Results 2,241-2,260 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: The public private partnership unit in my Department has been in place since 1999. The information requested is set out in the following table: 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 No. of staff in Unit 1 4.67 6.0 9.25 8.67 8.55 6.45 7.55 The number of staff is expressed in terms of whole time equivalent numbers, as the staffing composition during the course of any particular...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (8 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy will be aware, in the 2005 budget I announced a special one-off stamp duty relief relating to an exchange of farm land between two farmers for the purposes of consolidating each farmer's holding. This new relief means that no stamp duty will be charged on an exchange of such lands where the lands are of equal value. In a case where the lands exchanged are not of equal value,...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (8 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: The position is that the calculation of the farmers' flat rate is governed by EU VAT law and is based on the relevant macro-economic data for the farming sector for the preceding three years. The purpose of the flat rate addition is to compensate unregistered farmers for VAT which they incur on their business inputs. The flat rate addition is not there to provide any form of income support to...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (8 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: Appointments to statutory boards under the aegis of my Department are in the first instance subject to the relevant legislation governing the establishment of the board. In considering a person's suitability for appointment to such boards I must satisfy myself they have the necessary skills and expertise to discharge the functions of that particular board. Information is not held concerning...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (8 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: The costs of the sitting tribunals are met by the following Votes: Tribunals Votes Moriarty Taoiseach's Mahon Environment, Heritage and Local Government Morris Justice, Equality and Law Reform Barr Justice, Equality and Law Reform Smithwick Justice, Equality and Law Reform Questions relating to the costs of the individual tribunals should be appropriately...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (8 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: Policy in respect of the promotion or development of biofuels is primarily a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. However, I acknowledge that tax can play a role in the promotion of biofuels and in this regard the Deputy is aware that there is the current duty exemption scheme for pilot projects in the biofuels area. The number of...

Budgetary Process. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I have been examining proposals for reform of the Estimates and budgetary process in conjunction with my Government colleagues on foot of my budget 2005 announcement that I intended to consider options for reform in this regard. These deliberations are still ongoing and I will also take into account the recent Committee of Public Accounts report. As I indicated in my reply to a previous...

Budgetary Process. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I hope to make an announcement in the budget on the ongoing reform process I have in mind. My initial reply outlined a number of issues that must be borne in mind in the context of reform. We have obligations such as reporting to the EU and so on, and I referred to the question of timing. The PAC report, which is short but which contains annexes by Deputy Rabbitte and others, mentions the...

Budgetary Process. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: In his reporting powers the Comptroller and Auditor General can make any recommendations to the committee, which will subsequently be communicated to Ministers and responded to by Ministers if they so wish.

Budgetary Process. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: Ministers make decisions under legislative authority and the authority of this House. That is their constitutional duty and no one else has this duty. Those in other roles can make recommendations but Government makes decisions and is held accountable for these. This may involve disagreement among people. Deputy Bruton seems to indicate that others should determine what are the Government's...

Budgetary Process. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I do not subscribe to the idea that budget day is irrelevant. One sets out a summary of budget proposals and the total Government revenue and expenditure for the following year. It is very important. The idea that we should reform because budget day does not mean anything might correspond to a popular myth but the budget is an important process.

Tax Code. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I refer the Deputy to tabular data provided in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 531 on 28 September 2005. This remains the most up-to-date information available. The data indicates that for 2005 only one third of earners will be on the higher rate of tax, while almost 31% are on the standard rate and almost 36% are exempt. The 80% target in An Agreed Programme for Government was set in the...

Tax Code. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: There is significant tax justice for lower paid income earners since this Government came into office. When Deputy Quinn was Minister for Finance one in four workers were exempt from the tax net on much lower income. More than one in three workers is now exempt from tax and this occurs in the context of an extra 500,000 people at work. The number of people exempt from tax has doubled. If I...

Tax Code. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: According to the Deputy's view of the world——

Tax Code. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: Statistics can be used for any purpose but the reality is that an extra 500,000 people are working and there is an increase in the number of people who no longer pay tax. More people pay at the 20% rate than before. If the Deputy wishes to make the comparison between how workers fare under the tax policies of this Government and the policies when Deputy Quinn was Minister for Finance, we can...

Fiscal Policy. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: The role of Government on credit growth and associated indebtedness has a number of distinct dimensions. First, it is important to note that, as far as overall economic and financial stability are concerned, the relevant measure of credit encompasses both public and private sector credit and debt levels. The Minister for Finance has a key role in this regard in ensuring prudent management of...

Fiscal Policy. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Central Bank's recently published Financial Stability Report concludes that a range of fundamental factors, such as growing employment and incomes, falling inflation and low interest rates, have supported the pattern of mortgage growth and associated debt levels in the economy. The report, however, emphasises the importance of responsible behaviour by both borrowers and lenders to factor...

Fiscal Policy. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I have indicated to the Deputy that prudential issues in the market situation in which we find ourselves are a matter for individuals, banks and other financial institutions. Having examined the full economic picture, the Central Bank made the point that the Irish banking system is in a stable, sound position for the reasons I cited — demographics, income capacity and the supply side in...

Decentralisation Programme. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: When the Government's decentralisation programme was first announced, it was stated that the overall objective would be to ensure that property acquired at regional level would be matched as closely as possible, both in time and in cost terms, by the disposal of property currently held in the Dublin region, whether held on lease or otherwise. In November 2004, the decentralisation...

Decentralisation Programme. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I do not know from where the Deputy plucked his costs. If I had the details of his assumptions, I could give him a detailed answer.