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]

Small and Medium Enterprises Supports

Finian McGrath

21. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will support small business in their need for access to finance (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17572/14]

Insurance Industry Regulation

Pearse Doherty

22. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the communication he or the Financial Regulator has had with the Maltese Financial Services Authority or other regulatory bodies regarding Setanta Insurance; and the reason policy holders were not informed of problems at the company in good time. [23019/14]

House Prices

Richard Boyd Barrett

23. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the specific measures he is considering or tools he has at his disposal for preventing the emergence of another property bubble, in view of the dramatic rise in rents and property prices in Dublin and other urban centres and given the macroeconomic threat potentially constituted by such developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22280/14]

Mortgage Interest Rates

Michael McGrath

24. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance his views on the increasing divergence between tracker mortgage rates and standard variable rates; his views on whether banks are using increased standard variable rates to subsidise loss-making tracker loans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23035/14]

Tax Code

Dara Calleary

25. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Finance his plans to review capital acquisition tax thresholds in view of the impact of rising property prices on the amount of inheritance tax many persons now face; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23038/14]

Deposit Interest Rates

Dara Calleary

26. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether the current penal tax regime that applies to deposit and pension savings is discouraging persons from making provision for future financial needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23039/14]

Departmental Staff Recruitment

Thomas P. Broughan

27. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance his strategy to fill the upcoming vacant post of Secretary General at his Department. [22320/14]

Mortgage Schemes

Mick Wallace

28. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance if he will introduce a help-to-buy scheme, similar to that operating in the UK; his views on whether such a scheme could drive up house prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23048/14]

Government Bonds

Bernard Durkan

29. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if, in the context of the emerging economic improvements, it might be possible to establish a Government development bond to meet urgent requirements in terms of economic and social infrastructure, with particular reference to identifying a structure whereby adequate affordable or local authority housing might be provided, thereby ensuring an adequate supply of houses on the market without contributing to housing inflation allied with economic benefit accruing in terms of construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23025/14]

Tax Reliefs Application

Denis Naughten

30. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Finance his plans to review capital gains tax reliefs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22176/14]

Mortgage Schemes

Seán Fleming

31. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether the introduction of a State-backed insurance scheme for first-time buyers in the absence of a significant increase in supply in the short to medium term will lead to an unsustainable rise in property prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23036/14]

Small and Medium Enterprises Supports

Michael McGrath

32. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance when a State-backed enterprise bank will be established; the lending capacity of the bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23033/14]

Tax Reliefs Application

Billy Kelleher

33. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Finance his plans to amend or review the cap he put on tax relief for private health insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22578/14]

Mortgage Interest Relief Eligibility

Michael McGrath

34. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider easing the tax burden on families who are forced to move out of their principal private residence and rent another property due to changed family circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23032/14]

IBRC Mortgage Loan Book

Pearse Doherty

35. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if any assurances have been given by the funds buying the loan books at Irish Bank Resolution Corporation that they will respect the terms of the contracts in place, including the interest rates; and, if so, for what period. [23020/14]

NAMA Loans Sale

Pearse Doherty

36. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he is concerned that the acceleration of National Asset Management Agency disposals to investors may contribute to increasing rents as purchasers seek to maximise their returns. [23022/14]

Banks Recapitalisation

Pearse Doherty

37. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance when and the process by which he will apply for the retrospective recapitalisation through the ESM of Ireland's pillar banking debt; and the rules that will be applied to any such application. [23021/14]

Bank Stress Tests

Micheál Martin

38. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Finance if he has seen the letter sent from Mr. Mario Draghi in relation to EU-wide stress tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15987/14]

Financial Transactions Tax

Clare Daly

39. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance if he will justify his decision not to bring in a financial transactions tax, which would have yielded an amount similar to that raised from hard-pressed home owners in property tax. [22224/14]

Economic Data

Bernard Durkan

40. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which the various economic indicators are positively positioned in the run-up to budget 2015; the extent to which he expects to be in a position to continue to meet the conditions laid down by the troika and at the same time address the specific issues likely to have a socio-economic impact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23024/14]

Financial Services Regulation

Lucinda Creighton

41. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance the total number of cases where suspicions of a criminal offence arose and the Central Bank of Ireland reported the matter to An Garda Síochána, as required under section 33AK of the 1942 Act, in the past five years; the nature of the complaints reported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22173/14]

Credit Availability

Seán Kyne

42. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance in the context of ensuring credit availability for small to medium-sized enterprises, his views on facilitating credit unions in lending amounts under a certain value to businesses at a local level to encourage expansion and job creation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17478/14]

Economic Management Council Meetings

Pat Deering

43. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Taoiseach the number of meetings that have taken place of the Economic Management Council since the troika left in December 2013. [22182/14]

Grant Aid

Catherine Murphy

44. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will itemise in tabular form all grants and grants-in-aid paid by his Department each year for the previous five years and to date in 2014, including the amounts, recipients and purpose in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22183/14]

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Seán Fleming

45. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach the number of defibrillators that are located in Government offices and buildings under the remit of his Department throughout the country; if these are available in emergency cases outside of office hours to the community in the locations where they are based; the number and cost of same; if he will consider putting some arrangement in place whereby these defibrillators can be located where the public can access them out of office hours, in the interest of health and safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22392/14]

Public Procurement Contracts

Pearse Doherty

46. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Taoiseach if his Department received correspondence from the European Commission public procurement unit last November, or at any point in the past year, following an investigation undertaken into complaints regarding the awarding of the postal code contract by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources; and if his Department forwarded this correspondence on to that Department. [22404/14]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Micheál Martin

47. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the number of Cabinet sub-committee meetings he has attended in the month of April. [22601/14]

Dáil Reform

Terence Flanagan

48. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Taoiseach the Government's achievements to date in the area of Dáil reform and its future plans for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22803/14]

Boston College Archives

Micheál Martin

49. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the release of the Boston College papers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22178/14]

Human Rights Issues

Finian McGrath

50. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update regarding the kidnapping of 260 teenage girls in Nigeria; if he will clarify the action that the United Nation is taking regarding this serious violation of human rights and abuse of children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22214/14]