Results 5,401-5,420 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Feb 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that between 4 April 2006 and 1 February 2007 there were 537 instances where various stamp duty reliefs which had been granted were clawed back. The total yield from the clawbacks amounted to €4,262,466. Generally each clawback referred to only one property. The clawbacks were in respect of 5 reliefs as follows: Farm Consolidation, Section 81B...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Feb 2007)

Brian Cowen: The relevant information available is based on returns by individuals and companies of tax exempt income arising from stallion stud fees for the tax year 2004. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the number of such returns was 129 with the average exempt income reported at €222,119 and the lowest at €245. There were 8 returns of stallion stud fees in excess of €1 million....

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (7 Feb 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Credit Union Act, 1997 provides the legal framework for the regulation of credit unions. The Act was designed to provide the credit union movement with a regulatory structure that reflects and promotes the particular ethos and philosophy of the credit union movement, its strong tradition of volunteer service and the core objective of providing opportunities for saving and lending for...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (7 Feb 2007)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 167 together. From the outset both the Government and I have made it clear that participation in the decentralisation programme is voluntary. Across the public service, recruitment and promotion practices generally are being managed in a way which facilitates the achievement of the Decentralisation Programme in an efficient manner and in that...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (7 Feb 2007)

Brian Cowen: Chapter 12 of the NDP 2007-2013 sets out a strong Value for Money framework for expenditure under the Plan. This includes the requirement for progress reports on projects to the management of implementing Departments and Agencies. It will be a matter in the first instance for these bodies to take whatever action is necessary if the circumstances outlined in the Deputy's Question pertain....

Written Answers — Exchequer Revenue: Exchequer Revenue (7 Feb 2007)

Brian Cowen: Activity in the housing sector impacts primarily on VAT, Stamp duty and Capital gains tax. Housing market activity also impacts on Income tax and PRSI receipts and Corporation tax from construction sector company profits. While revenues from housing market activity such as Stamp duty and Capital gains tax have made an increasing contribution to the Exchequer in recent years, we are not...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (7 Feb 2007)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 and 204 together. I welcome the publication by the Central Bank of its Financial Stability Report 2006 which reflects the Bank's mandate to contribute to the stability of the financial system in Ireland. I note the Report's main conclusion that Ireland's financial system continues to be in a good state of health. The Bank's central expectation, based on...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (7 Feb 2007)

Brian Cowen: The level of investment set out in the National Development Plan 2007-2013 has been formulated using realistic macroeconomic projections and on the basis of a prudent approach to budgetary policy. This approach should not add to inflationary pressures and should leave flexibility for budgetary manoeuvre in the event of an economic slowdown. In this scenario, further consideration of public...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Feb 2007)

Brian Cowen: There is a difference in tax liability which arises from the different standard rate bands which apply to single individuals, married one-earner couples and married two-earner couples. For 2007, the maximum potential difference between a married one-earner couple and a married two-earner couple is €5,250 (€25,000 @ 21%). To the extent that a difference in tax liability arises between a...

Written Answers — Exchequer Revenue: Exchequer Revenue (7 Feb 2007)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy may be aware, the monthly Exchequer Returns are available on my Department's website, as are my Department's tax receipts, expenditure and debt service profiles for 2007. The results for the first month of 2007 confirm the continuing sound position of public finances. The Exchequer Balance to end-January showed a surplus of €1,691 million compared to a surplus of €1,302...

Written Answers — Capital Projects: Capital Projects (7 Feb 2007)

Brian Cowen: My Department's Capital Appraisal Guidelines of February 2005, as amended by Circular Letter of 25 January 2006 on Value for Money, provide for an individual to be appointed as project manager for each capital project. The guidelines specify that a senior official should be appointed as project manager for capital projects above €30 million, including at management committee level, where...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (7 Feb 2007)

Brian Cowen: The banking industry has proposed the development of a universal bank account which would provide basic access to the Irish payments system enabling citizens to make and receive payments electronically — whether in the form of salary, benefit or welfare. The Deputy may wish to note that there are a number of issues to be considered in progressing such a proposal such as the fees to be...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Feb 2007)

Brian Cowen: On the issue of the threshold for donations relief, amending the scheme to increase the tax relief available could significantly increase the current cost of the scheme to the Exchequer. The relief is already very generous. There is no upper limit on the amount which can be donated generally and relief is granted at the donor's marginal rate of income tax. Donations can be cumulative, so...

Written Answers — Performance Indicators: Performance Indicators (7 Feb 2007)

Brian Cowen: As I indicated in my reply to PQ 33214/06 of 18th October last and PQ 39176/06 of 22nd November last, I presume that the Deputy is referring to my Department's Report of the Pilot Project on Resource Allocation, Business Planning and Performance Measurement of August, 2005. The conclusions and recommendations of this report informed Government thinking on reform of the Estimates and Budget...

Written Answers — Special Savings Incentive Scheme: Special Savings Incentive Scheme (7 Feb 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the information requested of amounts paid out to date with a monthly breakdown on mature SSIA accounts is not available at the moment. Financial Institutions will, as part of their normal annual return provide some data but it will be later this year before Revenue's analysis of that data is available. The Deputy will be aware that the SSIA...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Feb 2007)

Brian Cowen: As regards formal evaluations provided for from my Department's vote, my Department has, in the last 12 months, completed and published three reviews under the Value for Money (VFM) and Policy Review Initiative. These were reviews of the Grants-in-Aid to the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRI) and the Institute of Public Administration, and of the Information Society Fund. In the...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (7 Feb 2007)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 172 and 236 together. Investments under the National Development Plan/Community Support Framework (NDP/ CSF) 2000-2006 are delivered through seven Operational Programmes (OPs) which are directly managed and implemented by Government Departments, the Regional Assemblies and other Agencies as set out in the following table. My main concern is to ensure that...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (7 Feb 2007)

Brian Cowen: The table below provides the details requested by the Deputy. The 2007 figures are calculated by using the Budget 2007 tax revenue and GNP estimates. There are no GNP figures for 2007 available at this time. The 2006 GNP figure, upon which the 2006 figures are based, is an estimated outturn. VAT Income Tax Corporation Tax Excise Duty Big 4 Total Customs Stamp Duty CGT CAT Overall Total...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (7 Feb 2007)

Brian Cowen: The text of the Plan already contains specific targets including, completion of the Inter-Urban Motorways by 2010, a range of specific outputs in public transport in line with the Transport 21 timetable, completion of the 2nd terminal at Dublin Airport, commitment to meeting the housing needs of 140,000 households, increasing annual tourist numbers to 10m by 2012 and for renewable energy. In...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Feb 2007)

Brian Cowen: I have stated previously that taxation can play a part in attaining environment objectives which includes promoting energy efficiency and reducing emissions. Essentially this approach uses the tax system to provide incentives for certain behaviour. Such incentives include capital allowances for corporate investment in renewable energy projects which have been available since 1998, and the...