Results 2,801-2,820 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Civil Service offices transferring to Drogheda are the headquarters of Department of Social and Family Affairs, including REACH and a section of the Department of Transport, which has recently transferred from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. The Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Brennan, is responsible for the decentralisation to Drogheda of...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (25 Jan 2006)

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 — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners to state that they have a number of programmes and activities aimed at ensuring that entities are registered for all relevant taxes and duties and everyone complies with their tax and customs responsibilities. One of the activities undertaken is a street survey. These surveys are undertaken from time to time to ensure that all entities in a particular...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that in the period since the budget announcement, the Revenue Commissioners in the Border-midlands-west, BMW, region have dealt with significant numbers of telephone enquiries, both on the lo-call 1890 number for PAYE customers and on the general telephone lines for other customers. Since 5 December 2005, the operation of the 1890 service has...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: EU Directive 2005/19/EC contains amendments to the Directive 90/434/EEC on the common system of taxation applicable to mergers, divisions, transfers of assets and exchanges of shares concerning companies of different Member States. The purpose of that directive is to provide that such transactions can be carried out on a tax neutral basis while protecting the interests of the member states....

Written Answers — Mortgage Loans: Mortgage Loans (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: My Department is not aware of any practice by financial institutions with regard to the calculation of interest charges on mortgage loans, other than those already investigated by the financial regulator, that has given rise to instances of over-charging of customers. However, where a borrower has a concern with regard to the calculation of interest or other matters relating to a mortgage...

Written Answers — Departmental Appointments: Departmental Appointments (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: Since June 1997 my Department has made some 303 appointments and reappointments, excluding ex-officio appointments, to various State boards under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Departmental Appointments: Departmental Appointments (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: There are seven vacancies on boards established under the aegis of my Department. Details in respect of these vacancies are set out in the following table. Name of Body No. of Current Vacancies Financial Services Consultative Industrial Panel 1 Financial Services Consultative Consumer Panel 1 Financial Services Ombudsman Council 1 National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission 1 ...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: The following tabular statement lists each of the 53 decentralisation locations proposed in budget 2004; the number of staff earmarked for each location in the budget 2004 statement; the number of staff who applied to move to each location via the central applications facility and categorises each location as either State owned site, site acquired, site agreed, site/property under negotiation...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: I have no plans to introduce stamp duty relief for full-time farmers over 35 years of age on the transfer of a farm from a family member. As the Deputy will be aware, the stamp duty code contains full stamp duty relief for transfers of land to young trained farmers, that is, under 35 years, where land is transferred to them by way of gift or sale, provided they have attained relevant...

Written Answers — Price Reductions: Price Reductions (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: The changes I announced in the budget — a halving of the excise rates for kerosene and LPG — were undertaken in order that consumers would benefit directly from such a move. In addition, I announced in advance that these excise rates will be reduced to zero in next year's budget. There has been some anecdotal evidence from consumers contacting my Department that prices have not fallen in...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: The end December Exchequer returns indicated that, on an Exchequer issues basis, spending in 2005 totalled €35.467 million or €2.920 million more than 2004, an increase of 9%. This was some €705 million less than provided in the Revised Estimates Volume, REV, 2005 and comprised €564 million current and €141 million capital, excluding capital carryover then estimated at €345.7...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am glad to inform the Deputy that the process for Ireland joining the Asian Development Bank, ADB, is already at an advanced stage. Our primary objective in joining the ADB is to assist in economic development of Asia. The Deputy will be aware that the Development Banks Act 2005, which was only enacted on 21 December 2005, provides for Ireland's membership of the Asian Development Bank....

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that there is disagreement between the Revenue Commissioners and the solicitor acting for the taxpayer in respect of the effect of the legal instrument drawn up in this case. Having examined the legal instrument, Revenue took the view that stamp duty was payable on the basis that the effect of the instrument was a transfer of an interest in land and...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: My Department spent €30.5 million in the period from June 1997 to the end of 2005 on consultants, legal expertise and external advice. This figure includes spending in this area by the Euro Changeover Board of Ireland and the NDP-CSF unit of my Department. As regards the number of reports, the Deputy will appreciate that not all such contracts required the production of a report. To take...

Written Answers — Performance Management and Development System: Performance Management and Development System (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: Management and unions agreed to the introduction of the performance management and development system, PMDS, in the Civil Service in General Council Report 1368 May 2000. All staff covered by the scheme have received training and the system has been functioning in my Department since its introduction. PMDS also forms an important part of the annual business planning process in my Department....

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: Section 664 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 exempts from income tax certain income from the leasing of farmland. Broadly speaking, if a farmer aged 40 years or over leases out farm land for a period of at least five years, some or all of the rent received for that land will be exempt from tax. From its inception in 1985, this legislation contained a provision — subsection (4) — that,...

Written Answers — Tourism Revenue: Tourism Revenue (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: The BMW regional assembly, as the managing authority of the BMW regional operational programme, carried out a review in early 2005 of the levels of project approvals and expenditure under the tourism measure. The review was carried out in consultation with my Department, the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and Fáilte Ireland and followed concerns about the low level of expenditure by...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: In responding to the question I will be using data for regional gross value added, GVA, for 2002 published on 23 March 2005 by the Central Statistics Office. I am assuming that this is also the data the Deputy is referring to. Gross value added represents the value of goods and services produced. The average output level in the BMW region, as measured by GVA, stood at just over 69% of the...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: The following table shows the amounts deducted from salaries of staff in my Department and in the Department of the Taoiseach in respect of superannuation and employee contributions to pay related social insurance in the years in question. The proceeds of PRSI deductions are transferred, together with the related employer contributions, to the Revenue Commissioners on a monthly basis along...