Results 641-660 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

PEACE II Programme. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: An extension to the end of 2006 will bring the programme in line with other Structural Funds programmes. Therefore, a new PEACE III programme could not be sought until then. Both Governments wanted to ensure that a gap period did not occur and, therefore, an extension rather than a new programme was sought at that stage. The question of whether there will be a PEACE III programme will be...

PEACE II Programme. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The extension proposal contains European agricultural guidelines as regards the fund and financial instruments for fisheries guidance funding, increased funding for and focus on reconciliation, more capacity building for groups such as ethnic minorities and Protestant working class communities, continued focus on economic and social projects, specific tourism measures and a continued focus on...

Tax Code. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I assume what the Deputy mainly has in mind is support through the tax system for child care. The Government's policy is that child benefit is the main instrument through which support is provided for parents with children. One of the main advantages of this approach is that whereas tax relief would be of little or no benefit to those with low incomes, the provision of support for parents...

Tax Code. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: As I said, since this Government came to office in 1997 child care benefit has increased by nine times the rate of inflation during the period. That is a fair indication of the effort being made. It is always a question of resources. Clearly, child benefit does not defray all family child care costs, nor was it designed to do so. It was, however, recognised as being probably the best...

Tax Code. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The matter is kept under review. It is a challenge to the system to see what way we can do this but every Member accepts that using a tax credit for child care has a significant discriminatory effect against low income couples.

Tax Code. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: One can devise a range of measures but it is a question of targeting resources. We have trebled that resource since coming into office from €531 million to €1.9 billion, which represents a considerable transfer of funds to this area. An extra €1.3 billion is going into the child benefit system. Progress is being made and those who have problems with it have yet to come up with alternatives.

Tax Code. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy should keep an eye on the four seater. He has enough on his own plate rather than worrying about me.

Fiscal Policy. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Supreme Court decision on the Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill has significant expenditure implications. The issue of repaying the money has been referred to a special Cabinet sub-committee comprising the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Attorney General and myself. The Revised Estimates Volume, which I recently published, provides for a 13% increase in estimated health expenditure in 2005....

Fiscal Policy. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am glad to clarify that I never made those comments. The Deputy has referred to an inaccurate interpretation of what I said, which related to questions I was asked prior to the lunch referred to by the Deputy. I stated the blindingly obvious. I was asked who pays for it; the taxpayer pays. I was asked what impact this would have on future spending; I replied that the amount to pay for this...

Fiscal Policy. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy will be surprised.

Fiscal Policy. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: A number of people commented on radio in the aftermath of the Supreme Court ruling that they had no intention of claiming. I do not suggest how many will do so but families will come to their own conclusions as to whether they wish to claim. I am not commenting on whether they should but some people are happy with the service and may not claim. I know people who feel that way about it.

Fiscal Policy. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: Those who are entitled to claim will be paid. We will seek to devise as expeditious a way as possible of providing for what is due to them. We are still considering this at Cabinet based on legal advice and decisions must be taken on the logistics involved.

Fiscal Policy. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The purpose of Question Time is to clarify those situations, and despite my clarification, the Deputy is seeking to continue misrepresenting my position. It was stated in this House by the Tánaiste, confirmed by me in an interview when attending the ECOFIN meeting the week before the interview to which the Deputy referred and has been made clear by the Government that we will introduce a...

Fiscal Policy. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: That is the position, and when I am asked about this situation, I presume that people have taken on board the clear Government position stated by the Tánaiste in this House last week. I was asked the following week who pays for it; the taxpayer does. I said that the impact would be as follows. Whatever liability the State is deemed to owe families, estates or people who are still alive, we...

Banking Sector Regulation. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that arising from the Clerical Medical Insurance-NIB inquiry, 466 cases have been targeted for investigation. To date, 297 cases have been settled on payment of tax, interest and penalties amounting to a total of €49.51 million. A further 116 cases have been finalised with no additional liability arising. The remaining 53 cases are the subject of...

Banking Sector Regulation. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I find that most unfortunate, and I ask people and the press to check the record of the House yesterday regarding the Committee Stage of the Finance Bill. In an effort to make some sort of political point, presumably in the context of the by-election campaign, the Deputy has continually misrepresented my position. That is the second successive such question from the Deputy. She was listening...

Banking Sector Regulation. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: As is normal regarding the law on mergers or takeovers, existing liabilities of the bank remain current. People can still sue in the event of malfeasance against them under the auspices of the National Irish Bank. People buy both the assets and the concurrent liabilities of businesses when they acquire them. As I understand it there is no question of a person's right to sue or to claim...

Banking Sector Regulation. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I understand from my note that the number of cases under investigation has increased from 452 to 466, an increase of 14, as a result of some supplementary information provided by NIB during the final clean-up phase of the investigation.

Tax Yield. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the relevant information available is the amount of tax revenues collected as VAT, excise and VRT in respect of motor vehicles. As regards VAT, all figures are estimates as the information to be furnished on VAT returns does not require the yield from particular sectors of trade to be identified. It is not possible to quantify corporation tax or...

Tax Yield. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: No, it is not. The Deputy is not telling the whole story.