Results 2,961-2,980 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 303 and 304 together. I wrote to my ministerial colleagues on 20 October 2005 enclosing a copy of my address of the same date to the Dublin Chamber of Commerce and requesting them to ensure that their Departments take all necessary steps to implement measures set out in my address. My Department issued a circular letter to all Departments on 25 January...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (21 Feb 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 scheme...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (21 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: My Department has been informed by the Registrar of Credit Unions that he is continuing his review of the appropriate investment framework for credit unions, in consultation with the representative bodies for credit unions. Once submitted to my Department, the registrar's recommendations on a revised investment framework for credit unions will be examined by the Credit Union Advisory...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the refund has been approved in this case and will issue shortly. A further repayment has also been approved in respect of an additional claim for medical expenses and will issue shortly. The Revenue Commissioners regret the delay in issuing these refunds which was due to increased end of year volumes.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (21 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the Office of Public Works has identified a suitable property solution for the accommodation of 50 Revenue staff due to decentralise to Listowel. The indicative timeframe for the provision of the building is the last quarter of 2006. The movement of staff to Listowel will be commenced by the Revenue Commissioners as soon as the building is available.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (21 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: To date, there are 22 locations where the total number of applicants on the central applications facility exceeds the number of posts on offer. I draw the Deputy's attention to the fact that the position is not static as applicants may opt to change preferences at any stage during the transition phase. He will be aware also that there may not be a precise grade match in each case between...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (21 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: It is not my Department's normal practice to make statements on current or former members of staff of the Department. However, my Department was engaged in extended personal correspondence over the period 1988 to 1997 with the person referred to and, on occasion, by her legal advisers. There have also been a number of parliamentary questions in recent years concerning this person and 20...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (21 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: The details of the number of posts decentralising under the programme of decentralisation announced by the Government in December 2003 are published on the central application facility at www.publicjobs.ie. For my Department and bodies under its aegis, the locations, number of posts decentralising, the number of staff within the decentralising business units who have chosen to decentralise...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (21 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: The decentralisation implementation group met on 22 occasions during 2005 and to date in 2006. The dates of its meetings are set out in the following table. 2005 February 3, 17 March 24 April 12, 21 28 May 4, 10, 20 June 2 July 7, 28 October 7, 13, 19, 28 November 10, 29 December 6 2006 January 17 February 2, 15.

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (22 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: Under the codes of conduct issued by the financial regulator, which applies to all investment firms and stockbrokers, firms are required to disclose in advance to all clients or potential clients, the basis on which their fees are calculated. Any alteration to this basis for calculation must also be disclosed to clients. As part of their contract with investment firms, clients would have to...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (22 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: Reducing the minimum threshold at which donations qualify for tax relief under the terms of the donations scheme from €250 to €100, as the Deputy has proposed, would significantly increase the current cost of the scheme to the Exchequer. A recent study by Irish Charities Tax Research Limited indicated that the introduction of such a measure would approximately double the cost of the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (22 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I should explain that charities and non-profit organisations are exempt from VAT under the sixth VAT directive with which Irish law must comply. As such, they do not charge VAT on their services and cannot recover VAT on goods and services which they purchase. Essentially only VAT registered businesses which charge VAT are able to recover VAT. Refund orders, of the kind put forward by the...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (22 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that section 780 of the Taxes Consolidation Act provides for a tax charge on refunds of employee-pension contributions. The rate of tax is the standard rate, which currently is 20%, in force at the time of payment. A refund of employee contributions may only be made if the employee is leaving the employment and has less than two years service. The...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (22 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: Under the decentralisation programme announced by Government in December 2003, there are 131 staff of my Department due to decentralise to Tullamore from July 2006 and 33 staff due to decentralise to Kildare. The number of civil servants who have moved to my Department pending transfer and the number of staff in my Department who have chosen to move are as follows: Tullamore Kildare ...

Written Answers — Customs and Excise: Customs and Excise (23 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the threat to tax receipts posed by illegal sales of untaxed alcohol products is not currently at such a level as to warrant the introduction of tax stamps. Following detections by Revenue Commissioners' officers, a number of publicans have been successfully prosecuted for such offences in the last few years. However, there is no evidence that...

Tax Yield. (28 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: The assumptions underpinning the forecasts for capital taxes are based on the economic growth estimates in the stability programme update, which is published on budget day. These estimates include GNP growth forecasts, projected changes in consumer prices and developments in the construction sector. The methodology for forecasting receipts from capital taxes in 2006 first required my...

Tax Yield. (28 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: It is not putting a burden on ordinary taxpayers but is ensuring that capital taxes, given that there are low rates of income tax, are making a far better contribution than we expected. Sustained buoyancy in the property market in 2005, which is behind the excess yields in stamp duties, and capital gains taxes defied expectations. The Department of Finance, in common with most other...

Tax Yield. (28 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: No. In contrast, the relatively smaller tax headings, which are the subject of the question, that is, capital taxes, stamp duties and customs, represented about 10% of targeted revenues in 2005 and they accounted for 13% of tax revenues collected. The excesses in these tax headings account for 70% of the total excess in tax revenues in 2005, due mainly to the continuing strength of the...

Tax Yield. (28 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I know. I am explaining——

Tax Yield. (28 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am putting it in context.