Results 4,281-4,300 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Sep 2006)

Brian Cowen: Tax relief on mortgage interest is applied 'at source' by the mortgage provider since 1st January 2002. The mortgage provider in turn claims back the tax relief directly from Revenue. Since 2002, the number of new mortgage accounts for which interest relief was sought increased from 95,857 in 2002 to 113,673 in 2005. New applications for relief at source can be notified directly to Revenue...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (27 Sep 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am aware of a proposal for the stamp duty levied on credit cards to be donated to a charitable body or sporting organisation. The stamp duty yield over recent years is: 2004 €59m 2005 €63.8m 2006 €67.3m (provisional estimate) These revenues are applied by the Exchequer for the common good, as determined by the Oireachtas. I do not favour earmarked taxes in general, as this reduces...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (27 Sep 2006)

Brian Cowen: I have no proposals to regulate in this area in the manner outlined. The Deputy will however be aware a number of financial institutions offer affinity credit card services to their customers through which support can be provided for good causes on a voluntary basis.

Written Answers — Commuter Ticket Schemes: Commuter Ticket Schemes (27 Sep 2006)

Brian Cowen: The additional information requested by the Deputy has now been received from Bus Éireann and Luas. These are now included in the following revised tables which show ticket sales under this scheme for the years 1999 to 2005. (The 2005 figures have also been revised to reflect end quarter sales.) 1999 Quantity Monthly Dublin Bus Ticket 290 Monthly Irish Rail Ticket (Dublin Suburban) 100...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Sep 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 475, 490 and 497 together. The position is that the VAT treatment of goods and services is governed by EU law with which Irish VAT law must comply. Where homecare services are provided directly by the Health Service Executive (HSE), they do not generally come within the scope of VAT, as Public Bodies are not regarded as taxable persons. This means that they...

Written Answers — Compensation Schemes: Compensation Schemes (27 Sep 2006)

Brian Cowen: I have no plans to introduce such a scheme. The position is that where claims for asbestosis arise in the workplace they are between the claimant and their employer and would be dealt with in accordance with normal legal procedures. In cases where the Government is the employer, such claims are a matter in the first instance for the claimant and the employing Department or agency, and would...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Sep 2006)

Brian Cowen: Under EU Law, with which Irish Law must comply, public bodies are generally exempt from VAT. This means that they do not charge VAT on the services and are not entitled to recover VAT incurred on the goods and services which they purchase. In December 2004, the European Commission issued an infringement notice concerning the VAT treatment of public bodies. This arose on foot of a complaint...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Sep 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am not aware that the Capital Acquisitions Tax system is unduly burdensome. The rates have been halved in many cases in recent years and the scope of the tax considerably narrowed. For the purpose of Inheritance Tax, the relationship between the person who provided the inheritance (the disponer) and the person who received the inheritance (the beneficiary), determines the maximum tax-free...

Written Answers — Customs and Excise Service: Customs and Excise Service (27 Sep 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that their Maritime Unit carries out surveillance and interception operations at sea, as determined by assessment of risk of illicit activity, or by specific intelligence reports. In this regard, I am assured by Revenue that the North West coast is monitored in the same way as other parts of the Irish coastline. The Deputy will however understand,...

Written Answers — Customs and Excise Service: Customs and Excise Service (27 Sep 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners they have not sold any rigid inflatable boats in the past twelve months. In that period, one boat was however transferred to the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources on the basis that it was no longer in use by Revenue and would be of benefit to the Coastguard Service.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Sep 2006)

Brian Cowen: The VRT rates and bands are reviewed in the annual Budgetary process and it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage. The Deputy will be aware that in last year's Budget, I introduced a 50% VRT relief for flexible fuel vehicles and extended to end-2007 a similar relief that was already in place for hybrid electric cars.

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (27 Sep 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the relevant figures for 2005 and the period from 1 January 2006 to the end of August 2006 for excise duty and VAT on motor fuels, and VRT and VAT on vehicles are shown in the following table: 2005 2006 (to end August) â'¬m â'¬m Petrol Excise 1,002 719 Estimated VAT 368 295 Total 1,370 1,014 Auto Diesel Excise 921 696...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (27 Sep 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the information available relates to the Estimated Net VAT received from domestic users of electricity and natural gas for the years 2001-2005. The information to be furnished on VAT returns does not require the yield from particular sectors of trade to be identified. It is, therefore, not possible to identify precisely what portion of the net...

Written Answers — Tax Clearance Certificates: Tax Clearance Certificates (27 Sep 2006)

Brian Cowen: The question of tax credits is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. I have been informed by Revenue that, taking into consideration the income of both spouses, there is a small balance of tax credits due to the person in question. A notice of revised credits issued to the person on 19 September 2006.

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (27 Sep 2006)

Brian Cowen: The position is that the VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law with which Irish VAT law must comply. The supply of wood fuel products used for home heating and light are already subject to the reduced VAT rate of 13.5% under Article 28 (2e) of the Sixth VAT Directive. This means that Member States had the option of maintaining, at a reduced rate of not...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Sep 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that there has been no change to the rate of VAT applicable to the product in question. In addition they have advised me that substances, including food-grade additives and chemicals, which are not in an edible form but whose sole use is verifiably as an ingredient for food come within the scope of the zero rate of VAT, regardless of the rate...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (27 Sep 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am aware of the case referred to by the Deputy, which has been raised in correspondence with my Office. My response to that correspondence has been that as this matter is the subject of legal proceedings, it would not be appropriate for me to make any comments in relation to the case. I am not aware that there are any issues to be investigated in relation to the sale of the company...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Sep 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that, under the provisions of Section 89 of the Capital Acquisitions Tax Consolidation Act 2003, where agricultural property comprised in an inheritance is disposed of within six years after the date of the inheritance, a claw-back of agricultural relief will only occur where the proceeds from the disposal are not fully expended in acquiring other...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Sep 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am aware of the ECJ ruling that the Deputy has referred to. As in the case of all such matters my officials are examining the longer term implications of the judgement. While not wishing to speculate on what the Commission might do, I should remind the Deputy that direct taxation matters are in the competence of individual Member States and not the Commission.

Written Answers — Tax Clearance Certificates: Tax Clearance Certificates (27 Sep 2006)

Brian Cowen: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a PAYE Balancing Statement 2005 (Form P21) issued to the taxpayer on 20 September 2006.