Results 3,661-3,680 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen
- Tax Code. (23 May 2006)
Brian Cowen: Vehicle registration tax, VRT, relief for flexible fuel vehicles, as announced in the 2006 budget, was provided for in the Finance Act 2006 with effect from 1 January 2006. We have been informed by the Revenue Commissioners that, to date, 12 flexible fuel vehicles have availed of the VRT relief, although this low number reflects the fact that legislation underpinning this relief was only...
- Tax Code. (23 May 2006)
Brian Cowen: Which one?
- Tax Code. (23 May 2006)
Brian Cowen: It has begun.
- Tax Code. (23 May 2006)
Brian Cowen: It is being done.
- Tax Code. (23 May 2006)
Brian Cowen: We are required to get state aid approval for this initiative.
- Tax Code. (23 May 2006)
Brian Cowen: I know and I am applying for it.
- Tax Code. (23 May 2006)
Brian Cowen: The Deputy should hold on and listen if he wants to hear my answer. He said I have not applied for approval, but approval is being applied for. The Commission must give its approval and we hope to have that in the coming months. I do not expect it will take 18 months as it did the last time. I am tired of people coming into the House in a panic and asking why I have not done this, that or the...
- Tax Code. (23 May 2006)
Brian Cowen: The Deputy has been telling me what mine is.
- Tax Code. (23 May 2006)
Brian Cowen: I am.
- Tax Code. (23 May 2006)
Brian Cowen: I am not buying the vehicles. Should I buy them as well to please the Deputy?
- Tax Code. (23 May 2006)
Brian Cowen: What about the Deputy himself? What is he doing about it?
- Tax Code. (23 May 2006)
Brian Cowen: I do not have that information available but will try to get it for the Deputy. I am not in a position to state what impact the measure will have before the next budget until I get EU approval and get the measure up and running. With regard to vested interests, I represent 13,000 people in Laoighis-Offaly, ordinary working people like those Deputy Boyle represents. I have been doing this for...
- Decentralisation Programme. (23 May 2006)
Brian Cowen: When the decentralisation programme was announced, the then Minister for Finance appointed a decentralisation implementation group to drive the process forward. In March, July and November of 2004 and June 2005, the group published progress reports on the implementation of the programme. Each of these reports was formally submitted either to me or my predecessor before being considered by the...
- Decentralisation Programme. (23 May 2006)
Brian Cowen: I have been receiving reports from these groups. Unfortunately, Opposition Deputies often refuse to read them or do not acknowledge their existence when they make their assertions. Since last year, the Government has adopted the decentralisation implementation group recommendations on how we rephase the implementation of the programme. The suggestion that we will have 90% done is based on the...
- Decentralisation Programme. (23 May 2006)
Brian Cowen: No, we must first get agreement with the trade unions that the promotions policy will be affected by the reality of decentralisation when it takes place. That is the first matter of principle on which we must get agreement. There is work ongoing in the Labour Relations Commission with regard to a specific and very prominent State agency, but were we to get agreement on that and resolve the...
- Decentralisation Programme. (23 May 2006)
Brian Cowen: The Deputy does not have a grip on the full situation.
- Decentralisation Programme. (23 May 2006)
Brian Cowen: The unions were meeting my people, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and FÃS people up to the early hours this morning. Did the Deputy meet them this morning?
- Decentralisation Programme. (23 May 2006)
Brian Cowen: Given the sensitivity of the discussions and the efforts we are making to resolve the difficulty, I am not going to negotiate in public in the House. I am trying to find a formula that will be acceptable to all the parties and will enable us to sit down and discuss the options we can provide for the future. Such a formula should balance the need for the decentralisation policy to proceed with...
- Decentralisation Programme. (23 May 2006)
Brian Cowen: Yes, of course it is.
- Decentralisation Programme. (23 May 2006)
Brian Cowen: Absolutely not.