Results 1,981-2,000 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen
- Written Answers — Oil Prices: Oil Prices (5 Oct 2005)
Brian Cowen: My Department does not forecast oil prices. However, the World Economic Outlook published by the IMF in September projected that oil prices would average $61.75 next year, compared to an average of $54.23 this year.
- Written Answers — Infrastructural Development: Infrastructural Development (5 Oct 2005)
Brian Cowen: I understand that the Deputy is referring to the output gained under the local infrastructure priority of the regional programme. For the period January 2000 to December 2004, some â¬1.63 billion was spent on this priority under the southern and eastern regional operation programme. This represented some 95% of the original expenditure profile for the priority. Funding under this element of...
- Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Oct 2005)
Brian Cowen: The central applications facility received over 9,000 applications for decentralisation up to the closing date for priority applications which was 7 September 2004. Since that date, a steady stream of new applications have been received. At the start of the summer the figure for post 7 September 2004 new applicants was 750. This figure has risen to 1,300 over the last three months following...
- Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Oct 2005)
Brian Cowen: The Revenue Commissioners' study, Effective tax rates of the Top 400 earners: Report for the Tax Year 2001, was published by my Department in March of this year. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that a study of the effective tax rates of the top 400 earners in 2002 is close to completion and will be published in the normal course.
- Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Oct 2005)
Brian Cowen: As part of the decentralisation programme it is intended that 210 posts of Ordnance Survey Ireland, OSI, will decentralise to Dungarvan, County Waterford. Initial data from the central applications facility indicates that while 15 staff of OSI have applied to decentralise to Dungarvan, there are a further 47 expressions of interest in decentralising to Dungarvan OSI by civil servants. All...
- Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (5 Oct 2005)
Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 152 together. The responsibility of my Department is to ensure that resources are made available to meet the Government's priorities and to secure full drawdown of Ireland's allocation of structural funds. To date, the level of Exchequer resources made available under the NDP has been greater than originally profiled. Significant progress continues to...
- Written Answers — Oil Prices: Oil Prices (5 Oct 2005)
Brian Cowen: My Department does not forecast oil prices. However, the World Economic Outlook published by the IMF in September projected that oil prices would average $61.75 next year, compared to an average of $54.23 this year. The profile of oil prices this year has been of a gradual increase during the year. A sharp spike in oil prices was recorded in August and September, although this has...
- Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (5 Oct 2005)
Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that arising from the Clerical Medical Insurance-NIB inquiry, 465 cases have been targeted for investigation. To date, 302 cases have been settled on payment of tax, interest and penalties amounting to a total of â¬51.82 million. A further 117 cases have been finalised with no additional liability arising. The remaining 46 cases are the subject of...
- Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (5 Oct 2005)
Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that their Ansbacher review team has been carrying out detailed investigations since October 1999. The investigation has essentially two elements. There are Ansbacher type arrangements and there are other cases involving offshore funds and deposits. Revenue has advised that the review team has inquired into 289 cases to date and 147 of these cases...
- Written Answers — Special Savings Incentive Scheme: Special Savings Incentive Scheme (5 Oct 2005)
Brian Cowen: The SSIA scheme opened on 1 May 2001 and entry to it closed on 30 April 2002. The accounts are due to mature between May 2006 and April 2007 at the end of the five year period. A total of 1.17 million accounts were opened during the period outlined. The specific goal of the SSIA scheme was to encourage people to save over a period of at least five years. Its effect has been to stimulate such...
- Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (5 Oct 2005)
Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they are conducting their investigation into the use by taxpayers of life assurance investment products for the purposes of tax evasion in two stages. In the first stage of these inquiries taxpayers, who invested undisclosed and undeclared funds in life assurance products were given until 23 May 2005 to advise Revenue about their problem. This...
- Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Oct 2005)
Brian Cowen: I have no plans to introduce a tax on second homes. If any such proposal were to be made it would be necessary to consider the possible impact not only on the demand for such houses but also on the supply of new residences and on employment and output in the construction sector generally. The history of taxation intervention in the residential property market over the past ten years has shown...
- Written Answers — EU Summits: EU Summits (5 Oct 2005)
Brian Cowen: I attended the informal ECOFIN Council meeting in Manchester on 9 and 10 September. This meeting was attended by ministers for finance and governors of central banks of all 25 EU member states and of Bulgaria and Romania. As you will be aware, no formal decisions are adopted at informal ECOFIN Council meetings but a useful and informative exchange of views took place on a number of issues,...
- Written Answers — Oil Prices: Oil Prices (5 Oct 2005)
Brian Cowen: I can assure the Deputy that I am aware of the impact of higher diesel prices on freight costs for Irish producers. Fuel prices are driven by a number of factors, including the price of oil on international markets, exchange rates, production costs and refining costs. The rise in oil prices over recent periods reflected additional factors such as geopolitical uncertainty, supply disruptions...
- Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (5 Oct 2005)
Brian Cowen: There are currently four EU directives for which my Department has responsibility which have to be implemented before their relevant deadlines. In addition, there are a further three EU directives which, despite being fully implemented by Ireland, still appear on the EU Commission's list of outstanding directives. The Commission has been informed of this position. We await notification from...
- Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Oct 2005)
Brian Cowen: The latest figures from the central applications facility show there is very substantial interest in the programme. During the period for priority applications up to 7 September 2004, approximately 9,000 applications were made. Over 8,000 of these were from civil servants with the balance made up of applications from public servants. Of these 4,813 were from civil and public servants, 4,236...
- Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Oct 2005)
Brian Cowen: From the outset both the Government and I have made it clear that participation in the decentralisation programme is voluntary. Because of the nature of the programme it is not possible at this stage to estimate the number of public servants who do not wish to relocate as individual circumstances are open to change and therefore figures can fluctuate. The picture will become clearer over the...
- Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Oct 2005)
Brian Cowen: Tonnage tax was introduced here in the 2002 Finance Act to help the Irish shipping sector. Tonnage tax now applies in most maritime EU member states and it is encouraged by the EU Commission as a means of retaining shipping business in the EU. The operation of this tax is at present being reviewed by my Department, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and The Department of Communications,...
- Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (5 Oct 2005)
Brian Cowen: As the Deputy may be aware, I have issued a press statement regarding the end-September Exchequer returns, which is available on my Department's website. The results to the end of the third quarter indicate that the public finances remain in a sound position. Tax revenue, at â¬26,440, million is â¬1 billion ahead of profile at end September. Year on year tax receipts were up 7.5% compared...
- Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Oct 2005)
Brian Cowen: The programme of decentralisation will be implemented through the transfer of staff on a voluntary basis. There will be no redundancies and, as on previous occasions, the payment of removal or relocation expenses will not arise. Consultations are being held with the public service unions on an ongoing basis to address the concerns of all staff affected by the programme.