Results 621-640 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (1 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: As has been the case with successive Irish Governments, I will avail of the period around St. Patrick's Day to capitalise on the good will and unparalleled opportunities generated by the celebrations to promote Ireland abroad. I will visit Atlanta and Savannah, the latter city having probably the largest St. Patrick's Day parade in the US. During my official visit to these two cities, I will...

Written Answers — Tree Planting: Tree Planting (1 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The payments of grants or premia for growing native ash trees is a matter for the Minister for Agriculture and Food in the first instance. I have been informed by that Minister that grant payments of €4951.98 per hectare are available in respect of non-oak or non-beech broadleafs. In addition, farmers can qualify for annual premia for 20 years of €441.87 per hectare for plantations of...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (1 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the person in question applied for a tax clearance certificate on 18 February 2005. The application has now been approved and the certificate will issue within the next few days.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (1 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that in August 2001 a review of the taxpayer's liability was carried out for the year 2000-2001 and resulted in an underpayment. It was agreed to collect the arrears by the reduction of his tax credits over a four-year period, 2002-2005. The taxpayer's liability has now been reviewed for the years 2001-2003 and balancing statements will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (1 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: Section 50 of the Finance Act 2004 provides for the introduction of a scheme for excise tax relief for biofuels. The purpose of the scheme is to allow qualified and conditional relief from excise of biofuel used in approved pilot projects for either the production of biofuel or the testing of the technical viability of biofuel for use as a motor fuel. A scheme, which includes pure plant oil,...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (1 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: Under the disabled drivers and disabled passengers — tax concessions — scheme, an individual in receipt of a primary medical certificate can apply to the Revenue Commissioners for relief from vehicle registration tax, VAT, and repayment of excise duty on motor fuel. With respect to the details supplied, I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the individual has not submitted an...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (1 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that this person's tax affairs are being dealt with in the Kildare Meath Wicklow customer services district in Grattan House, Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2, telephone number 01-6474000, and her tax details are held there. A form P21 balancing statement is issued to a taxpayer who is subject to tax under the PAYE system. The records of the Revenue...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (2 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: There are currently nine EU directives for which my Department has responsibility which have yet to be implemented. The deadline has passed in the case of five of these. However, one of the five directives was transposed through a number of sections in Part 3 of the Finance Act 2004 ahead of the transposition deadline of 1 January 2005 but the European Commission is still treating it as being...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (2 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I assume that the Deputy is referring to non-deposit-taking financial service providers who offer loans secured on property to persons who are perceived as poor credit risks and are thus unable to secure credit from mainstream lenders. The Consumer Credit Act is the principal source of protection to personal borrowers. All financial service providers that provide loans secured on a person's...

Order of Business. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy should run up the Jolly Roger.

Order of Business. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: Tá siad dá-theangach.

Order of Business. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I could tell Members about their expenses.

Pension Provisions. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The latest figures published in the 2003 annual report of the Revenue Commissioners indicate that in the short tax year, April to December 2001, the cost of tax relief on pension contributions was tentatively estimated at approximately €2 billion. It is not possible at present to examine the take up of the tax relief for all pension contributions across different income categories. This is...

Pension Provisions. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: Tax relief for pension contributions is not unlimited. Relief on contributions to personal pensions and PRSAs is limited to a certain percentage of remuneration which rises with age, 15% to 30% for age 50 years and above. The employer contribution to PRSAs is aggregated with the employee contribution for the purposes of tax relief limits. With regard to occupational pensions, where relief for...

Pension Provisions. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Pensions Board is due to report in mid-year on pensions coverage. That is not a long-term review.

Pension Provisions. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: Obviously, I must wait to see what is in the report. If the Deputy knows what is in the report already, he has an advantage. The Pensions Board, which has a statutory remit in this area, is addressing this issue. It will come forward with ideas and recommendations as a result of the work it is doing. With regard to what will happen with the SSIA scheme, we are monitoring that situation. I do...

Financial Services Regulation. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: All financial service providers that provide loans secured on a person's principal private residence are subject to the provisions of Part IX of the Consumer Credit Act. This is as a result of an amendment to the Act made last year, following consideration of a recommendation in the 1999 McDowell report. The Consumer Credit Act is the principal source of protection to personal borrowers. The...

Financial Services Regulation. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The specific information the Deputy seeks on the amount that can be borrowed and the numbers of institutions involved is not immediately available to me but I will make it available to her. With regard to the point on companies linked to money laundering and the allegations in regard to IRA criminal activity, the main purpose of the financial regulator's supervision of financial services...

Financial Services Regulation. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The question arises whether we should apply it to those bodies which do not take money deposits as part of their operations. As I stated, the Financial Services Ombudsman Council may well be the best avenue in this regard. We will consider the matter in that context.

PEACE II Programme. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Government is aware of the valuable role the PEACE II programme has played in building peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border region and that there continues to be a need for such funding. Therefore, I am glad to report that we have recently secured an extension of the PEACE programme to 2006. The extension has been adopted on foot of the conclusions of the Heads of...