Parliamentary questions

Consultancy Contracts Issues

Sean Fleming

227. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Finance if he will detail, in tabular form, the amount paid to consultants since February 2011; the name of each organisation used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37558/12]

Ministerial Adviser Appointments

Sean Fleming

228. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Finance the political activities of each special adviser, special press advisers, or any other type of ministerial adviser in his Department; if any of them were members of a political party; if so, the parties to which they belonged; if any of them are or have been elected local authority members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37574/12]

Ministerial Transport

Sean Fleming

229. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Finance the amount spent by his Department on drivers and ministerial transport since February 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37590/12]

Departmental Reports

Sean Fleming

230. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Finance the total amount spent since February 2011 on external reports commissioned by his Department, including payments from ministerial allowances, details of the consultants employed and costs of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37622/12]

Financial Services Regulation

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

231. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance the reason the Central Bank of Ireland refuses to take action against a company (details supplied) that has claimed in a sworn affidavit in the High Court that the company acts as a 'mortgage lender' in the market within the meaning of the Consumer Credit Act 1995, but yet this company is not an authorised 'mortgage lender' as defined by the Central Bank and furthermore the company is not regulated by the Central Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37634/12]

Tobacco Smuggling

Michael Healy-Rae

232. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance in view of the efforts being made to raise revenue and that the combined loss to the Irish Government in tobacco, excise and VAT over the past two years has been €1 billion, his plans to tackle this massive loss; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37644/12]

Departmental Programmes

Patrick O'Donovan

233. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Finance the number of applications received for new stock relief incentive for farm partnerships, reduced stamp duty on agricultural land transactions, restructured capital gains tax retirement relief up until 30 June 2012, which he announced in budget 2012 for those involved in farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37648/12]

Social Insurance Refunds

Patrick Nulty

234. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Finance further to parliamentary question No. 58 of 6 June, 2012 when a PRSI refundm will be granted to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; the reason for the further undue delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37697/12]

NAMA Property Rental

Peter Mathews

235. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Finance if the National Asset Management Agency is renting out any properties at an apartment block in south Dublin (details supplied); if so, the number of apartments NAMA is renting out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37714/12]

Bank Branch Closures

Joanna Tuffy

236. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on his policy on the closure by banks of branches in local towns and villages and the impact this has on the local communities effected and the need to ensure that banks serve the needs of local communities, including small businesses, residents served by poor transport links and people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37715/12]

Personal Debt

Joanna Tuffy

237. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Finance if those with equity release loans (details supplied) have been taken into account by him in his plans to help those with large debts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37717/12]

Pension Provisions

Finian McGrath

238. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding a pension cut in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [37724/12]

Labour Court Recommendations

Sean Fleming

239. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Finance if he will supply a list of all Labour Court recommendations that have been issued in respect of his Department and organisations under his aegis that have not been complied with in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37753/12]

Departmental Staff Recruitment

Sean Fleming

240. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding recruiting persons with a disability; the number of persons currently employed in his Department; the number of persons with a disability who have been employed since 1 January 2011 to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37837/12]

Tax Yield

Finian McGrath

241. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the amount of extra revenue that would be raised by increasing income tax on couples earning €120,000 if there was a 5% tax increase. [38006/12]

Tax Yield

Finian McGrath

242. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the amount of extra revenue that would be generated if corporation tax rose from 12% to 15%. [38007/12]

Fuel Prices

Michael Healy-Rae

243. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance his views on reducing the taxes applied to fuel in view of the ever increasing cost of petrol and diesel at the pumps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38024/12]

VAT Rate Application

Eoghan Murphy

244. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if the application of VAT to a product service will be reviewed in respect of a person (details supplied) so that like products are taxed accordingly. [38032/12]

VAT Rate Application

Eoghan Murphy

245. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he is considering an extension of the VAT reduction scheme introduced last year and any widening of the scheme to include additional areas or industries. [38033/12]

VAT Rate Application

Eoghan Murphy

246. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance in recognition of the fact that an active lifestyle is important for both physical and mental health, if he will consider lowering the VAT rate on membership fees for gyms and public pools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38035/12]

Social Insurance Rates

Michael Healy-Rae

247. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance in view of the proposed increases in PRSI, if he realises that small businesses in particular cannot take any more increases in taxes and are struggling at present to keep people in employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38063/12]

Tax Reliefs Availability

Joanna Tuffy

248. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on the number of applications for tax relief in respect of the third level registration fee; the amount refunded in total to those qualifying for the relief and how this compares with his estimates for this tax relief; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38087/12]

Mortgage Interest Relief Extension

Michael Moynihan

249. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Finance if he is considering removing the first-time buyer's incentive in budget 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38092/12]

Tax Reliefs Application

Sean Fleming

250. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Finance if the current exemption from stamp duty on farm land transfers within families that applies to recipients with green certificates will apply to recipients who are registered on a green certificate course but will not complete it until 2013 in view of the fact that the stamp duty has to be paid by the end of November 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38228/12]

Retail Sector Issues

Michael McGrath

251. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number of notice of attachments issued by the Revenue in respect of the bank accounts of businesses for each year since 2008 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38244/12]

Credit Review Office Remit

Michael McGrath

252. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider extending the remit of the Credit Review Office to include Permanent TSB in view of the fact that the bank has customers engaged in business and who may wish to have credit decisions reviewed from time to time. [38250/12]

Bank Guarantee Scheme Bond Repayments

Michael McGrath

253. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will give details, for each covered institution, of the amount of secured and unsecured senior bonds outstanding at the end of September 2010 on the expiry of the bank guarantee under the credit institutions (financial support) scheme 2008. [38256/12]

Tax Reliefs Availability

Michael McGrath

254. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding self-employed persons claiming tax relief on medical expenses through the MED1 form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38273/12]

Tax Yield

Pearse Doherty

255. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the estimated return to the Exchequer in a full year from the introduction of a new rate of tax of 48% on individual income in excess of €100,000. [38288/12]

Tax Yield

Pearse Doherty

256. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the estimated return to the Exchequer in a full year by increasing the rate of capital gains tax from 30% to 40%. [38289/12]

Tax Yield

Pearse Doherty

257. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the estimated return to the Exchequer in a full year from raising the rate of capital acquisitions tax from 30% to 40% and reducing the thresholds by 25%. [38290/12]

Tax Reliefs Cost

Pearse Doherty

258. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a comprehensive list of all tax reliefs paid from the Exchequer in 2011, including the estimated full-year cost per relief; if he will further provide the full-year cost of each relief in 2010 when estimates are not available, in tabular form. [38291/12]

Tax Reliefs Application

Pearse Doherty

259. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the earnings cap for pensions contributions; and the estimated return to the Exchequer if the earnings cap was reduced to €75,000 and pensions tax reliefs then granted at 20%. [38292/12]

Tax Yield

Pearse Doherty

260. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the estimated once-off saving for the Exchequer by abolishing the ability of incorporated bodies to claim trading losses against profits made in previous years for the purposes of tax returns. [38293/12]

Tax Reliefs Availability

Pearse Doherty

261. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the estimated savings for the Exchequer in 2013 and in a full year from standardising tax reliefs. [38294/12]

Tax Reliefs Application

Pearse Doherty

262. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will list remaining property tax reliefs; if he will state the legacy cost of these reliefs on the Exchequer and the estimated return for the Exchequer of abolishing these reliefs in 2013 and in a full year. [38295/12]

Tax Yield

Pearse Doherty

263. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the estimated return to the Exchequer from introducing a tax on online gambling of 5%. [38296/12]

Tax Yield

Pearse Doherty

264. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the estimated return to the Exchequer from increasing the tax on betting shop profits from 1% to 5%. [38297/12]

Tax Yield

Pearse Doherty

265. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he has examined the potential for a wealth tax; and the estimated return to the Exchequer from a 1% wealth tax on individual wealth in excess of €1 million. [38298/12]

Budget 2012

Pearse Doherty

266. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if a preliminary impact assessment, including an assessment of the cost to the Exchequer of the measures contained within, of the 2012 Finance Act has been undertaken; and if so, if he will state its findings. [38299/12]

Motor Tax Collection

Finian McGrath

267. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Finance his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding vehicle registration tax. [38302/12]

Financial Services Regulation

Pearse Doherty

268. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the principal person or persons at an audit firm (details supplied) who was or were responsible for the audit of the financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2008, of the bank formerly known as Anglo Irish Bank which is now 100% owned by the State. [38304/12]

Financial Services Regulation

Pearse Doherty

269. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the principal person or persons at an audit firm (details supplied) who was or were responsible for the audit of the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2008 at Irish Life and Permanent which is now 99% owned by the State. [38305/12]

Financial Services Regulation

Pearse Doherty

270. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the steps taken by the bank formerly known as Anglo Irish Bank to seek redress from an audit firm (details supplied) in respect of any failure to identify irregularities in the financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2008. [38306/12]

Financial Services Regulation

Pearse Doherty

271. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the steps taken by him or agencies acting under his aegis to seek redress from auditors (details supplied) in respect of any failure to identify irregularities in the financial statements for Anglo Irish Bank. [38307/12]

Departmental Expenditure

Pearse Doherty

272. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm the heading in the Exchequer statement to which the circa €32.5 million award in the case of a company (details supplied) and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, will be charged; if he will confirm the quantum of legal costs incurred to date by the State in this matter. [38308/12]

Departmental Legal Cases

Pearse Doherty

273. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance following the judgment in the case of a company (details supplied) in respect of the Garda station on Harcourt Terrace, Dublin, the reason the completion notices served upon the State by the company and the Affordable Homes Partnership were not responded to as noted in the judgment. [38309/12]

Exchequer Revenue

Pearse Doherty

274. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the amount raised for the Exchequer in residential house sale related stamp duty for each year from 2000 to date in 2012. [38348/12]

Property Taxation Application

Pearse Doherty

275. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if stamp duty on residential homes will be abolished if a property tax is introduced. [38349/12]

Tax Yield

Peter Mathews

276. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Finance the amount of additional revenue that would be raised as a result of a tax increase (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38383/12]

Tax Rebates

Jack Wall

277. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Finance if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is due a rebate on taxes paid and universal health charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38385/12]

Financial Services Regulation

Shane Ross

278. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Finance if the State has ruled out compensating investors who have lost savings and pension contributions in the Customs House Capital debacle; if the State acknowledges a responsibility in this affair due to lack of adequate regulation by the Central Bank of Ireland; if it is open to any citizen to take an action against the Central Bank for negligence under any circumstances; if there is a ceiling on the compensation available to investors in this case; the number of investors that were affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38426/12]

VAT Rate Application

Patrick O'Donovan

279. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Finance if he will review the application of VAT on entrance fees to visitor farms for school tours. [38457/12]

Departmental Staff Training

Gerry Adams

280. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Finance the amount of money spent on an annual basis on education and training of staff in 2011 and to date in 2012; the number of staff that availed of each course; if he will provide a list of the courses staff undertook and the cost of each course per person. [38485/12]

Bank Guarantee Scheme Bond Repayments

Pearse Doherty

281. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance in view of the recently published report and accounts for the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation for the six months ending June 2012, which state that IBRC will be wound down by 2020, if he will explain the way in which the operation of the Anglo-Irish Nationwide Building Society promissory notes will be affected, and specifically what will happen to the €12.1 billion of payments from him envisaged for the period 2021-2025. [38494/12]

NAMA Bonds

Pearse Doherty

282. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance in view of the recently published report and accounts for the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation for the six months ending June 2012, which state that IBRC will be wound down by 2020, the way the clawback of any ultimate losses at the National Asset Management Agency pursuant to section 225 of the NAMA Act will be affected by this; and specifically the way NAMA will claw back any losses from IBRC in view of the fact that IBRC accounts for €44billion of the €74billion of loans acquired by NAMA, when section 225 of the NAMA Act provides for losses to be clawed back from participating institutions proportional to the value of loans originally acquired. [38495/12]

Bank Guarantee Scheme Bond Repayments

Pearse Doherty

283. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the most recent projected ultimate outturn at the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation in which he is the sole shareholder; and if the management of IBRC still believes there will be a return of funds to the State. [38496/12]

Bank Guarantee Scheme Bond Repayments

Pearse Doherty

284. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if the most recent projected ultimate outturn at the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation in which he is the sole shareholder takes account of the circa €13 billion in total lifetime interest that is currently payable on the €31 billion of promissory notes originally provided to IBRC. [38497/12]

EU Directives

Pearse Doherty

285. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to the EU summit statement on 29 June 2012, which states similar cases will be treated equally, if he will set out the efforts that he has made to reverse the condition imposed on the State in July 2011, when a cut in interest rates on programme funding was made conditional on the State agreeing to participate constructively in the discussions on the common consolidated corporate tax base draft directive, CCCTB, and in the structured discussions on tax policy issues in the framework of the Euro+ Pact framework in view of the fact that the cut in interest rates in July 2011 on Portugal's programme funding was not conditional on any such potential concessions on tax arrangements. [38504/12]

NAMA Accounts

Pearse Doherty

286. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance following the publication on 25 July 2012 of the National Asset Management Agency report and accounts for the three months ending 31 March 2012, the reason legal fees booked during the quarter of €23,000 were so low compared with the annual budget for 2012 of €25 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38505/12]

NAMA Accounts

Pearse Doherty

287. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance following the publication on 25 July 2012 of the National Asset Management Agency report and accounts for the three months ending 31 March 2012, the reason the portfolio management fees booked during the quarter of €355,000 were so low compared with the annual budget for 2012 for receivers of €33 million. [38506/12]

NAMA Accounts

Pearse Doherty

288. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance following the publication on 25 July 2012 of the National Asset Management Agency report and accounts for the three months ending 31 March 2012, what the expense heading, other administrative expenses, which totals €317,000 for the quarter, relates to. [38507/12]

NAMA Accounts

Pearse Doherty

289. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 213 of 12 June 2012 and following the publication on 25 July 2012 of the National Asset Management Agency report and accounts for the three months ending 31 March 2012, the proportion of loans that are now performing by reference to the original loan agreement. [38508/12]

NAMA Bonds

Pearse Doherty

290. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 217 of 12 June 2012, if he will confirm that when he refers to the term "break even", he means the redemption in full by National Asset Management Agency of its senior debt, but that he does not mean the redemption in full by NAMA of its subordinated bonds which had a value of €1.595 billion in July 2012. [38509/12]

NAMA Bonds

Pearse Doherty

291. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if on 1 March 2012, the National Asset Management Agency has, in respect of its subordinated bonds, declared any interest payable. [38510/12]

National Treasury Management Agency Bond Issues

Pearse Doherty

292. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to the issuance on 26 July 2012 of new five-year and eight-year bonds and the exchange of bonds maturing in 2013 and 2014, the reason for the bond issuance and exchange at this time in view of the healthy cash position and remaining troika programme funding available; the use to which the new funding will be put in the short term, and if the funding is merely placed on deposit or used for the purchase of treasury notes, the interest rate that pertains to such uses. [38511/12]

NAMA Debtors

Pearse Doherty

293. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance of the 1,000 debtors/850 debtor connections controlled by the National Asset Management Agency, if any are currently active judges within the Irish judiciary. [38512/12]

NAMA Debtors

Pearse Doherty

294. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance of the 1,000 debtors/850 debtor connections controlled by the National Asset Management Agency, if any are current members of the Oireachtas. [38513/12]

NAMA Operations

Pearse Doherty

295. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance in respect of interest rate hedging arrangements, if the National Asset Management Agency has, pursuant to section 87 of the NAMA Act, excluded liability arising from the misselling of such arrangements when it acquired loans from the participating institutions. [38514/12]

NAMA Property Construction

Pearse Doherty

296. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of residential units in the State which the National Asset Management Agency plans, either itself or via its receivers or its debtors, to construct on or on which to complete construction in 2012, 2013 and 2014. [38515/12]

NAMA Property Construction

Pearse Doherty

297. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the square footage of commercial units in the State which the National Asset Management Agency plans, either itself or via its receivers or its debtors, to construct on or on which to complete construction in 2012, 2013 and 2014. [38516/12]

Financial Services Regulation

Pearse Doherty

298. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance following the uncovering of mis-selling of interest rate hedging products such as caps, collars, swaps and structured collars in banks in Britain, the steps taken by the Central Bank of Ireland and the Financial Regulator to assess if similar issues have arisen with the selling of similar products by banks operating here. [38517/12]

Banks Recapitalisation

Pearse Doherty

299. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an explanation of the €25 million payment of promissory notes shown in the July 2012 Exchequer statement. [38518/12]

Banks Recapitalisation

Pearse Doherty

300. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an explanation of the €300.273 million receipts under the heading of Interest on Contingent Capital Notes shown in the July 2012 Exchequer statement. [38519/12]

Insurance Compensation Fund

Pearse Doherty

301. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will lay before the House, the latest accounts and projections of the Insurance Compensation Fund. [38520/12]

Quinn Insurance Limited

Pearse Doherty

302. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance his estimate of the total cost of rescuing Quinn Insurance; the consideration he has given to an inquiry into the finances of Quinn Insurance and the discharge of duties by auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Financial Regulator, Patrick Neary. [38521/12]

NAMA Staff Numbers

Pearse Doherty

303. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of employees that have resigned from the National Asset Management Agency since 1 January 2012; and the number of new employees engaged by NAMA from that date. [38523/12]

NAMA Staff Pensions

Pearse Doherty

304. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the total cost of pension provisions for employees at the National Asset Management Agency in the 12 months ending December 2011; and the estimate of pension provisions at NAMA in the 12 months ending December 2012. [38524/12]

NAMA Code of Conduct

Pearse Doherty

305. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas a copy of the National Asset Management Agency’s procedures and employment contract extracts which set out to deal with potential conflicts of interest, or the assurance that the use of confidential or privileged information garnered by employees in the course of their work at NAMA is not used for their personal benefit, or for the benefit of family or associates. [38526/12]

NAMA Property Sales

Pearse Doherty

306. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of properties that have been sold by the National Asset Management Agency, its receivers or debtors to NAMA employees, former NAMA employees, their families and associates, and the total value of such sales. [38527/12]

NAMA Property Sales

Pearse Doherty

307. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the consideration that has been given by the National Asset Management Agency to adopting practices from other State asset management agencies, such as the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which ban outright any dealings in agency property by employees. [38528/12]

NAMA Staff

Pearse Doherty

308. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if any employees seconded by the National Treasury Management Agency to the National Asset Management Agency have resigned from either organisation, and who have subsequently been engaged by organisations which have purchased property from NAMA, its receivers and developers or which have met with NAMA to express interest in the purchase of property. [38530/12]

NAMA Code of Conduct

Pearse Doherty

309. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the safeguards that the National Asset Management Agency has in place to prevent confidential or privileged knowledge acquired during the course of employment at NAMA being subsequently used by departing employees when they begin work with a new employer. [38531/12]

NAMA Bonds

Pearse Doherty

310. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the quantum of fees paid to date by the National Asset Management Agency in respect of the State guarantee on €25 billion-plus of NAMA bonds; and if no such fees have been paid, the basis on which the State guarantee has been provided. [38532/12]

NAMA Proposed Merger

Pearse Doherty

311. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the consideration that has been given to the merger of the National Asset Management Agency with the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation; and the scope for reducing competition between the two State owned entities for resources and customers, and potential savings on the combined annual operating costs of €400-500 million. [38533/12]

IBRC Investigations

Pearse Doherty

312. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the quantum of maximum potential additional costs that the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation may incur should IBRC's appeal against the 27 July 2012 decision by the High Court in England in respect of the application by Assenagon Asset Management SA fail; and if IBRC is exposed to claims from other holders of subordinated notes. [38547/12]

NAMA Staff Remuneration

Patrick O'Donovan

313. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons working for the National Asset Management Agency; the number of different pay scales within the agency; the number of persons within each pay scale; if he will provide details on the recruitment process to which the agency adheres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38607/12]

National Pensions Reserve Fund Administration

Pearse Doherty

314. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if the National Pensions Reserve Fund has received the independent valuation review, referred to in its quarter one 2012 review, of its shareholding in Allied Irish Bank and Bank of Ireland; and if it has, if he will provide the independent valuation of the NPRF’s shareholding in AIB and Bank of Ireland. [38615/12]

National Pensions Reserve Fund Administration

Pearse Doherty

315. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the most recent valuation of the State’s shareholdings in the covered institutions including Bank of Ireland, Allied Irish Banks and Permanent TSB in tabular form; and the basis and dates of such valuations. [38616/12]

Tax Yield

Finian McGrath

316. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide details on the extra revenue that would be raised by an increase of 5% on taxation for single persons earning in excess of €120,000. [38646/12]

Pension Provisions

Brendan Smith

317. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if a register of all pension schemes approved by the Revenue Commissioners exists; and if so, the statutory agency with which such a register is held; if the relevant legislation covering this can be referred to; the Department that is currently responsible for same; and if the register is available to the public and the information headings under which data is published for each scheme. [38664/12]

Departmental Reports

Kevin Humphreys

318. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance when the Report from the Office of the Revenue Commissioners showing the effect of the High Earners Restriction for 2011 will be published; the changes that have occurred, if any, to the restriction between 2010 and 2011; the changes, if any, that were introduced in the most recent Finance Bill; if he will provide this Deputy with a copy of the Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38718/12]

Tax Reliefs Application

Kevin Humphreys

319. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline each age exemption limit that exists within the income tax system and the estimated cost to the Exchequer of each of these exemptions in a full tax year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38720/12]

Fuel Prices

Tom Fleming

320. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Finance his plans to address the impact of rising costs of oil, petrol, gas and diesel on households and businesses which are struggling to meet their bills throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38723/12]

Tax Credits

Joanna Tuffy

321. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Finance if he will re-examine an application for incapacitated child allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38758/12]

Tax Collection

Jack Wall

322. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Finance if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare has any outstanding tax liabilities for 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38766/12]

Tax Yield

Pearse Doherty

323. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the current rate of deposit interest retention tax; the way DIRT is applied; and the sum that could be raised for the Exchequer if DIRT was increased by five percentage points. [38777/12]

Financial Services Regulation

Peter Mathews

324. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether the Central Bank of Ireland regulates all providers of pensions and financial services in accordance with the law; his views on whether the current laws are adequate to protect investors in pensions and financial services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38783/12]

Bank Guarantee Scheme Bond Repayments

Pearse Doherty

325. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the amount that will be paid in debt related interest in 2013; and the amount of this interest that can be attributed to debt acquired by the State as a result of banking recapitalisation. [38789/12]

Tax Rebates

Michael McGrath

326. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm, following receipt by Revenue of correspondence from a person (details supplied) in County Cork, that they are now registered as a PAYE employee since January 2011 and that the MED1 claim by the person for 2011 will be considered accordingly. [38825/12]