Results 6,501-6,520 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — National Lottery: National Lottery (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: The National Lottery Company has informed me that it has received no allegations of the kind referred to by the Deputy. The Company has also informed me that should any allegations be made to it, they would be thoroughly investigated and, if sustained, appropriate action would be taken.

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: The initial application for a Primary Medical Certificate under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994, is made to the Senior Medical Officer of the relevant local Health Service Executive administrative area. If the Primary Medical Certificate has been refused in this case, the named person may appeal the refusal to the Medical Board of Appeal,...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that based on the information supplied they have been unable to trace any claim by the named person under the Disabled Drivers and the Disabled Passengers [Tax Concessions] Regulations 1994. A claim under the above regulations can only be considered by the Revenue Commissioners from a person who has qualified for a Primary Medical Certificate which is...

Written Answers — Cross-Border Projects: Cross-Border Projects (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: There is a North/South dimension to the work of a number of areas in my Department. The lead North-South section in my Department is mainly involved in the process of agreeing corporate plans, business plans and annual budgets for the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), one of the North/South Bodies established under the Good Friday Agreement. In co-operation with sponsor Departments, it is...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the Office of Public Works are currently assessing a number of possibilities for a permanent accommodation solution for the Revenue staff, who will be decentralised to Athy. In all it is intended to decentralise 250 Revenue staff to Athy. The Office of Public Works have also completed negotiations for the provision of premises to accommodate an...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: Navan was among the 42 towns and cities that had integrated areas designated for tax relief under the 1999 Urban Renewal Scheme and still benefits from this designation. Following a major review of various property and area based tax incentive schemes I announced in Budget 2006 that most of the existing reliefs were being terminated subject to certain transitional provisions. These included...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 216 and 217 together. The position is that the VAT regime and indeed the rating of all goods and services are subject to the requirements of EU VAT law with which Irish VAT law must comply. While we can retain the zero and livestock rating provisions which were in existence on 1 January 1991, we cannot introduce any new ones. Therefore, it is not possible to...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: In Budget 2007, I announced that it was planned to introduce changes to the current VRT system to take greater account of environmental issues, and in particular Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions, with a target date of 1 January 2008. The Programme for Government re-affirms the commitment to introduce measures to further weight VRT in favour of cars with lower emissions. A public consultation...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: The five hospitals, nursing homes or others institutions which are not located in the State and which were most recently approved of for the purpose of heath expenses relief are as follows: Name of Institution Date of Approval Gillett's Children's Hospital, Minesota, USA 10 May 2007 AZ Sint-Jan AV, Brugge, Belgium 3 January 2007 Avenues Clinic, Harare, Zimbabwe 14 September 2006 North...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (10 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy will be aware, Contracts For Difference (CFDs) relate to taking a position on the future movement of a price, either up or down, of a share, a commodity or an index such as a stock market index. There is nothing inherently wrong in this, and appropriate use of derivative products such as these by sufficiently sophisticated investors can help to provide liquidity and depth to the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (10 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: From the outset both the Government and I have made it clear that participation in the decentralisation programme is voluntary. Across the public service, recruitment and promotion practices generally are being managed in a way which facilitates the achievement of the Decentralisation Programme in an efficient manner. In that context agreement has been reached with the Civil Service unions...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (10 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: My Department has suffered no loss of assets through fire, theft or flooding during the years 2004, 2005, 2006 and to date in 2007. However, I have been informed by the Revenue Commissioners that during the period in question a number of laptops with a replacement value of approximately €17,000 inclusive of VAT were stolen from Revenue Offices. The thefts were reported to Gardaí for...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (10 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and Vehicle Registration Tax (up to a certain limit) on the purchase of an adapted car for transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities, as well as relief from excise on the fuel used in the car, up to a certain limit. The disability criteria for these concessions...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (10 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: The initial application for a Primary Medical Certificate under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994, is made to the Senior Medical Officer of the relevant local Health Service Executive administrative area. If the Primary Medical Certificate has been refused in this case, the named person may appeal the refusal to the Medical Board of Appeal,...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (10 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: As part of the decentralisation programme it is intended that Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI) will decentralise 200 of its Dublin based Headquarter posts to Dungarvan, Co Waterford. Arrangements to decentralise are proceeding in accordance with the OSI implementation plan and a site has been acquired by Office of Public Works Dungarvan for the OSI headquarters. A schedule of accommodation...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (10 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: The National Pensions Reserve Fund was established on 2 April 2001 under the provisions of the National Pensions Reserve Fund Act 2000. Section 18 of the Act provides for the payment from the Exchequer each year into the Fund of a sum equivalent to 1% of Gross National Product (GNP). Under the provisions of the Act, €6,515 million was transferred from the Temporary Holding Fund for...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (10 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: The information requested by the Deputy in a format which presents the data in terms of the numbers who are actually paying tax at the higher rate is set out in the following table. Tax year Exempt (Standard rate liability fully covered by credits or Age Exemption Limits) Paying tax at the standard rate (including those whose liability at the higher rate is fully offset by credits) Higher...

Order of Business (11 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 11, statements on the establishment of committees, and No. 3, Fines Bill 2007 — Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the proceedings on No. 11 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 3.30 p.m. today and the following arrangements shall apply: the statements of a...

Order of Business (11 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: As I understand it, legislative change is not being advocated in respect of the lecture given last evening in Cork. The subject of the lecture was the issue of procedures within the court system. Such procedures are, in all circumstances, a matter for the courts. We should maintain the separation of powers between the Legislature and the Judiciary as regards the internal workings of the courts.

Order of Business (11 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: I only wish to say that the Taoiseach addressed this matter in the House last Tuesday when the leader of Deputy Burton's party asked this question. He was of the view that it should be possible for both parties to come together and try to resolve whatever differences exist between them in the interests of proceeding in an orderly fashion. Obviously, the industrial relations machinery...