Written Answers Nos. 248-260
248. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Finance when the review of the operation of the local property tax will be complete; when the findings will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23355/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that I have asked former public servant Dr. Don Thornhill, who chaired the 2012 Inter-Departmental Group which designed the Local Property Tax (LPT), to conduct a review to consider, and make recommendations, on the operation of the LPT, and any impacts on LPT liabilities due to property price developments.
In particular the Review will have regard to recent residential property price developments; the overall yield from LPT and its contribution to total tax revenue on an ongoing basis, and the desirability of achieving relative stability, both over the short and longer terms, in LPT payments of liable persons.
Since the introduction of the LPT, a number of issues have arisen in relation to its efficient and effective administration, which will be addressed in the Review and on which recommendations may be made. It is intended that the Review be presented to me no later than summer 2015, with a view to consideration of any recommendations therein in the context of the Budget.
249. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if he will investigate a matter (details supplied) regarding the National Asset Management Agency to ascertain if any impropriety has occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23380/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra259. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if he will formally investigate a matter (details supplied) regarding the sale of a property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23624/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 249 and 259 together.
As previously advised, as Minister for Finance I am happy to respond to questions on general policy matters relating to NAMA. However it would not be appropriate for me to comment on individual cases, as I do not have a role in the day to day business decisions of the Agency.
As the Deputy is aware, NAMA operates a dedicated email address, oir@nama.ie, to enable TDs and Senators to raise any matter directly with the Agency. NAMA informs me that the specific cases you raise have already been submitted by you to NAMA's dedicated Oireachtas email address and that the Agency has responded fully. I have, however, forwarded the supplementary details you have submitted with these Parliamentary Questions to NAMA for their consideration. Should the Deputy wish to follow up in this regard, NAMA would be happy to discuss or provide further clarification.
I would encourage the Deputy, and indeed any member of the Oireachtas with a similar query, to avail of the outlined email service which NAMA provides for TDs and Senators. I am assured by NAMA that all matters which are brought to its attention via this forum are fully, and promptly, responded to.
250. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of staff in his Department currently on a sabbatical or a career break, broken down by zero to six months, six months to 12 months, one year to two years, two years to three years, four years to five years and five years or more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23404/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following table outlines the current sabbatical/career break position in my Department.
|
Duration |
People on Sabbatical/Career Break |
|
0-6 Months |
0 |
|
6-12 Months |
1 |
|
1-2 Years |
3 |
|
2-3 Years |
2 |
|
3-4 Years |
2 |
|
4-5 Years |
1 |
|
5+ Years |
0 |
The staff of my Department are at the centre of our HR Strategy which aims to support the Department in achieving our strategy and goals. Employee Engagement is one of the elements of that strategy. Integral to that are centrally agreed family friendly policy initiatives such as flexible working arrangements, career break schemes etc. that are to the mutual benefit of the Department and staff.
Staff can avail of career breaks and other forms of special leave for domestic, personal, educational, travel, and other self-development reasons, based on the demands and business of the Department. The experience gained during such time out of the Department is often of great benefit to the individual, and also to the Department when they return to their civil service post.
Such schemes are now more proactively managed through our Workforce Planning process. By maintaining contact with staff on special forms of leave in relation to their intention to return to the Department, we have also been better able to plan for the future.
251. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide, in tabular form, broken down by year, the total photography costs for his Department since coming into office, inclusive of costs incurred from the use of the Ministerial Allowance; if he will provide the list of occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; the breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; if there is a policy regarding the booking of photographers within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23420/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the Deputy's question the total photography costs for my Department and the details of the occasions on which photographers were used in the period since I came into office are contained in the following table:
Photography Costs
|
Year |
List of Occasions |
Photography Company |
Cost € |
|
2011 |
Signing of Taxation agreement with Germany Engaged on 31st March 2011 |
Maxwell Photography Ltd |
€400.21 |
|
2012 |
Signing ceremony for Double Taxation Agreement with Uzbekistan Engaged on 11th July 2012 |
Maxwell Photography Ltd |
€147.60 |
|
2012 |
Signing ceremony for Double Taxation Agreement with Switzerland: Minister of State Hayes and the Swiss Ambassador Engaged on 26th January 2012 |
Maxwell Photography Ltd |
€285.05 |
|
2014 |
Graduation ceremony for the Diploma in Taxation Policy and Practice, the Diploma in Project Management, and the Diploma in Project Management and Refund of Fees Engaged on 3rd September 2014 |
Maxwell Photography Ltd |
€510.75 |
|
|
|
TOTAL |
€1,343.61 |
The Department's policy regarding the booking of photographers is to follow the relevant public procurement guidelines and procedures.
252. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide, in tabular form, broken down by year, the use of external public relations firms employed by his Department since coming into office; if he will provide the list of uses of the external public relations firm and internal Department policy with regard to employing external groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23436/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI take it that the Deputy is referring solely to external public relations costs and not to advertising costs that would be incurred by my Department in the normal course of business, such as entries into telephone directories, the placing of advertisements in national newspapers, recruitment advertising, etc.
No such costs have been incurred in respect of my Department in the period since I came into office.
The Department's policy regarding employing external groups is to follow the relevant general public procurement rules and procedures.
253. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Finance the total amount spent on external information technology consultants by his Department in the years 2010 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23452/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra256. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has re-negotiated external information technology consultancy contracts and costs since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23569/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 256 together.
A large portion of my Department's expenditure on external IT service providers relates to the ongoing support, maintenance and occasional enhancement of the systems acquired for the provision of pension payment, banking and financial management services (and shared payroll services prior to 2015). This expenditure is non-discretionary and the associated contract costs are generally fixed at a percentage of the initial software acquisition costs.
Following the establishment of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in 2011, responsibility for IT policy and network support for the Department of Finance transferred to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on a shared services basis. Decision-making for the majority of discretionary spend moved to that Department at that time.
During the period in question, none of my Department's IT expenditure related to general consultancy.
254. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Finance the protocols in place since March 2011 to set standards in parliamentary replies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23500/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra255. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that parliamentary questions are adequately replied to within his Department; the steps he has taken since March 2011 to ensure parliamentary questions are fully responded to within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23516/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 254 and 255 together.
The preparation of Parliamentary Questions is a key task of my Department in providing a service to the Dáil. Replies to Parliamentary Questions are drafted by the relevant sections in consultation with relevant bodies under the aegis of my Department where necessary. At all times, Departmental staff are aware of the need to draft responses to Parliamentary Questions to the highest standard based on all available information.
In 2014, replies for some 3,861 Parliamentary Questions were prepared and some 1,472 Parliamentary Questions were replied to by end May 2015.
I am satisfied that Parliamentary Questions are answered to the best extent possible in my Department.
257. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide, in respect of State boards under his Department's remit, the number of appointments to State boards; the number of vacancies on State boards ; the number of vacancies on State boards publically advertised; and the number of appointments to State boards drawn directly from the public advertisement process from March 2011 to date. [23585/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the Deputy's query, please find, in tabular form, the number of appointments to State boards, the number of vacancies on State boards, the number of vacancies on State boards publically advertised and the number of appointments to State boards drawn directly from the public advertisement process from March 2011 to date. I have not included ex-officio members in the figures provided.
I would ask the Deputy to note that the National Treasury Management Agency Advisory Committee, State Claims Agency and the National Development Finance Agency have all been dissolved following the commencement of the relevant sections of the National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2014. Under transitional provisions, pending the transfer of all NPRF assets and liabilities to the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, the National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission will consist of one Member, the Chief Executive of the NTMA.
|
State Board |
Number of Appointments from March 2011 to June 2015 |
Number of vacancies since March 2011 to June 2015 |
Number of vacancies publically advertised since March 2011 to June 2015 |
Number of appointments drawn from public advertisement process |
|
Central Bank Commission |
5 Since March 2011, four members of the Central Bank Commission have been re-appointed. One member was newly appointed. |
5 Section 18CA(1)(b) of the Central Bank Act 1942, as amended, provides that the Central Bank Commission comprises of at least 6, but no more than 8, members appointed by the Minister. The Commission currently comprises of 6 members appointed by the Minister. The Minister has the discretion to appoint 2 additional members. |
1
|
1 Expressions of interest were sought for positions on the Central Bank Commission in 2012 |
|
Financial Services Ombudsman Council (FSOC) |
7 |
10 (Although the full complement of 10 has not been filled over the past number of years, there is an option for the Minister to appoint people to fill all positions) |
The FSOC members were re-appointed in October 2013. |
|
|
Irish Fiscal Advisory Council |
5 |
2 |
The initial 5 appointments were not publically advertised. Following the term ending of a Council Member in December 2014, the vacancy was filled through the State Boards appointments process. A current vacancy will shortly be advertised publically through the State Boards appointments process.
|
The composition of a body such as a Fiscal Council is critical to its independence and credibility. In following the Common Principles set by the European Commission under the Fiscal Compact, in 2011 we sought candidates who hold valuable experience and demonstrate competence in their fields of expertise. A significant number of potential candidates were considered against a range of criteria. The criteria included the desire of having a mix of appropriate backgrounds, namely academia, the financial sector/financial markets and public finance; expertise in macroeconomic/microeconomic and a strong international dimension, in addition to the need to take gender considerations into account. As would be normal practice, the process by which potential nominees were identified, considered and selected involved officials from my Department. The final decisions regarding the appointments were made by me following consultations with Cabinet colleagues and others. Following the term ending of one of the initial Council Members in December 2014, the vacancy was filled through the State Boards appointments process. A current vacancy will shortly be advertised publically through the State Boards appointments process. |
|
NAMA |
5 |
7 |
These posts were not publicly advertised. |
3 Members were reappointments. 2 Members were Ministerial appointments. |
|
Credit Union Restructuring Board (REBO) |
13 |
13 (a further vacancy arose following a resignation on 30/6/2014 but the vacancy is not currently filled) |
Board posts were advertised seeking expressions of interest. |
6 appointments were made by the Minister as a result of expressions of interest received. |
|
Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) |
10 |
10 |
6 appointments to the board were publically advertised on the Public Appointments Service. |
6 Appointments
|
|
National Treasury Management Agency Advisory Committee |
4 |
4 |
The appointments to the board were not publicly advertised. |
It has been the practice since the establishment of the National Treasury Management Agency to appoint the Secretary General of the Department of Finance to the Advisory Committee. 2 posts relate to the appointment of the Secretary General (2011 and 2013). 1 post was a reappointment. 1 post was a Ministerial nomination. |
|
National Pension Reserve Fund Commission |
2 |
2 |
These posts were not publicly advertised. |
Both posts were reappointments |
|
State Claims Agency |
5 |
5 |
1 Post was not advertised as it was a re-appointment. 2 posts were Department nominees (A Department of Health representative has, by convention, been appointed to the SCA Policy Committee). |
2 posts were advertised on the websites of the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform and drawn from this process. |
|
National Development Finance Agency |
4 |
4 |
1 post was a reappointment. 3 posts were advertised on Department of Finance and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform websites. |
2 posts were made as a result of the public advertisements. |
|
National Treasury Management Agency Members (The Board) |
6 |
6 |
These positions were advertised through the Department of Finance website.
|
5 posts were Ministerial nominations. 1 appointment was made as a result of applications made through the Department's website. |
258. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide, in tabular form, for each year from 2009 to 2014 and for 2015 to date, the total number of freedom of information requests received by his Department; the total refused; the total granted; the total part granted; the total successful appeals; the total part successful appeals; the refusals of appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23608/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following table sets out the total number of FoI requests received, total granted, part-granted and appealed and information about appeals made under the FoI Acts in the Department of Finance for the period from 2009 to June 2015. 76 of the requests received are currently being processed.
In some cases, FoI requests are withdrawn, handled outside FoI or transferred to another public body and information is also included for these cases.
Returns in respect of Freedom of Information requests received by the Department of Finance have been published on a quarterly basis since January 2015 on the Department's website.
|
Year |
Total FoI requests received |
Total FoI requests refused, granted, part granted |
Total FoI requests withdrawn, transferred to another public body or handled outside FOI |
Total FoI requests appealed internally |
Total successful appeals |
Total part successful appeals |
Total refusals |
|
2009 |
272 |
219 |
53 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
|
2010 |
337 |
286 |
51 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
2011 |
258 |
185 |
73 |
9 |
0 |
3 |
6 |
|
2012 |
265 |
194 |
71 |
5 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
|
2013 |
220 |
189 |
31 |
14 |
0 |
5 |
9 |
|
2014 |
165 |
141 |
16 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
2015 end May |
178 |
85 |
18 |
8 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
260. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide in tabular form the number, name and date of Bills initiated in his Department that have been subject to the pre-legislative scrutiny procedure in the Oireachtas. [23639/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing changes to Standing Orders (agreed by the Dáil on 17 October 2013), Ministers are now required, except in exceptional circumstances, to bring the general scheme or draft heads of a Bill to a Select Committee for consideration.
Committees are empowered to consider the draft Heads of Bills but they are not required to do so - it is the Committee's prerogative to decide on a case by case basis whether it wishes to engage in pre-legislative scrutiny on any particular Bill.
The following table provides details of the bills initiated by the Department of Finance on which the Committee held a pre-legislative scrutiny hearing.
|
Number of Bill |
Name of Bill |
Date initiated |
Date of Pre-legislative Scrutiny |
|
27 of 2014 |
Central Bank Bill 2014 |
7 April 2014 |
26 March 2014 |
|
87 of 2014 |
European Stability Mechanism (Amendment) Bill 2014 |
26 September 2014 |
24 September 2014 |
|
1 of 2015 |
Consumer Protection (Regulation of Credit Servicing Firms) Bill 2015 |
12 January 2015 |
3 December 2014 |
A pre-legislative scrutiny hearing was also held on 27 January 2015 in relation to the Draft General Scheme of the Finance (Tax Appeals Commission) Bill. That legislation has not yet been published.
