Parliamentary questions

Passport Applications

Patrick Nulty

188. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding an application for a passport in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52764/12]

Middle East Peace Process

Finian McGrath

189. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he would support the plight of the Palestinian people and to work at ending the slaughter that is happening in Gaza right now; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53032/12]

Tax Code

Brendan Griffin

190. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the transfer of land in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52334/12]

Customs and Excise Controls

Michael Healy-Rae

191. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance if he will invest in more sniffer dogs to fight the war against the illegal importation of drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52394/12]

Disabled Drivers Grant Eligibility

Arthur Spring

192. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance if the disabled drivers medical board of appeal, when dealing with primary medical certificate appeals, should be allowed to permit exceptions for persons who do not meet the strict criteria currently laid down in regulations but endure the same medical restrictions and disabilities as those who do meet the strict criteria as a result of a combination of extraordinary medical conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52588/12]

Credit Availability

Bernard Durkan

193. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if in response to the lack of adequate credit to the hotel industry, he has had any discussions with the lending institutions with a view to addressing this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53074/12]

Transport Costs

Bernard Durkan

194. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent if any to which he has had discussions with the private transport sector in the context of possible measures to address the increased fuel or other costs; if he expects to be in a position to identify any alleviation measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53075/12]

Credit Availability

Bernard Durkan

195. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which a lack of credit to the transport and tourism sectors is currently deemed to negatively affect national economic performance; if he has in mind any specific proposals to address any such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53078/12]

Promissory Note Negotiations

Stephen Donnelly

196. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Finance the projected payment schedule of interest charges on the Promissory Notes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52180/12]

Budget 2013

Stephen Donnelly

197. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Finance the analyses being done on Budget 2013 / Finance Bill proposals under his remit, for example poverty impact assessment and gender impact assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52181/12]

Promissory Note Negotiations

Stephen Donnelly

198. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Finance his estimate of the total amount of the interest payments scheduled on the Promissory Note which will be returned to the State that is, the total amount forecast to be paid, less the amount of this which will be used to discharge IBRC's liabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52182/12]

Bond Redemption

Stephen Donnelly

199. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Finance the information he has on the level of insurance held by the purchasers of senior unguaranteed bank bonds, in the event that they were not paid back in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52184/12]

Bank Debt Restructuring

Stephen Donnelly

200. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider legislation to compel all banks to disclose their guidelines for what they will leave borrowers with when restructuring unsustainable debts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52185/12]

Pension Provisions

Robert Dowds

201. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance his plans to amend the financial emergency measures in the Public Interest Act 2010 to include the staff of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, Allied Irish Bank and Irish Life under the provisions of the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52259/12]

Pension Provisions

Robert Dowds

202. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide figures, in tabular form, on the amount of revenue that would be raised for the Exchequer if the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2010 was amended to include the staff of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, Allied Irish Bank and Irish Life respectively under the provisions of the Act. [52260/12]

Financial Institutions Support Scheme

Jim Daly

203. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Finance the amount received form each bank operating in the State in terms of Revenue to the Exchequer to include cost of guarantee, operating taxes, income taxes paid on behalf of staff and so on, with a view to establishing what each institution is contributing to the Exchequer for each of the past three years, for each of the institutions, itemising each tax heading individually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52275/12]

IBRC Investigations

Finian McGrath

204. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the due diligence that was undertaken before appointing Alpha Group to recover assets of the Quinn Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52284/12]

IBRC Investigations

Finian McGrath

205. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the moneys paid to the Alpha Group for the recovery of assets of the Quinn Group; the guarantees that have been given for the moneys paid up front; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52285/12]

Mortgage Interest Relief Application

Patrick O'Donovan

206. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding an application for mortgage interest relief in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford, if the application has been processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52289/12]

NAMA Operations

Eoghan Murphy

207. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the number of people that have taken up National Assets Management Agency's 80:20 deferred payment initiative scheme. [52296/12]

NAMA Investigations

Eoghan Murphy

208. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the number of investigations currently underway in National Assets Management Agency; the number of people being investigated; the reason for these investigations and the person conducting them. [52297/12]

Tax Code

John Lyons

209. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance his views on a report (details supplied) on pension tax reliefs which highlighted the extent of tax subsidisation of the pensions of higher income earners; if he has any plans to reduce the current threshold and maximum pension pot allowable for tax relief; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52308/12]

Budget 2013

Thomas P. Broughan

210. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance if he intends to factor in any possible deals or resolution of the promissory note payments into Budget 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52310/12]

Banking Sector Regulation

Thomas P. Broughan

211. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance when he expects the new EU rules on banking supervision to be implemented; if the new bank supervision system is in place in 2013, if he will factor the impact of such a development into Budget 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52312/12]

Tax Code

Regina Doherty

212. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if the relevant contract tax continues to apply to school Board of Managements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52326/12]

Tax Compliance

Maureen O'Sullivan

213. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance if he will support the introduction of country by country accounting and if he will work towards the inclusion of secrecy jurisdictions in the Council of Europe/OECD Multilateral Convention on Tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52349/12]

Tax Compliance

Maureen O'Sullivan

214. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance as per recommendations of the recent OECD/IMF/UN (2011) report, if he will carry out a spill over analysis of tax policy here to ensure that it is not negatively impacting on the revenue take of the developing countries [52350/12]

Financial Institutions Support Scheme

Heather Humphreys

215. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance the public representatives on the board of directors of AIB, Bank of Ireland, Irish Banking Resolution Corporation and Permanent TSB; the person to whom they are accountable; if they have given a report on their progress to date; their brief; their term in office; their remuneration; if they have any input into salary levels of current employees in excess of €100,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52432/12]

NAMA Operations

Pearse Doherty

216. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to the announcement by the National Asset Management Agency on 23 May 2012 in which it said that it would invest €2bn in its developments over the next four years, if he will confirm the volume and value of approved investments to date corresponding to this plan; if he will confirm the value of investment actually drawn-down from approvals to date. [52440/12]

NAMA Operations

Pearse Doherty

217. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to the announcement by the National Asset Management Agency on 23 May 2012 in which it said that it would invest €2bn in its developments over the next four years, if he will provide a schedule showing the planned investment by year in 2012, 2013 2014, 2015 and beyond; and if he will provide an overview of the control mechanism National Asset Management Agency has in place to monitor progress in meeting the planned investment. [52441/12]

NAMA Operations

Pearse Doherty

218. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to the announcement by the National Asset Management Agency on 23 May 20123 in which it said that it would invest €2bn in its developments over the next four year, if this planned investment is additional to so-called working capital and other advances made by National Asset Management Agency to developers which at February 2012 had totalled €980 million of advances and €740 million of drawndowns, and if so, if he will provide an updated tally of approved and drawn-down advances, split by region. [52442/12]

NAMA Operations

Pearse Doherty

219. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to the announcement by the National Asset Management Agency on 23 May 2012 in which it said that it would invest €2bn in its developments over the next four years, if National Asset Management Agency has been consulted to establish if legislators might be able to facilitate NAMA in delivering this planned investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52443/12]

IBRC Investigations

Pearse Doherty

220. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to a report in a national newspaper that the chief executive officer of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (details supplied) has stated in relation to a reported bid for assets under the control of Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, it is the bank's policy not to continue relations with organisations that attempt to apply pressure by threatening to make communications public; if he will confirm the number of organisations with which IBRC is not continuing relations as a result of this policy. [52444/12]

NAMA Operations

Pearse Doherty

221. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to a report in a national newspaper that the chief executive officer of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (details supplied) has stated in relation to a reported bid for assets under the control of IBRC, it is the bank's policy not to continue relations with organisations that attempt to apply pressure by threatening to make communications public, if he will confirm if the National Asset Management Agency has a similar policy, and if so, if he will confirm the number of organisations with which NAMA is not continuing relations as a result of any such similar policy. [52445/12]

NAMA Debtor Agreements

Pearse Doherty

222. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to a report in a Sunday newspaper, if he will confirm the maximum salary approved by the National Asset Management Agency at Harcourt Developments is €200,000. [52446/12]

NAMA Debtor Agreements

Pearse Doherty

223. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm the maximum annual remuneration approved by the National Asset Management Agency at any of its developers, inclusive of pension contribution, consultancy fees and allowances. [52447/12]

IBRC Investigations

Pearse Doherty

224. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an explanation for the contrast between practice at the National Asset Management Agency where salaries of their borrowers are closely monitored and practice at the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation where there is no such monitoring at all. [52448/12]

Banking Sector Remuneration

Pearse Doherty

225. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance in respect of the appointment of Mercer in June 2012 to examine pay levels across banking institutions, if he will provide the terms of reference attaching to the appointment; the timescales for the production of research or reports; if such timescales form part of the contract with Mercer, the estimated fees payable to Mercer and a copy of any associated tender document, and an overview of the cost and description of any additional resources provided by the him or his Department to Mercer to facilitate the completion of the work. [52449/12]

Banking Sector Remuneration

Pearse Doherty

226. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance in respect of the appointment of Mercer in June 2012 to examine pay levels across banking institutions, if salaries at the Central Bank of Ireland and National Asset Management Agency were included in the scope of the Mercer work when that company was appointed in June 2012. [52450/12]

EU Budget

Pearse Doherty

227. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a forecast for each of 2012 and 2013 of the State's contribution to the European Union budget and of receipts from the EU and to show if the State is forecast to be a net contributor or net beneficiary from the EU budget. [52453/12]

Bank Debt Restructuring

Pearse Doherty

228. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a total of debt write-offs, that is, where a portion of an outstanding loan to a borrower including contractually charged or accrued interest is acknowledged by the bank as unrecoverable, at the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation in each of full-year 2011 and half year of 2012 ending 30 June 2012. [52456/12]

Bank Debt Restructuring

Pearse Doherty

229. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide in a tabular form a schedule of debt write-offs at the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation in each of full-year 2011 and half year of 2012 ending 30 June 2012 showing the name of the borrower, the book value of the loan outstanding including contractually charged or accrued interest, the amount written off and the date on which the write-off was acknowledged. [52457/12]

Banks Recapitalisation

Simon Harris

230. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Finance the number of meetings officials in his Department have had with public interest directors of Irish Banks in 2011 and to date in 2012; when the next such meetings are due; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52475/12]

Universal Social Charge Payments

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

231. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Finance the reason that since 1 January 2012, workers in this State, who are resident in the north of Ireland and who hold medical cards there are no longer exempt from paying the health levy component of the universal social charge; and his plans to rectify this. [52511/12]

Universal Social Charge Payments

Thomas P. Broughan

232. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm that all State contributory and non contributory pensions are exempt from the universal social charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52525/12]

Tax Yield

Pearse Doherty

233. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the amount taken in excise duty on petrol and diesel in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. [52544/12]

Budget 2013

Thomas P. Broughan

234. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance if Budget 2013 will be subject to a process of Equality Budgeting outlining all impacts on citizens with lower incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52705/12]

Banking Operations

Pearse Doherty

235. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if as part of Irish Bank Resolution Corporation internal review of historical interest rate settings,the bank is reviewing interest rates applied to loan accounts in the UK and if IBRC has set aside money for repaying customers with loan accounts in the UK. [52731/12]

Banking Operations

Pearse Doherty

236. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he or Irish Bank Resolution Corporation are assured by the internal review of historical interest rate settings that Anglo Irish Banks Treasury Department (UK) was not overstating the London Interbank Offered Rate rate in the years under review or in any years beyond those under review. [52732/12]

Banking Operations

Pearse Doherty

237. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if as part of its internal review of historical interest rate settings, if the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation is reviewing interest rates applied to loan accounts in any jurisdiction after 2004. [52733/12]