Results 5,601-5,620 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Finance Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (7 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy never even introduced the minimum wage when he was in office.

Finance Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (7 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: The House was heaving with socialists all over the place.

Finance Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (7 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: Deputies Bruton and Burton were in a Government with an unemployment rate of 10%.

Finance Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (7 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Deputies represent a Government that presided over 10% unemployment.

Finance Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (7 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: I move amendment No. 10: In page 15, to delete lines 32 to 40 and substitute the following: ""(2) Subject to this section, where an individual for a year of assessment proves that in the year of assessment he or she defrayed health expenses incurred for the provision of health care, the individual shall be entitled, for the purpose of ascertaining the amount of the income on which he or she...

Finance Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (7 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Burton raised this matter on Committee Stage two weeks ago and I said I would reflect on it. The relief to which she referred was introduced last year and restricted to a person minding up to three children, not their own, in the minder's own home. As I understand the Deputy, her proposal is aimed at extending the exemption to persons minding larger numbers of children of school...

Finance Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (7 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: I pointed out on Committee Stage that existing law already provides an exemption from an employee benefit-in-kind charge where employers provide free or subsidised child care for their employees. The exemption applies where child care facilities are made available solely in-house by the employer, jointly by the employer with other participants, by other persons in circumstances where the...

Finance Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (7 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: As the House will be aware, organised child care facilities in the sense they have developed is a relatively recent phenomenon. We have come from a position where we had virtually no places six or seven years ago. As Deputy Bruton stated, if employer provided child care facilities are to be an increasing feature of how child care is delivered, attitudinal shifts will be required on the part...

Finance Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (7 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: With regard to the Deputy's first amendment, I pointed out on Committee Stage that tax law provides an exemption for an employee benefit-in-kind tax charge where employers provide their employees with monthly or annual travel passes. For the exemption to apply, the employer must bear the cost of the travel pass. Subsequent to the introduction of the scheme, representations were made to...

Finance Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (7 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: As Deputy Boyle knows, purchasing carbon credits is a totally legitimate means by which one can meet one's international obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. It is not buying them out.

Finance Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (7 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: It is legitimate and is one of a number of approaches the Government is adopting. The new climate change strategy, which will be announced by the Minister and the Government shortly, will confirm all of those issues. We are making considerable progress in a range of areas and we will continue to do so. This continual attempt to denigrate the purchasing of carbon credits as if——

Finance Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (7 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: ——it was not legitimate is incorrect. It is totally legitimate and within the protocol. Many countries do so. The Department checked out whether any more flexibility could be obtained and what was possible. Administratively, it is not possible. The Government made the inquires some time ago with the transport companies to see if it was possible to deal with the situation about which...

Finance Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (7 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: The amendment was also proposed on Committee Stage and is concerned with contributions to occupational pension schemes by those on lower incomes. It seeks a tax credit to be contributed by the Exchequer to the individual's pension scheme equivalent to relief at the higher rate of tax of 41%. I take it this tax credit would be instead of relief the individual may receive at the standard rate...

Finance Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (7 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: There has clearly been a revised figure based on much more information.

Finance Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (7 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: It would explain why one should perhaps be cautious.

Finance Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (7 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: We cannot make an accurate assessment.

Finance Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (7 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: Apocalyptic assessments are more in the Deputy's expertise than mine.

Finance Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (7 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: Would the Deputy?

Finance Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (7 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: By what percentage?

Finance Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (7 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy will find the Department of Social and Family Affairs made that forecast.