge Connnolly |
€0.00 |
€18,990.75 |
€30,648.96 |
€31,883.51 |
€33,809.28 |
€39,829.71 |
€12,893.48 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
|
S Ross |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
|
Seamus Healy |
€18,906.44 |
€28,945.29 |
€30,648.96 |
€31,883.51 |
€33,809.28 |
€39,829.71 |
€12,893.48 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
|
Stephen Donnelly |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
|
Thomas Pringle |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
|
Tom Fleming |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€34,293.30 |
€41,641.86 |
€41,151.96 |
|
Tom Gildea |
€18,906.44 |
€9,954.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
|
Tony Gregory |
€18,906.44 |
€28,945.29 |
€30,648.96 |
€31,883.51 |
€33,809.28 |
€39,829.71 |
€36,877.55 |
€41,085.07 |
€221.25 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
76. Deputy Ray Butler asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if full-time public service employees with a disability are obliged to work the additional two working hours as set out in the context of the Haddington Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5748/14]
View answerThe Haddington Road Agreement (HRA) set out a series of pay and productivity measures for all public servants with the aim of reducing the pay and pensions bill in order to contribute to the required reduction in the General Government Deficit and to support the restoration of fiscal sustainability. One of the key measures included in the HRA relates to the working of additional hours by all public servants who were not already working a 39 hour week. For example, full-time public servants who were working 35 hours or less per week increased their working hours to 37 hours per week and those working more than 35 hours per week but less than 39 hours increased their hours to 39 hours per week. These additional hours are required by all public servants, including those with disabilities.
There is, however, an important provision in the Agreement that allows any staff member to opt to remain on their pre-HRA hours, albeit, with the appropriate pro-rata pay adjustment to reflect their reduced working hours. The civil service - as is the case for all employers - is required under the Disability Act, 2005 to make reasonable accommodation to allow staff with disabilities access to equal opportunities. Specific provisions were also included in the HRA for staff with disabilities in the context of changes to work-sharing arrangements. From 1 July 2013, new work-sharing patterns less than 50% of fulltime working hours will not be approved. However, staff with a disability who have been provided with a reasonable accommodation to work less than 50% of full time working hours will be allowed to work such a pattern, with the appropriate pro-rata pay adjustment, for as long as the reasonable accommodation is required.
The Deputy may wish to note, that my Department which is responsible for the overall arrangements relating to employment of staff with disabilities in the civil service is strongly committed to promoting and supporting the employment of people with disabilities. According to the latest available information, employment of people with disabilities in the Civil Service reached 4.2% in 2012, which exceeded the 3% target set out in the Disability Act 2005.
77. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will visit at an early date Rossbeigh, Incharea, Cromane Lower and other parts of County Kerry where homes, businesses and properties were flooded and where public infrastructure has been destroyed-damaged due to coastal erosion-storms-high tides; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5783/14]
View answerI will visit areas in Kerry affected by flooding tomorrow. An itinerary has been provided to the Deputy.
78. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on correspondence regarding funding in respect of a monument (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5876/14]
View answerDunbeg Fort at Fahan, Co. Kerry is a National Monument in private ownership and is under the Guardianship of the Commissioners of Public Works under the relevant National Monuments legislation. As a National Monument in State care, its maintenance is therefore the responsibility of the National Monuments Service of the Office of Public Works (OPW).
The Fort occupies a very precarious position at the cliff edge and as such is at risk. As has been widely reported in the media in recent days, the structure suffered a significant collapse during recent storms and a significant portion of the Fort has collapsed irretrievably into the sea.
The OPW has, since the collapse, been assessing the damage done to the Monument, in conjunction with a structural engineer and relevant archaeological personnel from the Department of Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht. In cooperation with the owner, protective fencing has been erected and public access to the Fort has been prohibited in view of the current situation, where the structure remains highly unstable and unsafe.
Investigations are continuing currently, as weather permits, to assess whether it will be possible to restore limited public access to a portion of the site in the future. The assessment will also investigate whether any mitigating measures are feasible to protect any of the remaining structure from further collapse and erosion damage. At this point it is not possible to say whether any such measures are viable. Though the OPW and the Department of Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht are focussed on protecting and conserving as much as possible of the Monument, it may not prove feasible ultimately, given its current highly precarious state and the severe weather currently, to protect the structure from even further loss.
79. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of microenterprises that have received funding through Microenterprise Ireland; the number of jobs this has created and the overall monetary investment; when the new communications strategy for the company will start; what the difference is between the new strategy and the old; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5781/14]
View answerAs at 31 January, 2014 Microfinance Ireland (MFI) has received a total of 414 applications. Of these applications, 153 have been approved for loans ranging in value from €2k up to €25k and a total loan value of €2.37m being invested in microenterprises, supporting 338 jobs.
Since the Fund launched, the marketing and communication strategy for MFI has been continuously evolving and built upon in order to reach out to as wide an audience as possible. There has been extensive outreach and marketing activity by MFI at SME events throughout the country both with general SME audiences and sector specific audiences. During 2013 MFI attend the Ploughing Championships, the National Franchise expo, Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia events, business training, breakfast briefings and one to one client events.
In addition to this there has been continuous promotional activity undertaken to raise overall general awareness of the scheme including national and local radio advertising, distribution of promotional leaflets at all events and the MFI website has been updated to improve customer service. MFI also engages closely with the Banks and the Credit Review Office to promote the Loan Fund to bank declined applicants and to cross refer suitable applicants to MFI.
In 2014, this marketing and communication activity will be built upon and extended out to other agencies and business representative groups who engage with smaller businesses including Local Development Companies, local Chamber groups and Accountancy groups. Social Media activity will also be built upon and local press will also be used to highlight successful MFI customer stories. MFI will also look to open up new channels for sector specific audiences that have particular challenges in accessing bank credit facilities and seek to tailor solutions for their particular needs in relation to borrowing funds for new and existing small businesses. Like with any new business with a national reach the communication strategy is a continuous process that is constantly reviewed to ensure best value for money, best fit with the relevant audiences and optimal use of both limited staff resources and promotional budgets and ongoing review of the product, process and customer target audience to ensure appropriate optimal fit for the product and the service. The environment in terms of SME demand for credit facilities continues to be challenging but where businesses have been declined bank credit facilities, MFI is committed to ensuring that all applicants with a viable business are given a full and fair assessment under their risk criteria.
80. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the penalties that apply to a person trading under the name of a company that has been dissolved for over four years, having never filed accounts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5857/14]
View answerThe power of the Registrar of Companies to strike a company off the Register is found in Section 12 of the Companies (Amendment) Act 1982, as amended and Section 311 of the Companies Act 1963, as amended. A company, following strike off ceases to exist as a legal entity as and from the date on which notice of its strike off is published in the Companies Registration Office Gazette. The protection of limited liability is lost with effect from that date, and if the business formerly carried on through the company is continued, the owners are trading in their personal capacity. In addition, all real and personal property of the company vests in the State.
An application may be made to the High Court by the Director of Corporate Enforcement (the Director) for an order pursuant to section 160(2)(h) of the Companies Act 1990, disqualifying the company's directors from acting as directors or having any involvement in the management of any company, together with an order for the legal costs incurred by the Director in bringing such application and the costs incurred by him in investigating the matter. The length of the disqualification period is a matter for the Court.
