Results 421-440 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Special Savings Incentive Scheme: Special Savings Incentive Scheme (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the 2004 SSIA annual returns are being furnished at present by all qualifying savings managers. The closing date for submission of these returns is 28 February 2005. Consequently, the latest date for which figures are available is for the year 2003. Based on these 2003 annual returns furnished by all qualifying savings managers, I am informed by...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: The decentralisation implementation group in its second report published in July 2004 recognised that a professional and comprehensive service should be provided to assist decentralising staff with the myriad of issues likely to arise. The group recommended that the Department of Finance approach the market seeking expressions of interest for the supply of services covering auctioneering,...

Written Answers — Tax Evasion: Tax Evasion (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: Significant powers were given to the Revenue Commissioners in Finance Act 1999 and these have been used to great effect to recoup for the Exchequer significant amounts of tax that had been evaded over many years. In this context, I draw the Deputy's attention to two recent reports relating to the general area of revenue powers. Last year the Revenue powers group report was published. The...

Written Answers — Termination of Employment: Termination of Employment (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: I refer the Deputy to my previous replies of 14 October and 23 November 2004. The previous Minister, as shareholder, indicated his consent to arrangements outlined to him by the chairman of Aer Rianta on 24 September last concerning the package the board proposed to make to the deputy chief executive who was leaving the company. I understand that the proposed package included a lump sum of...

Written Answers — Quarterly Economic Survey: Quarterly Economic Survey (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: The ESRI published its most recent quarterly economic commentary on 21 December 2004. The ESRI is forecasting economic growth this year of 5.0% in GDP terms, and 4.6% in GNP terms. It is forecasting employment growth of 2.0% and an unemployment rate of 4.3%. These forecasts are in line with my own Department's forecasts for 2005, which were published at budget time. On budget day, my...

Written Answers — Benchmarking Awards: Benchmarking Awards (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: In the first public service pay agreement under Sustaining Progress, the parties agreed that the benchmarking process was the appropriate way to determine public service pay rates. They committed themselves to engage in consultation in relation to the terms of reference, modus operandi, establishment and timescale of a further benchmarking exercise. In the pay agreement reached in June 2004...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: I assume the Deputy is referring to the ICTU autumn 2004 publication entitled Tax Cuts Did Not Create The Celtic Tiger. I am aware of the document. I do not go along with its basic premise that a low tax regime is not in the interest of the country. I gave my detailed views on the issues involved in my address to the Seanad on 10 November 2004. I cited in detail the considerable achievements...

Written Answers — Revenue Commissioners' Investigations: Revenue Commissioners' Investigations (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that their Ansbacher review team has inquired into 289 cases to date and 108 of these cases have been finalised with Revenue. The 289 cases, taking account of spouses and connected companies, consist of 300 names. The 289 cases are made up of 179 cases listed on the High Court inspectors' report and 110 similar cases discovered by Revenue or listed on...

Written Answers — Revenue Commissioners' Investigations: Revenue Commissioners' Investigations (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that arising from the clerical medical insurance-NIB inquiry, 452 cases have been targeted for investigation. To date, 296 cases have been settled on payment of tax, interest and penalties amounting to a total of €48.70 million. A further 116 cases have been finalised with no additional liability arising. The remaining 40 cases are the subject of...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: The residency rules are not covered by the review referred to. Such rules were last updated in the 1994 Finance Act by the then Fianna Fáil and Labour Government following a comprehensive review of the matter by the Revenue Commissioners and my Department. The resulting new rules set out in the 1994 Finance Act both simplified and clarified the whole area and were generally welcomed. These...

Written Answers — Price Inflation: Price Inflation (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: The CPI is forecast to increase by 2.5% in 2005. The price increases which were put to Government for approval will add less than 0.25% to the CPI this year. There were no changes to indirect taxes in the budget so the CPI effect of these is nil.

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: It is not possible to provide an accurate figure for the amounts lost to the Exchequer in any year in respect of smuggling as the level of undetected smuggling can never be known. However, it is the view of the Revenue Commissioners that the level of penetration of the Irish market by contraband cigarettes and alcohol is low and consequently losses to the Exchequer are low. Smuggling of...

Written Answers — Expenditure Review Initiative: Expenditure Review Initiative (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: The first formal report from the expenditure review central steering committee on progress under the expenditure review initiative, ERI, for the period June 2002 to June 2004 was submitted to me on 3 November 2004 and forwarded to the Oireachtas Committee on Finance and the Public Service on 25 November 2004. This report found that progress had been made by Departments and offices in...

Written Answers — Non-Resident Accounts: Non-Resident Accounts (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: Authorised Revenue officers are empowered to make an application to a judge of the High Court seeking an order requiring financial institutions to supply names, addresses and other relevant information concerning account holders who may have held bogus non-resident deposit accounts. Such applications are made under section 908 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, as amended by the Finance Act...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: I accept that the number of applications to the central applications facility, CAF, from the Civil Service are much better than those from the State agencies. Unlike the State agencies, the Civil Service has considerable previous experience of decentralisation and has a long tradition of interdepartmental transfers. The decentralisation implementation group, DIG, asked that all organisations...

Written Answers — Bloodstock Industry: Bloodstock Industry (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Commission has been in correspondence with my Department regarding this exemption in response to a complaint made to it in July 2003. I do not know the source of the complaint. I am also aware that the matter has also been raised with the EU Agriculture Commissioner in the European Parliament. The position is that in April 2004, the Commission asked for information which would allow it to...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: I announced in my Budget Statement that my Department and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners will undertake a detailed review of certain tax incentive schemes and tax exemptions in 2005. This review will evaluate their impact and operation, including their economic and social benefits for the different locations and sectors involved and to the wider community. In addition, the review...

Written Answers — Capital Projects: Capital Projects (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: Capital projects are procured primarily by the traditional means of Exchequer capital or by public private partnership, PPP. In both cases, projects are subject to appraisal for value for money in accordance with the relevant guidelines laid down by my Department. It is a matter for the sponsoring Department or agency with the approval of the relevant sanctioning Department to determine which...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: I assume the Deputy is referring to the disabled drivers and disabled passengers — tax concessions — scheme. The scheme is open to people with disabilities who meet the specified criteria and have obtained a primary medical certificate to that effect. The senior area medical officer attached to the relevant local health board is responsible for both the medical assessment and the issue of...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: The 2003 annual report of the National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission shows that at 31 December 2003 the market value of the fund was €9,561 million. This included cash deposits of €1,283 million, net current assets of €36 million, unrealised gains on foreign derivative contracts of €70 million and equities and bonds worth €8,172 million. Of this latter figure, €8,099 million...