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THE MINISTER FOR Finance said no government decision has been made yet as to whether the National Assets Management Agency (NAMA) should speed up its sale of Irish assets in order to radically shorten its original ten year time-scale to work out property loans.
Speaking in Brussels, Noonan said he met with the board and management of NAMA two weeks ago in relation to the review of the operation of NAMA.
Review
He explained that under the NAMA Act a review of the agency is to be carried out this year into the operation of the agency.
He said the no decision would be made on the selling of assets until that review is complete.
“In the context of the review I want to look at various options… I haven’t made any decisions yet, but when it comes around to making decisions I want the decisions to be evidence based,” he said.
He said he has asked NAMA “to explore what would be the implications of bringing forward the sale as the market would be able to carry a big sale…”. However, he said he wanted to see the balance sheet and assess the “pros and cons” of bringing forward the sale as against leaving it to the ten year timeline.
Policy
He reiterated that no policy decision had been made yet, but a decision will be made after the review
When asked if NAMA were doing enough in relation to the rising Dublin house prices, the minister said that he would like if NAMA could assist more and perhaps assist builders to build new houses “and fill sites in desirable areas,” he said.
“NAMA is just one player, although it is a significant player,” he said, adding that it is confidence and credit that will get the market working properly again.
He said the government is concerned that the market is quite limited and that there is not a great supply.
NAMA is putting around €2 billion of loans on the market this week as part of its sell-off of its Irish portfolio.
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Why can’t the government make fruit and veg VAT free which will reduce the price of it and make it more affordable for people to eat their 5 , 7 or ten a day ?
They had no problem introducing a sugar tax , now that should make healthier choices cheaper :)
@Sean Fox: Good point, also from a freshness point of view, there shouldn’t be an impediment to selling. I presume if more people bought fruit & veg, it would strengthen the supply chain leading to fresher food. I’ve given up buying anything different because it’s always gone off when you take it home.
@Sean Fox: ahhhh now Sean ‘ they couldn’t do that ‘ it makes too much sense
@Sean Fox: Most food is zero Vat already Sean, see link to Revenue guidance below. https://www.revenue.ie/en/vat/vat-rates/search-vat-rates/F/fruit-food-and-drink-.aspx
@Sean Fox: like most food, fruit and veg is already VAT free.
@Sean Fox: what planet are you on ,there has never been vat on fruit or veg
@Margaret Deacon: What is really scary is that 180 have given a like to Sean’s comment even though it’s 100% false.
@Denis Ryan: It doesn’t matter if there is VAT / NO VAT on fruit & veg
My point is that if they were cheaper to buy then people would be inclined to buy more of them
The government introduced a sugar tax and from tomorrow alcohol is going to increase in price so why not introduce a price reduction for buying healthier foods ?
@Sean Fox: A lot of fruit n veg is a loss leader for supermarkets, so sold below cost. Classic example is the super 6 in Aldi, veg at 49 cents last week for example, not sure what more the government can do without going into the “nanny state” role, maybe increase communication and adverts (which they have with safe food already)?? I know from raising kids the hse give out great books on healthy eating for families, it takes a bit more time to cook fresher but it’s worth it. Maybe people need to take more responsibility ourselves and not just blame the Government, they aren’t a great bunch but on this I think they can’t do too much more!!
@Denis Ryan: it was at 40 when I posted my comment so why it increases 4 fold since I don’t really know!!
@Stephen Bryan: It’s mental, blame the government for everything even if you have your facts wrong. Double down if someone calls you out on it. I despair with this thinking, it leads to situations like Trump, Boris and Brexit.
@Sean Fox: just bought 3 lemons, sweet potato and a net of onions all 49 cent each today in Dunnes, can’t cheaper than that.
Tomorrow’s dinner will be Taaaasty!
@Sean Fox: To the best of my knowledge vegetables are vat free.
I’m not sure about fruit, especially the exotic imported fruit.
@Sean Fox: Fruit and veg is cheap to buy. you can hardly expect the farmers to do back breaking work at a deficit cos you either dont want to shop around or cook from scratch.
@Siobhán Breen Malone:
If you read my post again I never suggested that the farmer takes the hit , I’m saying the government can do something to reduce the price of healthier foods , they had no problem increasing alcohol prices and introducing a sugar tax now they should reduce the price of healthier foods like fruit & veg
The updated Food Pyramid is out a few years and has a minimum of 7 fruit and veg a day. Whoever did this poll must have missed that news
@Ger Power: isn’t carbohydrates at the bottom of the food triangle now with fruit and veg above it. I might be wrong though
Varies wildly for me on a daily basis… I associate fruit and salad with summer so rarely eat them in winter… but if potatoes in crisp form count then I’m winning!
@Nameo Maximus: soups and veg stews / veg tagines / other hearty veg recipes should be the winter way for us, amazing, tasty recipes out there right now and meat should no longer be the centre point of any meal.
Fire it into your porridge in the morning, pear, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries. Easy.
Define portion, because 10 portions is excessive for any one day for most.
@Paul Cunningham: If you include 2-3 portions (Google it because it’s different when veg is cooked) with each meal that gives you 6. Then add a couple of snacks of fruit/veg. The problem is that it involves changing what we perceive a meal to consist of so education and a desire to change are required. Personally speaking, my physical and mental health has never been better since I vastly increased my veg intake.
@Eleanor Jordan O’Farrell: Stop with that sensible talk on here
If I eat any fruit it spikes my glucose levels as I have type2 diabetes … I want to eat more .Love fruit.
I read somewhere that we’re meant to get 7 a day, but they didn’t think that they could convince us to take that much fruit.
Are potatoes counted as a veg. I know that may be a bit obvious but sometimes it’s a simple carb.
@Sean McCarthy: No, unfortunately they’re not. Their considered starch so don’t count towards it.
I eat no fruit (allergies) very little veg. Am 74 and healthy apart from knee problems. 66 kilos. Take No medication. I suppose I am the exception that proves the rule.
There is 0% tax on food
I thought this was a marketing advert for a company in america many years ago with no scientific basis and it just caught on
@Niamh Concannon: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20858809.amp
Surely the vast majority of what we eat should be fruit and vegetables?
I know if I go a few days not eating mainly plants, my energy levels and clarity of thinking drop way off.
Meat is a treat. Too much Bread is pure stodgy.
Not even close. I end up throwing it away before I can use it.
My new years resolution was to stop thinking about the short term , stop worrying and reduce stress – but im up to 90 wondering will i be able to make it til friday and meet the bills – so that went well eh !
I get my 10 a day hahahahah
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