Tag Archives: Michael Noonan

A day after Enda Kenny stepped down as leader of Fine Gael, the Minister for Finance Michael Noonan has announced that he will not be contesting the next General Election. A TD for Limerick City, Mr Noonan’s constituency exends into a small area of South East Clare. He is a former leader of Fine Gael. Labour TD Jan O’Sullivan, has paid tribute to her constituency colleague, saying, “Michael Noonan will be remembered for his contribution to the economic recovery of this country as Minister for Finance, working alongside Brendan Howlin as Minister for Public Expenditure. “He has also made a substantial contribution to Limerick, and as minister I found him to be a constructive and supportive colleague in Cabinet. Concluding, Deputy O’Sullivan said, “We worked together on many issues that matter to Limerick and its people over the years, and I wish Michael well in the future.”

Payment of VAT on graves in newly developed graveyards is an unfair imposition on hard pressed communities, Clare Independent TD Dr Michael Harty maintains. The Minister for Finance Michael Noonan has told Deputy Harty that while the provision of services by an undertaker is exempt from VAT, the exemption does not extend to the supply of graves. However, the minister, in a written reply to a parliamentary question, said the supply of a grave in a graveyard that is more than five years old is also exempt from VAT but the supply of a grave in a newly developed graveyard is liable to a VAT rate of 13.5%. Minister Noonan added that the operator of a newly developed graveyard is entitled to VAT deductibility on their development costs as well as ongoing maintenance costs during the period where VAT is applied to the supply of graves. “I don’t understand,” said Dr. Harty, “ why graveyards over five years old are …

AN award-winning €2.5m sports and recreation facility at Clarisford Park, Killaloe, is in the running for another award. Officially opened by Finance Minister, Michael Noonan last September, Clarisford Park has been confirmed as a finalist in the Best Public Park Category at the 2017 Community and Council Awards, presented by IPB Insurance and LAMA. It has been shortlised alongside St Catherine’s Park, Lucan; Mungret Park and Playground, Limerick and Tramore Valley Park, Cork. The Community and Council Awards highlight and recognise communities and councils working together, bringing national recognition to projects and developments that may otherwise go unrecognised. Town, borough, city and county councillors nominate projects across 20 categories that demonstrate the work implemented through unique projects that enhance their local area for the good of the community. Once a project is nominated, the individual(s) associated with the nominated project or initiative are contacted and given the opportunity to submit an entry. The category winners for 2017 will be announced …

A collaboration between a Limerick college and private hospital marks a milestone in medical training available in the Mid-West. The initiative by Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) and Barrington’s Hospital, launched by Minister for Finance Michael Noonan and Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan, will see students being educated in specialised medical technology in Limerick for the first time. The partnership between the two Limerick institutions sees a new cutting edge BSc programme being delivered, which will address an emerging skills gap in medical technology. Under the terms of the memorandum of understanding between the institute and the hospital, core elements of education will be delivered by LIT in Barrington’s, using of state-of-the-art medical technology. Dr Maria Hinfelaar, president of LIT said, “This partnership with Barrington’s Hospital is very exciting for LIT. Students on the new BSc in Medical Technology programme are not only being equipped for careers in an emerging sector that is critical to the delivery of medicine in the …

Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang touched down at Shannon Airport this afternoon, where he was met by Finance Minister Michael Noonan and Shannon Group officials. Speaking shortly after welcoming him, Mr Noonan said,”It’s a very important visit. The Chinese Prime Minister is on his way to an extensive visit of South America where he is visiting four countries. We’re very pleased that as part of that trip they decided to stop over in Ireland and I’m particularly pleased that the stop over is in Shannon. Premier Li is the second most powerful man in China, President Xi Jinping when he visited Ireland also came to Shannon and he concentrated on this part of the country. There’s no doubt for historic reasons they have a particular interest in the Shannon Region, in Clare and in the west of Ireland.” There was a significant Garda presence at Shannon as the Chinese Premier arrived and there will also be a major security operation …

Peter O’Connell DONALD J Trump and his family touched down in Shannon airport on Monday morning. The visit represents the billionaire owner of Trump International Golf Links Ireland first visit to the county since his €15 purchase of Doonbeg Golf Club earlier this year. Accompanied, on a private jet, by his sons Donald Junior and Eric and daughter Ivanka, Mr Trump said that his company would “double or triple” their initial outlay in Doonbeg, while he also said that the company would create “many hundreds of jobs.” Healso  confirmed that his company has been in touch with the European Tour, regarding the possibility of The Irish Open being stated in Doonbeg. Stating that remedial and improvement work on the golf course would be largely completed within 90 days, Mr Trump said that Clare County Council and Mayor of Clare Joe Arkins had “killed,” wind farm plans for the area. Both Clare County Manager Tom Coughlan and Councillor Arkins were amongst the …

FINANCE Minister Michael Noonan has confirmed that additional funding will be made available to deal with the aftermath of flooding due to the Catherine and Bridget storms. Speaking in Limerick this Monday afternoon, where he viewed flood damage,  he said he expected that the scale of devastation caused in recent weeks would mean that more money would be needed from central Government. Mr Noonan said the funding would come from the national budget and that the amounts required would be affordable in the overall national context. Individual local authorities are estimating the cost of damage and then when the overall Minister of State for the Office of Public Works Brian Hayes said a full assessment of the damage in western counties in January was due this week and a memo would be brought before a Cabinet meeting next week.