Results 5,421-5,440 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

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

Brian Cowen: I should explain that the supply of a nursing service by a qualified nurse comes within the remit of the First Schedule of the VAT Act 1972. This means they do not charge VAT on the services they provide and cannot recover VAT incurred on goods and services on their inputs. In order to qualify for exemption the person must be supplying "professional services of a medical nature in the...

Written Answers — Airport Customs Controls: Airport Customs Controls (7 Feb 2007)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy is aware, following a seizure of heroin in Belgium and the related arrest of three Irish nationals last year, the Revenue Commissioners initiated a review of Customs Controls at Licensed Aerodromes. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that their review has now been completed. The review examined the controls, the conditions of approval and the risks, from a Customs...

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

Brian Cowen: There is no requirement in place in relation to carbon costing individual investment proposals contained in the National Development Plan or elsewhere. I am informed by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government that the impact on greenhouse gas emissions of the policies and measures on which investment proposals contained in the National Development Plan are based will...

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

Brian Cowen: Irish legislation on money laundering is set out in the Criminal Justice Act, 1994, as amended. Primary responsibility for legislation in this area rests with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. This legislation and relevant regulations made by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform implemented the EU Money Laundering Directives of 1991 and 2001 in Ireland. The...

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

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 191 together. The level of capital investment included in the National Development Plan and its sectoral mix was decided by the Government on the basis of its assessment of investment needs. This assessment was particularly informed by the infrastructural deficits which Ireland faces and projections that the population could be in excess of 5m by...

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

Brian Cowen: I have no statutory function in setting the interest rates offered by credit institutions — they are based on commercial criteria in the light of market conditions. Since 1992, the Irish banking market has been open to competition from credit institutions authorised in any EU/EEA Member State. Hence, new entrants to the market from abroad are competing with domestic banks for business in,...

Written Answers — European Bank for Reconstruction and Development: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (7 Feb 2007)

Brian Cowen: The nomination procedures applied were those required in the appointment of Directors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The Directors of the Bank are nominated by the Governors representing the member countries in a particular constituency. As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland is a member of a constituency with Denmark, Lithuania and FYR Macedonia. The Bank makes...

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

Brian Cowen: My Department is responsible for the policy and legislative framework promoting the effective regulation of the financial services sector with a strong focus on the consumer. The Financial Regulator is responsible for monitoring and enforcing adherence to the Consumer Protection Code by financial service providers in accordance with its statutory functions and its Strategic Plan 2007-2009....

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

Brian Cowen: The tax revenue projections for the years 2007 to 2009 are the Budget 2007 projections which are detailed in the table below. Tax Revenue 2007 2008 2009 €m €m €m Customs 285 305 320 Excise Duties 6,069 6,555 6,870 Capital Gains Tax 3,345 3,605 3,855 Capital Acquisitions Tax 375 405 430 Stamp Duty 3,925 4,125 4,300 Income Tax 13,555 14,060 15,095 Corporation Tax 6,650 7,220...

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

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the excess deductions were due to human error. Revised procedural and communication arrangements have been put in place by Revenue to prevent such a recurrence. I am further advised by Revenue that all the amounts deducted in error have been repaid. Customers who incurred the excess deductions have been invited to supply Revenue with details of...

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

Brian Cowen: There are three significant financial elements of the sugar compensation package, as far as farmers, as sugar beet growers, are concerned. The first is an amount of €123 million, payable over the next seven years via the single payment scheme, as compensation for the drop in the support price of beet. The second element of the compensation package is the restructuring aid. In July 2006 the...

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

Brian Cowen: In Budget 2006 I announced the introduction of a limit, with effect from 1 January 2007, on the use of tax reliefs, including certain exemptions, by some high-income individuals. Section 17 of Finance Act 2006 gave effect to this announcement. This measure was designed to address the issue of a small number of individuals with high incomes who, up to now, mainly by means of the cumulative...

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

Brian Cowen: The most recent information on the implementation of the NDP/CSF 2000-2006 was reported to the NDP/CSF Monitoring Committee at its December 2006 meeting and relates to the period January 2000 to end June 2006. The data reported indicates that some €48.3 billion has been spent on the Plan at the end of June 2006. This represents 85% of original profile for the life of the Plan — for which...

Written Answers — Personal Indebtedness: Personal Indebtedness (7 Feb 2007)

Brian Cowen: The issues that give rise to debt problems for people in these household categories include the cost and availability of credit for people on low incomes, the barriers they face in accessing mainstream and affordable forms of credit and the challenges low income households encounter in managing their finances, in addition to factors such as changes in employment status or earning capacity....

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

Brian Cowen: The reduction in the time period to which the questions refer was part of a package of measures introduced in 2003 to deal with the following matters: There was no general statutory right to repayment of overpaid tax — and in some circumstances overpayments were not refundable. Interest on repayments was paid in very limited circumstances and was not paid in respect of PAYE overpayments....

Written Answers — Personal Indebtedness: Personal Indebtedness (7 Feb 2007)

Brian Cowen: The issues surrounding savings and borrowings for people on low incomes are not uniform as they can vary from person to person and over the lifetime of the individual. Persons on low incomes can encounter obstacles in accessing financial services from mainstream financial services providers. The cost and availability of credit for people on low incomes and the barriers they face in...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (7 Feb 2007)

Brian Cowen: Inflation, as measured by the average annual change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 4.0 per cent for the year 2006 as a whole. A large proportion of the rise in the annual inflation rate in 2006 was due to external factors, primarily rises in interest rates by the ECB. Maintaining a moderate rate of inflation remains a key priority of economic policy because of its importance in...

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

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that, based upon the latest information available, 5,413 individuals have invested SSIA funds into approved pensions under the Pensions Incentive Tax Credits scheme up to end December 2006. Two-thirds of all SSIAs will mature in the early months of 2007. In order to avail of the incentive, the following criteria must be met: One must be an SSIA...

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

Brian Cowen: In making the Budget income tax forecast for 2007, my Department estimated that there would be a gain to income tax in 2007 of approximately €600 million over 2006 arising from the discontinuance of the tax credit contribution to SSIAs and also the exit tax yield from maturing SSIAs. It should be noted that in 2007 the gain arising from the ending of the SSIA scheme will be broadly offset...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (7 Feb 2007)

Brian Cowen: The relatively high level of private sector debt must be seen in the context of a sharp decline in public sector indebtedness in recent years. Moreover, a large part of the increase in private sector indebtedness reflects the accumulation of housing assets on the part of households. However, as I have pointed out before, both borrowers and lenders need to be aware that interest rates are...