Results 3,261-3,280 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (28 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: The responsibility for general policy and legislation relating to pyramid selling schemes is a matter, in the first instance, for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. As regards taxation, I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that they are currently examining a particular pyramid selling scheme. The tax implications for those investing in a pyramid selling scheme will...

Written Answers — Price Inflation: Price Inflation (28 Mar 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. The excise tax reductions should ensure that the price of kerosene is approximately €16 per 1,000 litres...

Written Answers — Government Publications: Government Publications (28 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: The printing cost per 1,000 of the Constitution of Ireland is €1,249.60, exclusive of VAT.

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (28 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Government is mindful of the fundamental importance of the Easter Rising of 1916 to the establishment of the State and, as such, believes it is appropriate that commemorative events should be organised to respectfully acknowledge the achievements and sacrifices of past generations and to inculcate an awareness and appreciation in modern Ireland of the events and issues of those times. The...

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (28 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: An archaeological assessment carried out in 2003 of the portal tomb at Knockmary Hill in the Phoenix Park found no evidence of damage occurring since the monument was repaired in 1973. My office will continue to actively monitor the status of the monument.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: Qualifying developments in this section 50 scheme must conform with guidelines issued by the Minister for Education and Science. One of the conditions of such guidelines is that the developments must be occupied by students as defined therein in the college term. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that they are not aware of any significant abuses of the so-called section 50 scheme of...

Written Answers — Public Private Partnerships: Public Private Partnerships (28 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: I understand that, to date, no moneys have been invested by the Commission in any such projects. The National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission is independent of Government in the exercise of its functions. Under the National Pensions Reserve Fund Act 2000, it controls and manages the fund with discretionary authority to determine and implement the fund's investment strategy. This investment...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2006 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage. (28 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Finance Bill contains the legislative proposals to implement the tax changes I announced in the budget last December. This year, in addition to the significant improvements in tax credits, allowances and bands, the changes I am bringing forward include a significant measure of reform of the taxation system. A large part of this reform is based on the review of tax schemes I had carried...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2006 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage. (28 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: I sincerely thank all Members who contributed to the debate. I wish to reply to some of the key points made. As for various comments made by Senator John Paul Phelan on the review of reliefs and incentives, I must point out, by way of background, that I have ordered the review of two dozen tax incentive schemes in the past year to ensure we get value for money. As a result, I propose to phase...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2006 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage. (28 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: I wish to deal with the issues that were raised by Members and much work has been done to achieve that. The relief to which I referred when fully operational in 2008 is expected to support the use and production of around 163 million litres of biofuels per year. This is 20 times the current level of biofuels that is relieved of excise. We are starting from a very small base, but if I bring...

Leaders' Questions. (29 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Noonan negotiated them in the Opposition's time in power.

Written Answers — Civil Service Recruitment: Civil Service Recruitment (29 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: As Minister for Finance, I am responsible for Government policy on the employment of people with disabilities in the Civil Service. The Deputy may wish to note that, as part of a review of that policy, the Department of Finance commissioned independent research into the operation of the 3% employment target. A survey carried out as part of that research, which was published in 2002 as...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (29 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that income derived from pyramid schemes may be identified by taxpayers on some individual tax return forms in comment form. However, such comments are not captured on the Revenue computer system in a way that provides a basis for compiling the information sought by the Deputy. Accordingly, the specific information requested is not available.

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (29 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: Stamp duty is a charge on documents, which are mostly legal documents, used in the transfer of property. Where a property is purchased, stamp duty is charged on the conveyance or transfer effecting change of legal ownership of the property concerned. If there is no conveyance, there is no stamp duty. A builder or developer can, therefore, obtain a licence from a vendor to build on land owned...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (29 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that they are precluded for reasons of confidentiality from disclosing any details of the affairs of an individual taxpayer and for this reason it is not possible to give a detailed reply to the Deputy's question. However, I am also informed that the general position for tax purposes is that capital allowances in respect of plant or machinery are...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (29 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: The scheme which provides that qualifying sportspersons, whether in a professional or semi professional capacity, are entitled, on retirement, to income tax relief was introduced in Finance Act 2002. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the information available in regard to the numbers of individuals availing of the relief relates to individuals who are liable to income tax on a...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (29 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: The reason the fee referred to by the Deputy was charged by the Office of the Information Commissioner is because it was determined to be a requirement under the relevant legislation, specifically section 47(6A) of the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003 and SI 264 of 2003, Freedom of Information (Fees) Regulations 2003. SI 264 of 2003 provides inter alia for a standard fee of €150 to...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (29 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: I have no plans at this time to increase tax relief on fees paid to third level colleges. As the Deputy will be aware, I increased the maximum level at which this tax relief is allowed from €3,175 to €5,000 in budget 2005. Any further increases would be a matter for consideration in the context of future budgets. The Government has allocated €228 million to student support for 2006, an...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (29 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the issue of approximately 2.2 million individual tax credit certificates to PAYE customers, reflecting the budget changes, was completed at the end of February. Since the changeover to a calendar tax year in 2002, it has not been possible, in the context of a December budget, to issue all tax credit certificates in early January. The timescale...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2006 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (29 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: This recommendation concerns the home carer's tax credit of €770 which under section 466A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 is granted to married couples where one spouse works at home to care for children, the aged and incapacitated. The recommendation proposes that the amount of the home carer's credit should be the same as the maximum of the employee tax credit commonly known as the...