Parliamentary questions

Enterprise Support Schemes

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

35. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the way the proposed maximum financial award for the new structures being reduced by half to €40,000 reduces red tape and increases competitive advantage; the way the proposed maximum award at local level of €40,000 will improve access to funding for start up and indigenous enterprises in view of the fact that these awards are no longer locally based which essentially creates the same delays being faced by small and medium enterprises in accessing bank finance as all decisions are made nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24361/13]

Foreign Direct Investment

Thomas Pringle

36. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the efforts made to secure foreign direct investment in the north west region; the number of new jobs that have been announced in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24348/13]

Small and Medium Enterprises Supports

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

37. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the expected cost savings to be achieved by the new structure; the expected cost of the transition for 2013; if he will confirm that these funds are not reducing funds available to start up enterprises and the initiatives necessary to support job creation for 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24362/13]

Joint Labour Committees Reviews

Brian Stanley

38. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when he will respond to the Labour Court recommendations on the review of the JLCs. [24462/13]

Commercial Rates Valuation Process

Sean Fleming

39. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on whether a formalised appeals mechanism in relation to commercial rates would assist businesses in financial difficulty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24426/13]

Credit Availability

Pearse Doherty

40. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the impact of the high cost of credit on enterprises and job creation; and his views on the take up rates of Government created credit schemes as a percentage of the overall credit available under each scheme. [24444/13]

Economic Competitiveness

Peadar Tóibín

41. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the Forfás report on competitiveness. [24440/13]

Employment Statistics

Gerry Adams

42. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of young persons employed in March 2011; the number currently in employment; and the success of initiatives to create and retain jobs for young people. [24443/13]

Social Insurance

Dessie Ellis

43. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will detail any discussions that he has had in relation to making mandatory PRSI contributions for sole trades and small and medium enterprises at the joint employee and employer scale and an assessment of the impact of such a move on the SME sector. [24460/13]

Illegal Moneylenders

Tony McLoughlin

44. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to concerns that many citizens have with illegal money lenders who operate in local communities and are alleged to charge interest rates of up to 400%; and if he is considering any legislative changes to address these issues relating to the regulation of money lending as currently provided for in the Consumer Credit Act 1995. [24135/13]

Competition Authority Staff

Thomas Pringle

45. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the staffing improvements that have been implemented in the Competition Authority to ensure that it has the capacity to investigate anti competitive behaviour in the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24349/13]

Credit Availability

Mick Wallace

46. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to alleviate the problems of small and medium-sized businesses that are not involved in the export market and still face great difficulty in accessing credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24438/13]

Job Creation

Sandra McLellan

47. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the relationship between the increase in the value of enterprises exporting goods and services and the impact on job creation. [24450/13]

Economic Competitiveness

Willie O'Dea

48. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on whether Ireland's competitiveness is improving; the way it can be further enhanced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24421/13]

Job Creation Data

Micheál Martin

49. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs created and lost in the private sector in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22129/13]

Company Closures

Andrew Doyle

50. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps he and his Department have taken to date in order to secure the long term future and to find a new employer for the Merck site in Rathdrum, County Wicklow, where 280 people are currently employed; if he has engaged the key stakeholders to collectively seek a solution for a buyer to come in and take over this site; the role of the Industrial Development Agency in this process; the progress that has made to date since the announcement regarding the site closure in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24140/13]

Business Costs

Peadar Tóibín

51. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the costs that undermine business growth and employment creation; and his views on whether property rental costs are not an issue for business. [24441/13]

Emigration Data

Jonathan O'Brien

52. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the recent report by the National Youth Council entitled Time to go - the Experience and Impact of Emigration on Ireland's Youth. [24467/13]

Registered Employment Agreements

Martin Ferris

53. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps he has taken to ensure that low-paid workers under the JLC and REA schemes continue to be fully protected and their income safeguarded. [24465/13]

Registered Employment Agreements

Brian Stanley

54. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will give an assessment of the impact of the recent Supreme Court judgment with regard to REAs. [24463/13]

Employment Rights

Mary Lou McDonald

55. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in view of the recent findings of the Migrants Rights Centre Ireland into the recruitment and employment of au pairs, the steps he will take to regulate this industry and recognise that au pairs should not be outside of the employment protections. [24448/13]

Disability Act Employment Targets

Tom Fleming

56. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the target of his Department and subsidiary offices throughout the country regarding employment of persons with disabilities in the special category; if the target is being achieved; the total number of employees in that category currently and the percentage of the total workforce in his Department that it represents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24615/13]

State Properties

Pearse Doherty

57. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will set out by country, the latest valuation of property assets owned by the State as part of foreign diplomatic missions, including embassies, consulates, chanceries and other diplomatic representation as well as residential property used by the State for its diplomatic activity, indicating the euro valuation and the year of valuation. [24699/13]

Sale of State Assets

Pearse Doherty

58. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will set out by country for each of 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013, the proceeds from the disposal of property assets owned by the State as part of foreign diplomatic missions, including embassies, consulates, chanceries and other diplomatic representation as well as residential property used by the State for its diplomatic activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24700/13]

Importation Policy

Peter Mathews

59. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the reason goods from Israeli settlements are to be labelled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24709/13]

International Election Monitoring

Andrew Doyle

60. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department sent the new selection procedure to applicants for the new election observer roster; if there is an appeal or review procedure within his Department to handle complaints by applicants regarding selection for the election observation roster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24727/13]

Property Tax Administration

Kevin Humphreys

61. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide in tabular form a breakdown of the number of properties registered nationally, by each local authority area for the local property tax to date; the estimated number of liable properties in both; the aggregate amount of tax to be returned from those registered thus far; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24499/13]

Property Tax Administration

Kevin Humphreys

62. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide in tabular form the number of properties registered in Dublin City Council for the local property tax to date; the estimated number of liable properties; the aggregate amount of tax to be returned from those registered thus far; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24500/13]

Carbon Tax Implementation

Andrew Doyle

63. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline details of carbon taxation here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24708/13]

Tax Code

Andrew Doyle

64. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that the current vehicle registration tax is compatible with EU law; the legislative changes he is proposing regarding keeping the tax in line with European Court of Justice opinions and rulings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24730/13]

Property Tax Exemptions

Seamus Kirk

65. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider introducing a means test in respect of the local property tax demand for families dependant on single parent family payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24767/13]

Property Tax Collection

Pat Deering

66. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Finance the reason local property tax liability is taken immediately from customers' bank accounts when the explanatory booklet clearly states payment will not be taken earlier than 21 July 2013, option 2. [24505/13]

Bank Guarantee Scheme

Martin Heydon

67. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Finance if cash deposits held within approved retirement funds are covered by the bank guarantee scheme; the other protections that exist to protect cash held through private sector pension funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24576/13]

Housing Grants

Eoghan Murphy

68. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he is considering making the cost of home maintenance and repairs tax deductible, as is done in Sweden, in order to eliminate the growing black economy. [24592/13]

Property Tax Collection

Billy Timmins

69. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding persons (details supplied) in County Wicklow who have not received their property tax correspondence; if this can be sent as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24594/13]

Debt Resolution Pilot Scheme

Thomas P. Broughan

70. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the third party service provider that will be selected to operate under the recent launched Framework for a Pilot Approach to the Coordinated Resolution of Multiple Debts owed by a Distressed Borrower; if the Money Advice and Budgeting Service will be selected as the third party service provider in view of the wealth of experience that MABS has in dealing with distressed borrowers; his views on recent reports that a company from the UK is being considered as the third party service provider; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24603/13]

Disability Act Employment Targets

Tom Fleming

71. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Finance the target of his Department and subsidiary offices throughout the country regarding employment of persons in the special category with disabilities and if the target being achieved; the total number of employees in that category currently and the percentage of the total workforce in his Department that it represents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24614/13]

IBRC Liquidation

Pearse Doherty

72. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will estimate the total debt write down that will be given to developers who bid for their own loans from the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation at substantially reduced values; and if the residual debt against those developers will be pursued by the State. [24689/13]

IBRC Liquidation

Pearse Doherty

73. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 193 of 14 may 2013, if he will confirm the restrictions that will be placed on Irish Bank Resolution Corporation borrowers who bid on their own loans after the window for 100% refinancing expires; if such borrowers will be prevented from acting in concert with third party bidders during the bid process as is the case with National Asset Management Agency borrowers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24690/13]

Financial Services Regulation

Pearse Doherty

74. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 207 and 210 of 23 April 2013, and 195 of 14 April 2013, if he will confirm by year, separately, the salary and benefits and total remuneration of the Financial Regulator for 2011 and 2012. [24691/13]

IBRC Mortgage Loan Book

Pearse Doherty

75. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of borrowers who had loans of more than €10 million par value with the Irish Bank Resolution Corportation at 7 February 2013 ; the total par value of such outstanding loans; and the book value of such loans. [24692/13]

Bank Debt Restructuring

Pearse Doherty

76. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the amount of debt written off by Allied Irish Bank, Bank of Ireland and Permanent TSB in 2010, 2011 and 2012 as a result of bankruptcies in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24693/13]

NAMA Property Rental

Pearse Doherty

77. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an analysis of the €100-120 million per month recurring non-disposal income being reported by the National Asset Management Agency, showing commercial rental income, residential rental income and an outline of the other receipts and in respect of the commercial rental income to indicate the proportion arising from property in the State and from other jurisdictions. [24694/13]

NAMA Property Sales

Pearse Doherty

78. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance following the announcement by the National Asset Management Agency of the disposal of the so called Project Aspen portfolio of €810 million of loans relating to a developer (details supplied), if he will provide his assessment on the deal which involves NAMA providing staple finance and retaining a stake in the loans; if he will confirm the security NAMA now holds in the loans and if NAMA's security in the loans has been diluted as a result of the sale; and if he will confirm the overall number of NAMA disposals which have involved NAMA retaining an interest in the assets sold. [24695/13]

Outright Monetary Transaction Scheme Participation

Pearse Doherty

79. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 219 of 23 April 2013, and further to his statement on 13 May 2013 that it seems to me that if we had one more sale of Irish paper, we would be eligible for outright monetary transactions scheme, if he will outline his basis for believing this to be the case and the reason he does not believe we would be eligible for access to OMT presently. [24696/13]

Outright Monetary Transaction Scheme Participation

Pearse Doherty

80. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 219 of 23 April 2013, and further to his statement on 13 May 2013 that we have not decided in Government yet whether we will apply or not for the Outright Monetary Transactions scheme but it is something that seems to be a mechanism that is working very well and it might be something that we would want to avail of coming out of the bailout, if he will outline the way the OMT mechanism is working and the volume and value of OMT transactions undertaken by the European Central Bank. [24697/13]

Outright Monetary Transaction Scheme Participation

Pearse Doherty

81. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 219 of 23 April 2013, and further to the publication on 14 May 2013 by the National Treasury Management Agency of its May 2013 presentation to investors which includes the statement clarity on Ireland's eligibility for ECB’s new Outright Monetary Transactions, OMT, would be helpful to underpin sustainable market re-entry; his views on whether there is a lack of clarity on Ireland’s eligibility for the ECB’s OMT scheme. [24698/13]

Mortgage Debt

Brendan Griffin

82. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if he will investigate the practice of the banking sector refusing to engage with lenders that find themselves in further difficulties after restructuring their loans; if the process of restructuring is reducing the cost to the borrower and taking into account future potential income difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24705/13]

Banking Sector Regulation

Andrew Doyle

83. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Finance if he has plans to consolidate the legislative basis for the Central Bank of Ireland and its operations; if officials from his Department have held discussions with the Central Bank in this regard; when he expects legislation to be brought forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24731/13]

Tax Reliefs Cost

Michael McGrath

84. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons to date that have availed of the special assignee relief programme; the number of employers whose employees have availed of the programme; the amount of tax foregone as a result of the tax relief granted; the number of employees who have had education fees paid by their employer on a tax free basis under the programme; his views on the number of jobs that may have been created under the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24738/13]