Results 3,481-3,500 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (4 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: The climate change strategy says that, from 2002 onwards, taxes will begin to take into account the amounts of greenhouse gases produced in any activity. It is Government policy to take greenhouse gas emission into account when formulating or developing tax policy in any particular area. In September 2004, the Government decided not to introduce a specific carbon tax, following a thorough...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (4 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Finance Act 2001 introduced a new scheme of tax relief on donations made by either individuals or corporate bodies to eligible charities and other approved bodies, including first and second level schools and third level institutions, including universities. The minimum qualifying donation for relief purposes to an eligible charity or approved body is €250 per annum. Amending the scheme...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: There are no specific tax incentives for tourist related industries in a RAPID area. Tourist industries in a RAPID area may avail of the range of incentives available to businesses, including start up businesses. These may include, for example, various capital allowances, as well as the tax incentives available for investment in certain tourist-traffic undertakings, under the business...

Written Answers — Partnership Agreements: Partnership Agreements (6 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: The PCW provided for local bargaining on behalf of each public service grade, subject to certain limits and criteria. A deal was concluded under these terms in respect of practically every public service grade some years ago. PCW deals in respect of only a small handful of public servants remain outstanding. My Department has been in touch with the Deputy on this issue and will supply further...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (6 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: In budget 2005, I directed my Department, together with the Revenue Commissioners, to undertake a thorough evaluation of the effect of a range of tax incentive reliefs, including the tax exemption for forestry income. The review, which was published in full along with all of the other reviews on 6 February 2006, concluded that the relief in its present form should be maintained and that...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (6 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: In keeping with the Government's commitment to an extensive consultation process on the next National Development Plan 2007-2013, my Department is undertaking consultations on the plan with the social partners, the regional assemblies, regional authorities and a number of concerned interest groups such as the Heritage Council, Comhar, the Combat Poverty Agency and the Western Development...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (6 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Economic and Social Research Institute, ERSI, has been commissioned to do an ex ante evaluation of the National Development Plan 2007-2013. The evaluation is still at the drafting stage. I expect that it will be submitted for Government consideration over the next couple of months and I envisage that it will be published as soon as possible thereafter.

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (6 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that there is no refund of tax due in this case. PAYE balancing statements for the years 2003, 2004 and 2005 issued to the taxpayer on 4 April 2006. A net underpayment of income tax in the sum of €1,230.30 arose and will be collected by reduction of the taxpayer's tax credits for the years 2007 and 2008.

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (6 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: Under the Investor Compensation Act 1998, the Investor Compensation Company Ltd., ICCL, is required to establish or maintain a fund or funds out of which payments are made in accordance with the Act. The industry is responsible for funding the compensation scheme. The scheme provides that compensation paid to eligible investors is the lesser of €20,000 or 90% of the net losses suffered...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (6 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: I refer the Deputy to my earlier reply to a question from Deputies Higgins and Deenihan on the issue of private sector debt taken on 23 February 2006. Within the implementation of the overall legislative framework, private sector credit growth and debt levels are, in the first instance, a matter for the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland. This follows from its role as...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (6 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Financial Regulator is responsible for the prudential supervision of Irish-licensed financial institutions and the Minister for Finance does not get involved in matters of day-to-day supervision. I do, however, welcome the supervisory attention which mortgage lending is receiving from our Financial Regulator. This technical prudential measure reinforces the message consistently conveyed...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (6 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am aware of the costs relating to the National Aquatic Centre and the companies associated with it. However, as I indicated in my reply to a similar question put down for answer by the Deputy last Wednesday, the Revenue Commissioners 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...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (6 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: Following the announcement by Revenue clarifying the stamp duty treatment on purchases of shares underpinning the contracts for differences, CFDs, my Department received strong representations that there would be severe consequences for the liquidity of the Irish stock market and thus, on the ability of Irish firms to raise capital and potentially on the viability of stockbroking here. I...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (6 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Department of Finance has currently over 600 staff members. In order to ascertain the level of expertise in Irish among staff, a survey was carried out asking staff to rate their ability to write, read and speak Irish and to indicate if they were willing to have their names included in a contact list for the Department. Based on this survey 33 people or some 5.5% of staff are willing to...

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

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 284 and 289 together. The position is that section 467 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides for a tax deduction at the individual's highest rate of tax in respect of the costs incurred by an individual of employing another person, including a person whose services are provided by or through an agency, to take care of him or her, a spouse or a relative...

Written Answers — National Mapping Service: National Mapping Service (25 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: The matter raised by the Deputy was referred to Ordnance Survey Ireland, OSI, which has statutory responsibility for the provision of a national mapping service in the State under the Ordnance Survey Ireland Act 2001. Under section 29 of the Act, OSI may make such charges as it considers necessary and appropriate in consideration of the performance by it of its functions; the provision by it...

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

Brian Cowen: The 2006 Finance Act provides that the tax exemption for stallion stud fee is discontinued, with effect from 31 July 2008, in line with the budget announcement to this effect. A new regime appropriate to the industry will be discussed with the European Commission, and consultations with the industry will take place in due course. I am not in a position at this stage to give any indications or...

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

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 287 and 306 together. The 2006 Finance Act provides for the termination of a range of area-based tax incentive renewal schemes, in line with my budget day announcement to this effect. My decision to phase out these tax schemes was taken in the light of the recommendations of independent consultants who undertook a detailed assessment of these reliefs last...

Written Answers — Public Service Contracts: Public Service Contracts (25 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that they have not outsourced work to India and other countries.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (25 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Revenue Commissioners advise me they are aware of the growing customer service pressures in some of their public offices. The additional pressures are due to an increased number of customers, an increasing number of customers who have more than one employment and the number of customers who do not have English as their first language. In response to these pressures and to improve customer...