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]