Results 5,661-5,680 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Tax Collection. (20 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: The recent European Council set ambitious targets, in the context of climate change, for the reduction of CO2 emissions by 20% by 2020 for the European Community compared with the 1990 levels. The Council also endorsed a binding target of a 20% share of renewable energy in overall EU energy consumption by 2020 and a 10% binding minimum target to be achieved by all member states for the share...

Tax Collection. (20 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has been indicating some of the proposals he will bring to Government in his climate change strategy.

Tax Collection. (20 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: May I make the point?

Tax Collection. (20 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: Does the Deputy want an answer at all?

Tax Collection. (20 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy will find if she is ever in Government which hopefully will not be soon, that ministerial pronouncements that require taxation measures also require Government approval and decision. We will deal with that as soon as the paperwork becomes available.

Leaders' Questions (20 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy is highly unlikely to heed that suggestion.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (20 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that interest relief is available to an individual or company borrowing money where that money is employed in the purchase, improvement or repair of a property which is let for residential purposes. The relief cannot be claimed until the property is let. The interest paid is treated as an expense deductible from the rental income arising from the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (20 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: The legal framework governing the regulation of credit unions is provided by the Credit Union Act, 1997. The Act has served credit unions well providing stability and legal certainty during a period of substantial development and growth in the assets of the movement. As a result of this development and changes in the financial environment generally, the need for some modernisation of the...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (20 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: On Budget Day, my Department projected economic growth of 5.3% in both GDP and GNP terms for this year. Interest rates remain relatively low in historical terms, and the recent increase has not altered the economic outlook. The effect of further rate increases on the economy generally and on small businesses in particular depends on several factors, including developments in our major...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (20 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: Section 86 of the Capital Acquisitions Tax Consolidation Act 2003, subject to conditions, grants exemption from Capital Acquisitions Tax in respect of a house comprised in a gift or an inheritance. One of the conditions is that the donee or successor must occupy the house for the period of 3 years ending with the date of the gift or inheritance. Where that house has replaced other...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (20 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: The National Development Plan/Community Support Framework (NDP/ CSF) 2000-2006 is an integrated investment plan and strategy for economic and social development for Ireland. It involved significant investment in infrastructure — such as roads, public transport, water and waste services, health services, social housing, education, industry and rural development. The NDP/CSF 2000-2006 is...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (20 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Budget 2007 forecast increases in tax revenues for 2008 and 2009 are 7.3% and 6.9% respectively. Employment is projected to increase by 2.1% and 1.6% in 2008 and 2009 respectively. New house price increases are assumed to be modest in both 2008 and 2009. There are no reliable macro economic indicators currently available which detail activity in the second-hand housing market, from which...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (20 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: Chapter 3 of the recently launched National Development Plan 2007-2013 sets out a strong framework for the promotion of regional development with a particular focus on investment in the National Spatial Strategy (NSS) Gateway centres. Five of the nine Gateways — Dundalk, Letterkenny/Derry, Midlands, Galway and Sligo — are in the Border, Midland and Western Region. The Plan also points...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (20 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: My department examines trends across all major tax heads, including stamp duty, on an ongoing basis. At end February 2007 stamp duties for the year to date were up 22% year on year. They are currently running at 16% ahead of the same time last year (16 March). It is very difficult to draw conclusions from tax receipts over a period as short as 3 months and to determine if the figures...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (20 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the amount of Relevant Contracts Tax [RCT] received in respect of each of the years 2003 to 2006 inclusive is as follows: RCT Gross Repayments Nett €m €m €m 2003 476.8 423.7 53.2 2004 611.6 562.3 49.3 2005 759.5 660.9 90.6 2006 949.8 856.1 93.8 The Nett figure above is the amount which was unallocated to named taxpayers. A major...

Written Answers — Price Inflation: Price Inflation (20 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: Inflation, as measured by the CPI fell to 4.8 per cent in February from 5.2 per cent in January 2007. On a HICP basis inflation fell to 2.6 per cent in February from 2.9 per cent in January. The rate of CPI inflation has increased in the past year; this is mainly due to ECB interest rate increases which are outside of Government control. Maintaining a moderate rate of inflation remains a key...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (20 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: While income tax, capital gains tax and excise duties were slightly below profile at end-February, total tax receipts were 12.8 per cent ahead of the same period last year and 2.4 per cent ahead of profile. Income tax receipts were up 8.1 per cent compared to the same period in 2006, capital gains tax receipts were up 27.4 per cent and excise duties were up 2.8 per cent. The other main...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (20 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that, as the Deputy will appreciate, the amount of arrears of tax and duty is constantly fluctuating. Accordingly for accounting and auditing purposes, and to enable comparisons over time, the debt is calculated and analysed as at 31 March each year. At 31 March 2006 the arrears of tax and duty amounted to €1,085m. The debt for the equivalent time...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (20 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: The information requested by the Deputy is presented in the table. For each year prior to 2007, the gross income on which the take home pay is calculated has been discounted as shown in the table so as to take due account of the impact of wages growth since 2000. The take home pay is calculated by deducting the tax, PRSI and the health levy due from the gross wage. Annual take home pay of a...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (20 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: VAT like all taxes is reviewed each year in the context of each Budget and Finance Bill. However, the VAT regime and indeed the rating of all goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law with which Irish VAT law must comply. Under the EU VAT Directive, Member States may retain the zero rates on goods and services which were in place on 1 January 1991, but cannot extend the...