Results 6,361-6,380 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Sugar Beet Industry: Sugar Beet Industry (5 Jul 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that they have decided that on the basis of all the information now available to them relating to the current proposals for the payment of diversification aid to former sugar beet growers to be drawn down within the framework of the National Restructuring Programme for Ireland, submitted to the EU Commission last December, payments to growers will be...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Jul 2007)

Brian Cowen: My Department has decentralised one hundred and seventeen (117) posts to its new offices in Tullamore, County Offaly and arrangements are being made for a further sixteen (16) posts to be filled. One hundred and fifteen (115) posts have been reduced in my Dublin offices. The overall net gain in terms of post numbers as a result of decentralisation to Tullamore is two (2), but this will be...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (5 Jul 2007)

Brian Cowen: Ireland is participating in the current negotiations of the 15th replenishment of the International Development Association (IDA). The latest meeting took place in Maputo, Mozambique and was attended by a senior official from my Department. As the Deputy will be aware, the Government has made significant commitments to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. This commitment...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Jul 2007)

Brian Cowen: The position is that VAT rates are applied in accordance with the rules and rating structures provided for under the EU VAT Directive. It is EU law, agreed by all Member States, that defines the scope for applying a rate to a good or service. In this regard, Ireland, apart from the farmers' flat rate VAT addition, operates three rates of VAT: Zero-rate which generally applies to most food,...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (5 Jul 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the law in regard to Primary Medical Certificates is contained in Section 92 of the Finance Act, 1989 (as amended) and the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations, 1994 (S.I. 353 of 1994). Primary Medical Certificates are issued by the local Senior Medical Officer who is an official of the relevant Health Service...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (5 Jul 2007)

Brian Cowen: A fixed stamp duty is chargeable on ATM cards, Laser cards, cards with combined ATM and Laser functions, and on credit card accounts. The stamp duty rates applicable are as follows: Stamp Duty Rate Application ATM Cards €10 Applied on all cards active on 31 December each year. Laser Cards €10 Applied on all cards active on 31 December each year. Combined ATM & Debit Cards €20...

Constitutional Amendments. (26 Sep 2007)

Brian Cowen: It took the Deputy a while to recognise a few treaties.

Constitutional Amendments. (26 Sep 2007)

Brian Cowen: Internationalists who cannot see beyond their own borders.

Communications Unit. (26 Sep 2007)

Brian Cowen: Draw from the best pup.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Kenny said that.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Brian Cowen: Former Deputy Tomás Mac Giolla also talked about a coup.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Brian Cowen: I have always been of the view that when the tribunal proceedings are brought into this House they do not do much credit to this House or to the tribunal since many attributions are accorded to it which are not in accordance with the facts. Many contentions are made as if they were established facts and we have heard some of that from previous speakers. There was also talk from the...

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Brian Cowen: ——and we will defend them against all quarters. Having listened silently to what other Members had to say perhaps I could be allowed to say what I have to say. One of the things being suggested is that opinions such as those offered by the Minister, Deputy O'Dea, on Fitzwilton v. Mahon are an abuse of the tribunal. This is not correct. As Mrs. Justice Denham said: The tribunal was...

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Kenny spoke about the need to maintain standards. I would like to quote from a person Deputy Kenny might know, the former leader of Fine Gael, Mr. John Bruton, who said: There is not, and never will be, a system of conviction by denunciation. Independent authorities, not rivals nor those with an axe to grind, make judgments as to culpability. If Deputies Kenny and Gilmore want to...

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Brian Cowen: Let us have a little less political hypocrisy from those who try to lecture me about political morality.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Brian Cowen: The political morality in which I believe is one which says that we will allow due process to be respected, that every citizen who goes before the tribunal for whatever reason when asked to do so is allowed to do so. There was more than a suggestion — an assertion clothed as fact — by Deputy Kenny that there was non-compliance regarding the Taoiseach's testimony.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Brian Cowen: I would like to quote a more authoritative person on that matter, Judge Mahon. On 20 September Judge Mahon said: "There is no allegation that there is non-compliance in the sense that there is no allegation that there is discovery, as far as the tribunal is aware, outstanding".

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Brian Cowen: He went on to state: "There is no allegation that there is discovery outstanding in relation to any of the orders made, based on the information that we have".

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Brian Cowen: Is there a problem with the microphones?

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Brian Cowen: He went on to say that the matter was not being considered with a view to referring it to the High Court for non-compliance or anything of that nature. In the words of the chairman of the tribunal Deputy Kenny is incorrect in maintaining there is non-compliance.