Results 3,761-3,780 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Price Inflation: Price Inflation (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: I have outlined before the results of economic model simulations which suggest that each sustained $10 per barrel increase in the price of oil reduces growth by between 1⁄4 and 1⁄2 percentage point in a full year in Ireland. However, it is important to bear in mind that these model results are based on historical averages and in common with all model results are subject to uncertainty.

Written Answers — Revenue Investigations: Revenue Investigations (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that their Ansbacher review team has been carrying out detailed investigations since October 1999. The investigation has essentially two elements, Ansbacher-type arrangements and other cases involving offshore funds and deposits. Revenue has advised that the review team has inquired into 289 cases and to date the team have finalised 208 cases. The 289...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that statistics are not available at this time which would enable the information requested by the Deputy to be provided. Section 13 of the Finance Act 2006 introduced the childminding tax exemption. Where the gross annual income from the provision of childcare services does not exceed €10,000, the income is fully exempt from tax. To avail of this...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: In its recent recommendation in a dispute between SIPTU and FÁS concerning Decentralisation and FÁS contracts of employment, the Labour Court recommended that the matter be referred back to the appropriate central body, at which the issues should be teased out with a view to arriving at agreed long-term solutions, in consultation with all the parties involved. In addition, I understand...

Written Answers — Social Partnership: Social Partnership (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: Inflation, as measured by annual changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 3.8% in April. A large part of the recent pick-up in the inflation rate is due to external factors such as higher oil prices and interest rate increases by the ECB. On Budget day, my Department forecast that CPI inflation will average 2.7% in 2006. This forecast was calculated using the usual technical assumption...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy may be aware, the monthly Exchequer Returns are available on my Department's website, as are my Department's receipts, expenditure and debt service profiles for 2006. The results for the first four months of 2006 confirm that the public finances remain sound. The Exchequer Returns to end-April showed a surplus of €497 million, compared with a deficit of €1,221 million for...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: Capital allowances for private hospitals were introduced in 2002. The scheme was one of the property based tax incentives schemes reviewed by independent consultants in 2005. The review of this scheme was undertaken in association with an inter-Departmental steering group on which there were representatives of both the Department of Finance and the Department of Health and Children. The...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am aware of the TASC report on Outsourcing Ireland, Public Bodies and Accountability. As regards the public bodies (other than civil service bodies) to which I appoint board members, the following is the position with regard to FOI and the annual budgets of the bodies, where these are provided from Exchequer funds. Body Name Subject to FOI Annual Budget in € Central Bank...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: I would regard our present corporation tax system as a balanced one and designed to meet the needs of the economy. There are no proposals being considered to change it on the lines suggested by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: The latest figures from the Central Applications Facility show there is substantial interest in the programme. To date there have been over 10,600 applications made to the Central Applications Facility. Over 9,000 of the applications are from civil servants and over 1,000 are from public servants. Over 50% of the applications are from Dublin based staff. In the civil service, progress has...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy is referring to the amendment to Article 12 of the Sixth VAT Directive, which allows Member States to apply the reduced VAT rate to supplies of natural gas, electricity and district heating provided that no risk of a distortion of competition exists. However, the position is that under Irish law the supplies of fuel used to create heat or light are already subject to the reduced...

Written Answers — Revenue Investigations: Revenue Investigations (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the Investigations and Prosecutions Division was established in the course of the comprehensive restructuring of the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, which took place during 2002 and 2003. The Division spearheads the Revenue drive to combat serious non-compliance in relation to tax and duties. It carries out the work in conjunction with the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Government's policy on completion of the programme is unchanged. I have no plans to change either its scale or its scope. It has always been the case that the responsibility for the implementation of the programme in each Department rests with the Minister of the Department. The Decentralisation Programme as announced in December 2003 was a government decision. Any Minister who wishes to...

Written Answers — Economic Policy: Economic Policy (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: I take note of the projections referred to. My Department's projections of the impact of population ageing on the public finances were published in the Stability Programme Update of last December and presented to the Dáil on Budget Day. Other bodies such as the ESRI and the EU have carried out similar exercises. All of these contributions serve to highlight the importance of taking a...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: Tax debts due by any specific taxpayer are a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that this information is confidential to the taxpayer concerned and accordingly they are not in a position to comment on the individual case covered by the Deputy's question. On the broader issue referred to by the Deputy I am advised by Revenue that they have an active...

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: There is no embargo on the recruitment of staff for local authorities or any other sector within the public service. The Government has, over the last number of years, followed a policy under which the growth in public service employment has slowed overall. The Government will continue to control and regulate numbers employed in the public service within agreed ceilings. Organisations can...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the information requested by the Deputy is confidential to the taxpayers concerned and accordingly they are not in a position to disclose it. Revenue have emphasised that their general approach to tax compliance by their customers is to support and ensure timely voluntary compliance to the greatest extent possible. Where voluntary compliance is...

Written Answers — Departmental Recruitment: Departmental Recruitment (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the table below is an estimate of the number of posts likely to arise to cover term time in the Revenue Commissioners in 2006. Contracts will be for between 8 and 13 weeks. These posts will be filled in the next 3/6 weeks and successful candidates will be advised in the coming days. In addition to the number of posts below Revenue will also...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Government has taken a number of important initiatives in recent years to put a framework in place to achieve better value for money from public expenditure and to provide greater accountability to the Oireachtas and the taxpayer on what is being achieved for public expenditure. These include: the 5 year rolling multi-annual capital envelopes for public capital investment introduced in...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy will be aware, the 2005 Budget introduced a stamp duty relieving measure for first-time house purchasers who are owner-occupiers of second-hand houses by increasing the stamp duty exemption threshold for such purchasers from €190,500 to €317,500 and by having reduced rates for house values up to €635,000. Any further changes to the stamp duty regime are a matter for the Budget.