Results 2,741-2,760 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (13 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the person's tax credits have been amended to reflect his contributions to his retirement annuity contract and that his employer has been advised accordingly.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (13 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that based on their contacts with the Ombudsman's office a large numbers of complaints have not been made to that office regarding accessibility to Revenue by PAYE workers. Up to 14 November 2005 Revenue's lo-call number for the Dublin region — 1890 33 34 25 — was manned by approximately 38 operators between 9.15 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. During...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (13 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: I have appointed two additional members to the board of the National Development Finance Agency. The appointments are on an interim non-statutory basis in the first instance, pending amendment of the National Development Finance Agency Act 2002. The additional board members are Mr. Fred Barry, the chief executive of the National Roads Authority, and Mr. Stewart Harrington, chartered surveyor,...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (13 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: I do not propose to introduce measures along the lines suggested by the Deputy. The Revenue Commissioners have a very clear focus on ensuring and facilitating timely payment compliance. I am advised by Revenue that notwithstanding this focus it is unusual for taxpayers to seek a facility for payment of tax in advance of when it is due. The facility exists for taxpayers to make payment by...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (13 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that, as regards educational courses in countries which are not members of the European Union, income tax relief on tuition fees is available only in respect of approved postgraduate courses, that is, only where the participant already has a primary degree or equivalent qualification. An approved postgraduate course is one that is carried out in an...

Written Answers — National Household Survey: National Household Survey (13 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: The most recent data available from the CSO, collected as part of the quarterly national household survey, regarding working days lost as a result of injury or illness relates to the first quarter of 2004. The data for Q1 2004 shows that the total number of days lost was 1,374,813. This compares with 1,286,100 in Q1 2003 and 1,441,000 in Q1 2002. A breakdown of these figures across illness...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (13 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: I presume the Deputy is referring to the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) scheme that provides relief from VAT and VRT on the purchase of a car adapted for the transport of a person with certain disabilities, as well as relief from excise on the fuel used in the car up to a certain limit. The disability criteria for eligibility for the tax concessions under this...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (13 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: I assume the Deputy is referring to the management of operational risks associated with computer systems used by financial institutions. Financial institutions must cope with a range of operational risks relating to failure in systems due to accidental or deliberate causes, both natural and man-made. Appropriate contingency planning in respect of those risks is a matter for the institutions...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (13 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 237, 252 and 253 together. Irish legislation on money laundering is set out in the Criminal Justice Act 1994, as amended. Primary responsibility for legislation in this area rests with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. This legislation and relevant regulations made by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform implemented the EU money...

Written Answers — Price Inflation: Price Inflation (13 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 239 together. The director general of the Central Statistics Office, CSO, has sole responsibility for and is independent in deciding the statistical methodology and professional standards to be used in compiling the consumer price index, CPI. The CPI is designed to measure the change in the average level of the prices paid by consumers for goods and...

Written Answers — National Debt: National Debt (13 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the National Treasury Management Agency that the national debt at end-November 2005 amounted to €34.7 billion. This reflects the surplus of €2.96 billion on the budget shown in the Exchequer returns for end-November. The projected end-year outturn for 2005 as published in budget 2006 is for a deficit of €852 million for the year.

Written Answers — National Debt: National Debt (13 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: It is estimated that in 2006 there will be a deficit on the Exchequer account, an Exchequer borrowing requirement, of €2,927 million. This is the figure for the Exchequer balance shown in the summary table for the 2006 post-budget estimate in budget 2006.

Written Answers — Price Inflation: Price Inflation (13 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am not clear as to what difficulties the Deputy is referring in his question. As regards inflation, the director general of the Central Statistics Office has sole responsibility for and is independent in deciding the statistical methodology and professional standards to be used in compiling the consumer price index, CPI. The CPI is designed to measure the change in the average level of the...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (13 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: A special interdepartmental review group reviewed the operation of the disabled drivers scheme. The terms of reference of the group were to examine the operation of the existing scheme, including the difficulties experienced by the various groups and individuals involved with it, and to consider the feasibility of alternative schemes, with a view to assisting the Minister for Finance in...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: The decentralisation implementation group has set out a phased approach to the implementation of the programme with the first early movers due to relocate during 2006. A small number of organisations have initiated advance moves to their new locations during 2005. To date 150 people have decentralised to five provincial locations as follows: Department of Agriculture and Food to Portlaoise;...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: In the context of the decentralisation programme, one firm of consultants was used in 2005. Fitzpatrick Associates prepared a report entitled Securing Maximum Positive Benefit for Local Communities from the Public Service Decentralisation Programme. The total cost was €49,489. In 2004, Deloitte & Touche conducted a financial assessment of decentralisation costs and savings in 2004. The...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: I refer the Deputy to the decentralisation implementation group's June 2005 report. It contains details of the indicative construction completion dates for most of the decentralisation projects. Based on this report, the major part of the programme is due to be completed by end 2009. In line with the decentralisation implementation group's approach, the phasing of the programme will continue...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (13 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994 provide for the scheme. Since those regulations there have been no changes to the limits of tax repayable for drivers, family members of disabled passengers, and organisations providing services to disabled. The limits are as set out below: Driver: A maximum repayment of VRT and VAT of €9,525; repayment of...

Written Answers — Special Savings Incentive Scheme: Special Savings Incentive Scheme (13 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am not aware of widespread occurrences of the problem raised by the Deputy. A statutory exemption allowing for the paying out of funds from a deceased person's account, other than a joint account, without probate or prior nomination of the beneficiary is available only to one type of financial services provider. Any such payment is at the discretion of the institutions concerned who must...

Written Answers — Public Service Staff: Public Service Staff (14 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: Information on the main Civil Service rates of pay is contained in Department of Finance Circular 34/2005, which is published on the Department's website www.finance.gov.ie under "Civil-Public Service Information — Circulars". Details of other individual grades are available on request. Information on the rates of pay of staff of specific non-commercial State-sponsored bodies or North-South...