Parliamentary questions

Insurance Industry Regulation

Michael McGrath

1. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance to set out his views on whether sufficient protection is in place domestically for Irish customers of insurance companies which are regulated here for conduct of business purposes while being prudentially regulated overseas; his further views on the fact that Irish insurance consumers are exposed to inadequate prudential regulation of insurance companies in other countries; his views on whether greater co-operation is required between national regulators in respect of the insurance market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23187/14]

Credit Unions

Peadar Tóibín

2. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether the cumulative effect of lending restrictions on credit unions and the lack of clarity in the use of discretion by credit unions in lending is having a negative impact on the credit union movement’s ability to advance loans to its members and thereby contribute to economic recovery. [23121/14]

Tax Code

Joe Higgins

3. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Finance how he reconciles the view that the income tax burden is too high on low and middle-income workers with the Government's policy of imposing new tax burdens on the same cohort, with the property tax on workers' homes and water charges; and if he will report on the income tax increases that would be equivalent to these new burdens for average workers. [23226/14]

NAMA Operations

Michael McGrath

4. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the position on the ongoing review of the National Asset Management Agency's operations; when the review will come to a conclusion; if he is considering an early wind-up of NAMA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23188/14]

Oireachtas Banking Inquiry

Peadar Tóibín

5. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Finance if he will release the letter, dated 19 November 2010, of Jean Claude Trichet or give a firm commitment that it will be available to the banking inquiry; and if he will detail the communication he has with the ECB on this issue. [23122/14]

Tax Reliefs Application

Billy Kelleher

6. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Finance the consultations he and his Department have undertaken with the Department of Health with regard to the cap for tax relief on private health insurance introduced in the last budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22577/14]

EU State Aid Negotiations

Denis Naughten

7. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Finance the actions being taken to obtain EU approval for economic incentives which have been announced by Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22175/14]

Mortgage Schemes

Mick Wallace

8. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance his plans for a mortgage insurance scheme for first-time buyers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23047/14]

National Debt

Thomas P. Broughan

9. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance if savings can be made on servicing the national debt next year; the expected interest payments required for the national debt for 2015; his views on the growing burden of interest payments on the national Exchequer; and the measures he will take at a European Union level to have these payments greatly reduced. [22321/14]

Financial Services Regulation

Lucinda Creighton

10. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance the reporting mechanisms and training received by Central Bank of Ireland officials for reporting matters to An Garda Síochána under section 33AK of the 1942 Act, as required in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22174/14]

National Payments Plan Implementation

Seán Kyne

11. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance to outline the steps being taken to prepare for e-day in September, after which Departments and public sector agencies will no longer issue or accept cheques; if this includes local authorities; and if measures are being implemented to ensure continued ease of payment, in particular for the public and small local businesses. [16788/14]

Mortgage Resolution Processes

Michael McGrath

12. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance his views on the rate at which the banks are dealing with mortgage arrears, in view of his Department's recent figures which show that three quarters of residential mortgages in arrears over 90 days are yet to have a long-term restructuring arrangement put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23031/14]

EU State Aid Negotiations

Michael McGrath

13. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance his views on the length of time it takes the European Commission to approve budget day announcements which are subject to state aid rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23034/14]

Universal Social Charge Application

Maureen O'Sullivan

14. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance the rationale behind the suggestion of increasing the universal social charge by 7% when assurances were given that the USC was only a temporary measure; his view on whether the taxpayer can afford this increase on top of the upcoming water charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23045/14]

Death of Russian Politician

Maureen O'Sullivan

15. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance if he will act in support of a range of countries around the world that are experiencing debt distress by raising their cases through Ireland's membership of the World Bank and IMF and through relevant regional banks which lend to those countries; if he will pay particular attention to the Caribbean region where this month the Caribbean Community, CARICOM, called for debt cancellation and wider economic justice measures for the region, which experienced an average debt-to-GDP ratio of 70% in 2012, increasing to more than 90% for the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23046/14]

Mortgage Resolution Processes

Pearse Doherty

16. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance when and the way in which he expressed the view to each of Ulster Bank, Bank of Ireland, AIB and Permanent TSB that letters threatening repossession or legal action will not be considered a sustainable solution under the mortgage arrears targets and should only ever be considered after every possible avenue for solution has been exhausted. [23023/14]

Mortgage Resolution Processes

Richard Boyd Barrett

17. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance in view of the varying approaches of different banks to dealing with mortgage distress, and particularly the stated intention of some banks to pursue mortgage holders for the full amount of their mortgage, even after they have been required to give up their family home, in cases of voluntary surrender, the measures he is considering to ensure greater fairness and consistency for mortgage holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22281/14]

Financial Institutions Levy

Catherine Murphy

18. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the amount of revenue that has accrued to date from the levy on financial institutions that was introduced in budget 2014, broken down in tabular form by each liable institution; his future plans for the introduction of a financial transactions tax in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22279/14]

Tax Reliefs Availability

Clare Daly

19. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance if he will revise tax reliefs for pensions in order to encourage the investment of funds here. [22225/14]

Carbon Tax Implementation

Seán Fleming

20. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether revenue to the State from the sale of solid fuel products is being put at risk from the significant cross-Border price differential that exists since the recent increase in the rate of carbon tax which applies to such products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23037/14]