Results 6,001-6,020 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Departmental Bodies. (26 Jun 2007)

Brian Cowen: May I reply to the assertions made in this question? The Deputy suggested that I was an opponent of the establishment of the commission on taxation. That is groundless. I negotiated with others the terms of the programme for Government that was unanimously adopted by the parliamentary party and I welcomed that vote of confidence. The suggestion by Deputy Burton that I opposed this...

Departmental Bodies. (26 Jun 2007)

Brian Cowen: There are no grounds for that assertion.

Departmental Bodies. (26 Jun 2007)

Brian Cowen: As usual there is no basis to the Deputy's speculation about the composition of the commission.

Tax Code. (26 Jun 2007)

Brian Cowen: The programme for Government contains a commitment to examine the scope for reducing the VAT rate on environmental goods and services from the standard VAT rate of 21% to the reduced rate of 13.5%. This is just one of a number of initiatives in the programme aimed at delivering a cleaner environment. In carrying out this examination, account will be taken of the growing range of...

Tax Code. (26 Jun 2007)

Brian Cowen: The examination can consider all these issues. The law on VAT is a very technical area. EU VAT directives are the determining and over-arching legislative basis upon which these VAT issues are dealt with and we cannot take unilateral action to do what we wish regarding reductions in VAT, even though the public sometimes thinks we can. We must be in compliance with VAT law and that is often...

Tax Code. (26 Jun 2007)

Brian Cowen: There are various rates of tax in existence and I refer to the rate of 0% on foodstuffs which is an important protection for Irish consumers and a rate which is not available in every other jurisdiction in the EU. The question refers to a programme for Government commitment specifically in respect of environmental goods and services. It is in such a context that the examination will take...

Tax Code. (26 Jun 2007)

Brian Cowen: The purpose will be to encourage changed behaviour and the greater utilisation of more energy-efficient means of providing goods and services as a means of contributing towards greater energy conservation and raising public awareness of the importance of avoiding unnecessary energy use. That is the background to the review. I am aware that Mr. Gordon Brown, in his capacity as British...

Tax Code. (26 Jun 2007)

Brian Cowen: We have ensured that income support for people on social welfare and pensions has risen well in excess of inflation, the figure for last year being between 8% and 12%. We were able to consider such increases to assist people. There have been changes to fuel allowances and so on, for example, by extending the period for which people are eligible for such supplementary schemes, in an effort...

Departmental Expenditure. (26 Jun 2007)

Brian Cowen: The value-for-money and policy reviews process encompasses formal value-for-money reviews, as well as all other policy reviews conducted and commissioned by Departments which have an impact on value for money. Under the new arrangements, the Government approved some 90 formal value-for-money reviews to be carried out for the period 2006-08. That programme of reviews focuses on significant...

Departmental Expenditure. (26 Jun 2007)

Brian Cowen: That is available to committees anyway. Taking this specific structured review of value for money, we are talking about approximately €6.5 billion of expenditure being reviewed. We can have ambitious programmes of reviewing 25% of public spending and not get it done properly or we can do it properly in respect of what is achievable and what should, and can, be done. It is not exclusively...

Departmental Expenditure. (26 Jun 2007)

Brian Cowen: I have answered the Deputy's question. The total area——

Departmental Expenditure. (26 Jun 2007)

Brian Cowen: The total area under review — the 92 areas — covers over €6.5 billion. That is a significant amount of money. It is open to the committees and I have invited the Chairmen of the committees to monitor this process.

Departmental Expenditure. (26 Jun 2007)

Brian Cowen: That is only one of 92 areas. The Deputy should not suggest that is the issue.

Departmental Expenditure. (26 Jun 2007)

Brian Cowen: The issue is the €6.5 billion. The point I make is that there have been reforms in the budgetary process which are bringing greater accountability and a greater sense to the Oireachtas as to the outputs expected for the money being spent and which also ensure that during the course of next year — the first full year — we can mark that performance against the proposed outputs. Then we...

Departmental Expenditure. (26 Jun 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am trying to be in order.

Departmental Expenditure. (26 Jun 2007)

Brian Cowen: To answer the questions in reverse order, I am aware of Deputy Ó Caoláin's outright opposition to public private partnerships. PPPs can be and are used to meet public sector benchmarks. We establish if there is a way to carry out a project through public private partnership which is better than through the traditional procurement method. There is no doubt that the private sector is in a...

Departmental Expenditure. (26 Jun 2007)

Brian Cowen: It is necessary to defend it because it is under constant attack from the Deputy's quarter.

Departmental Expenditure. (26 Jun 2007)

Brian Cowen: I do not agree——

Departmental Expenditure. (26 Jun 2007)

Brian Cowen: Let me answer your question.

Departmental Expenditure. (26 Jun 2007)

Brian Cowen: As I move specifically to answer, I do not agree with the idea that we should continue to review every aspect of governmental activity when it is clear that we have already had a review of the issue under the schools initiative. We have put forward reforms and improvements, like the public sector benchmark requirements, which deal with a great many of the issues. We cannot continue to roll...