Results 5,141-5,160 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: In line with the strategy I announced last year, I am increasing the length of paid maternity leave by a further four weeks.

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: This brings the total amount of paid maternity leave to 26 weeks. Unpaid leave is also being increased by four weeks, to 16 weeks. With the changes in maternity benefit I announced earlier, these changes will help to ease the burden on working families. Another key element of the child care strategy was the introduction of the early child care supplement of €250 per quarter for all...

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: These payments are designed to assist parents in the choices they make for the care of their children in the early years. When we came to office, a family in similar circumstances received direct payments from the Exchequer of €914 in a full year.

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: This increase is clear evidence of the Government's support for young families. Public Services Spending on services When account is taken of expenditure additions I am providing for today, gross current expenditure in 2007 will be €48.5 billion or 11.5% over the projected 2006 outturn.

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: Since we came into office, those adjustments have been made automatically. The composition of this amount reflects the priority attached by the Government to social welfare, health and education. These three areas comprise 77% of the 2007 current expenditure provision. The allocation for social welfare is €15.3 billion, for health it is €14.3 billion and for education it is €7.9...

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: We are making provision for a gross capital spend of €7.6 billion next year, an increase of 13% over 2006. This will enable further roll-out of our ambitious investment programme currently running at about twice the European average. The medium-term investment envelope will be presented in the National Development Plan 2007-2013, to be published next month. The national development plan...

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: It is only by adopting such an approach that the social partners can realise for our society the vision that is clearly set out in the Towards 2016 agreement.

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: We must also maintain a sound budgetary position that supports stable economic growth and be able to meet future expenditure needs even in times of lower economic growth. Conclusion I am satisfied that, in present economic circumstances, this budget is fiscally sustainable, economically appropriate and socially responsible.

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: It meets the needs of the economy and underpins growth for the years ahead.

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: It supports pensioners, the disabled and those in need.

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: It helps young families and first-time buyers.

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: It promotes enterprise and innovation and enhances our competitiveness and it rewards work by reducing the tax burden for all.

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: It advances the environmental agenda and encourages farming initiatives.

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: We are trying to let some air out of the windbag. It positions our country for the future. It is a major step forward in the building of a fairer and stronger Ireland. I commend the budget to the House.

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: "Won't you come out to play?"

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: He was not as good a singer as his father.

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

Brian Cowen: The position is that charities and non-profit groups engaged in non-commercial activity are exempt from VAT under the EU Sixth VAT Directive, with which Irish VAT law must comply. This means they do not charge VAT on the services they provide and cannot recover VAT incurred on goods and services that they purchase. Essentially only VAT registered businesses which charge VAT are able to...

Written Answers — National Lottery Funding: National Lottery Funding (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: The amount of revenue generated for the Exchequer by the National Lottery in each of the years 2001 to 2005 is as follows: Year €m 2001 174.884 2002 171.263 2003 185.263 2004 187.069 2005 202.815 The Government decides on an annual basis how the surplus from the National Lottery is to be allocated in the context of the overall Estimates process. I refer the Deputy to Appendix I of...

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

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the most recent estimated cost of making the main personal tax credits refundable when they are unused is broadly in the region of €2.1 billion annually. The main category of refund would relate to the employee credit where the annual cost of refunding the unused portion of the credit to income earners with insufficient income to fully absorb...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: Firstly, I might explain that the present arrangements for investor compensation were introduced in 1998 on foot of an EU Directive. The Directive was transposed into Irish law by the Investor Compensation Act 1998, which established the Investor Compensation Company Ltd (ICCL) to ensure that clients of a failed investment firm receive compensation within the parameters set down in the Act....