Press Releases

The Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan T.D., today appointed Dr. Alan Ahearne as a member of the Central Bank Commission. Dr. Ahearne's appointment is for a period of four years. The Minister said: Dr. Ahearne is exceptionally well qualified to serve on the Central Bank Commission and I have no doubt that his appointment to the Commission will prove invaluable in the coming months and years.

Last December, the media reported that Bank of Ireland had paid a substantial bonus last year to a senior manager. The Bank had repeatedly told the Department of Finance that no performance related bonuses had been paid to senior management. The Minister relied on this incorrect information in his replies to Parliamentary Questions about bank bonuses.

The Minister for Finance, Mr Brian Lenihan TD, today welcomed the recent report of the Independent Review Panel, chaired by Mr Rob Wright: Strengthening the Capacity of the Department of Finance. The Minister appointed the Review Panel to assess the Department's performance over the past 10 years and, based on the lessons drawn from that assessment, to make recommendations for the future development, structure and resourcing of the Department.

Following an application by the Minister for Finance earlier today, the High Court has issued two Transfer Orders under Part 5 of the Credit Institutions Act 2010 for the immediate transfer of the deposit books and corresponding assets of Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Limited and Irish Nationwide Building Society to Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. (AIB) and ILP

Minister for Finance welcomes Ireland's ranking at the top of the European Commission's eGovernment Benchmarks. The Minister for Finance, Mr Brian Lenihan, today welcomed the publication of the results of the 9th European Commission eGovernment Benchmarking exercise, Digitising Public Services in Europe: Putting ambition into action.The report shows that Ireland is now ranked 1st in Europe for the provision and sophistication of online services to businesses and citizens,

The Minister for Finance, Mr. Brian Lenihan T.D., welcomed the announcement of a payment by Bank of Ireland to the National Pensions Reserve Fund (NPRF) of 214.5 million. He stated: "I welcome Bank of Ireland's intention to pay 214.5 million of cash to the State. This payment is in return for the States investment in the Bank and is a very welcome return to the National Pension Reserve Fund."

Publication of 2011 Revised Estimates for Public Services. The 2011 Revised Estimates for Public Services were placed in the Dail Eireann library today.The Revised Estimates Volume (REV) gives a fuller, more detailed breakdown of spending by each department and Vote than the spending totals announced on Budget Day. The REV also gives the provisional outturn for spending in 2010.The Estimates for a number of Votes have been restructured on a Strategic Programme basis,

Minister for Finance welcomes Credit Review Office latest report which shows a continued improvement in lending to SME sectorLending to small firms by the country's two main banks is continuing to improve, according to the third quarterly report from the Credit Review Office (CRO) published today.The Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan, on welcoming the report stated: “The report shows encouraging signs that lending to the essential SME sector continues to improve. This Government highlighted

Minister of Finance, Mr. Brian Lenihan, welcomes the publication of the IMF's Report on the IMF's Interim Review of the Extended Arrangement for Ireland under the Emergency Financing Mechanism. The Minister of Finance, Mr. Brian Lenihan, welcomed the publication today (9 February 2011) by the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) of the Staff Report of the Interim Review of the Extended Arrangement for Ireland. Today's IMF Staff Report outlines the recent developments in

Recapitalisations of AIB, Bank of Ireland and EBS The Minister for Finance today announced that the Government is postponing further capital injections in Allied Irish Banks, Bank of Ireland and the Educational Building Society until after the upcoming election on February 25. The Government is doing so to allow the election to take place before the necessary injections are made by a newly elected Government. Under the EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support, the Irish authorities agreed to

Following an application by the Minister for Finance earlier today, the High Court has issued two Direction Orders in relation to Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Limited (Anglo) and Irish Nationwide Building Society (INBS) under Part 2 of the Credit Institutions (Stabilisation) Act 2010.

FAQ Anglo INBS

Direction Order in relation to Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide Building Society under the Credit Institutions (Stabilisation) Act 2010

The Minister of State for Public Service Transformation, Dara Calleary T.D., today launched the website of the Implementation Body of the Croke Park Agreement. The Minister stated: The Croke Park Agreement has ensured that public services have been maintained and in some cases expanded despite very significant reductions in pay and resources. In cooperating with the Croke Park Agreement, the Government recognises that public servants have put the interests of citizens first.

The Minister for Finance, Mr. Brian Lenihan TD, welcomes the publication of the peer review report of Ireland by the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes. The report reviews, under a number of different headings, the legal framework and mechanisms in place in Ireland to ensure effective international cooperation in tax matters.

The Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan T.D. today published the Finance Bill 2011 which gives effect to the taxation measures announced in last December's Budget