Results 5,221-5,240 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (31 Jan 2007)

Brian Cowen: There are currently over 500 public bodies subject to Freedom of Information (FOI). In general, when bodies are being brought within the remit of FOI, extension is in respect of all records held by these bodies in respect of all of their functions. In a limited number of cases, full extension on this basis may not be appropriate having regard to particular functions of, or particular...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (31 Jan 2007)

Brian Cowen: The following table sets out the net yield from DIRT collected from 1997 to 2007 to date: Year €m 1997 187.6 1998 238.7 1999 161.2 2000 386.0* 2001 228.0 2002 206.5 2003 153.3 2004 143.6 2005 167.1 2006 254.4 2007 121.0 *The figure quoted for 2000 includes €215.7 million which was a result of the DIRT look-back audits. #The increase in receipts for 2006 may be attributed in...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (31 Jan 2007)

Brian Cowen: Forty-eight licences were issued by the Financial Regulator under Section 93 of the Consumer Credit Act 1995 in 2006. The Financial Regulator does not collate this information on a county by county basis. However, my Department has arranged for the Deputy to be forwarded a copy of the Financial Regulator's register of moneylenders which provides details of the business addresses and the...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (31 Jan 2007)

Brian Cowen: I would point out that the Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the exercise of his duties under the Valuation Act 2001, and that I, as Minister for Finance, have no function in decisions in this regard. The Valuation Act, 2001 provides in Schedule 3, Sections 1(a) and (b) that all buildings and lands used or developed for any purpose including constructions affixed thereto are...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (31 Jan 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that there is no breakdown available in respect of the amount of excise duty collected from Kerosene and LPG used for heating and non-heating purposes. The information available relates to the total Excise Duty on Kerosene and LPG (non-auto) in 2006 for which the amounts collected are provisionally put at €18 million and €2.7 million respectively.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (31 Jan 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Pensions Incentive Tax Credits scheme was introduced by me in last year's Finance Act to encourage SSIA holders, particularly those on low incomes, to continue the savings habit and to commence or improve their pension arrangements under the scheme. For each €3 of matured SSIA funds invested by an eligible SSIA holder in an approved pension product, the Exchequer will contribute an...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (31 Jan 2007)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 536 and 569 together. Section 1025 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides for the taxation treatment of payments made under legally enforceable arrangements by one spouse of a marriage to the other spouse in consideration, or in consequence, of the annulment or dissolution of a marriage or where the couple are separated. Legally enforceable...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (31 Jan 2007)

Brian Cowen: I would draw to the Deputy's attention that the stamp duty head of charge for mortgages was abolished in the recent Budget with regard to mortgage deeds executed on or after 7 December 2006. The cost of abolishing the mortgage head of charge was estimated at €20m in 2007 and in a full year. The duty was abolished in the context of the simplification of the stamp duty code for both the...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (31 Jan 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Valuation Act 2001, which came into effect on 2nd May 2002, provides that commercially operated child care facilities such as play schools, pre-schools, crèches, and Montessori schools are liable for rates unless specific criteria for exemption are met. This is a continuation of the pre May 2002 situation. In regard to the Valuation Act, 2001, I should point out that the Commissioner...

Written Answers — Traffic Management: Traffic Management (31 Jan 2007)

Brian Cowen: Following the public consultation process, the Phoenix Park Transportation Study has been reviewed in light of the feedback from that process and a decision on the way forward has now been made, the details of which are outlined in a Press Statement issued by me on 17th January 2007 which can be accessed on the OPW website www.opw.ie.

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (31 Jan 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the taxpayer in question is in receipt of round sum travel expenses from her employer based on logged expenses over a three month period. The law provides that a deduction can be claimed for travel expenses only if they are incurred wholly, exclusively and necessarily in performing the duties of the employment. Payments by an employer which are...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (31 Jan 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a person who has no personal pension but whose spouse has a pension of €29,000 per annum can avail of the Pensions Incentive Tax Credits scheme subject to the individual satisfying the following conditions: Be an SSIA holder; the SSIA holder's gross income (i.e. before all deductions) in the tax year before the year in which the SSIA matures...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (31 Jan 2007)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 546 and 547 together. The staffing, grade and remuneration of my Press Office and Constituency Office is set out below. The actual pay of individuals is not given as this is deemed to be personal information. Press Office Grade Number Salary Range Press Officer (Assistant Principal) 1 €67,823–€84,808 Higher Executive Officer 1...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (31 Jan 2007)

Brian Cowen: I presume the Deputy's question refers to the lending policies and practices of the institution concerned. The lending policies and practices operated by any financial institution within the current legal and regulatory framework are the responsibility of the institution itself, in respect of which the Minister for Finance does not exercise any statutory function. As the Deputy may be...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (31 Jan 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Office of Public Works at no stage promised to give the report to the person in question. The reply which was furnished to the Deputy's question on 13th December 2006 provided relevant information in relation to the subject matter of the report.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (31 Jan 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that Section 133 of the Finance Act 1992 provides the legislative basis for the requirement for manufacturers or distributors to provide a declaration to the Revenue Commissioners of statutory chargeable values (or open market selling prices, OMSPs, as they are referred to) for all new vehicles in the State for vehicle registration tax (VRT) purposes....

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (31 Jan 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that a site purchased which falls within the one acre curtilage of an existing residential property i.e. a corner garden, is classified as residential property for stamp duty purposes. The consideration paid or value of the property must exceed €127,000 before stamp duty is charged. The purchaser cannot claim First Time Purchaser Relief as that...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (31 Jan 2007)

Brian Cowen: Generally speaking, the tax system treats members of cohabiting couples as separate and unconnected individuals. Each partner is a separate entity for tax purposes and credits and bands and reliefs cannot be transferred from one partner to the other. There are no special favourable tax arrangements for cohabiting couples with dependent children. The Working Group Examining the Treatment of...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (31 Jan 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the person in question and his spouse inherited property on 24 June 2000 in respect of which Forms IT 38 were due but have not been submitted. Copies of this form have again been sent to the persons in question and the completed forms should now be submitted to Sligo Revenue District, Government Offices, Cranmore Road, Sligo, so that the amount...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (31 Jan 2007)

Brian Cowen: The table below sets out the annual indicative Exchequer and EU expenditure forecasts at regional level which were set in 2000 when the Operational Programmes were being prepared. The table also sets out the Exchequer and EU expenditure to end June 2006 as reported to the NDP/CSF Monitoring Committee at its most recent meeting in December 2006. The position will become clearer when data is...