Results 661-680 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Tax Yield. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am glad to have the opportunity to record the achievement of which I am so proud because Deputy Bruton likes to hear only the first part of the sentence and shout down the second part. A total of €220 less in tax is being paid by the average industrial wage earner this year compared with 1997, while his or her wage has increased by €11,000. Instead of an average industrial wage of...

Tax Yield. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I knew that would prompt Deputy Burton to seek to shout me down. There are about 17 machines on the road and another 20 or 30 are due to come on to it. As soon as that road is completed, we will move on to the N3. The chambers of commerce in the Meath constituency made it clear in committees — I hope members of the press were in a position to attend — who they regard as the strongest...

Capital Projects. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The responsibility for capital project selection and choosing the optimal means of funding such projects rests with the agencies sponsoring and sanctioning such projects. Normally the sanctioning authority will be a Department. I am determined to ensure that value for money for the taxpayer is maximised in the exercise of this responsibility. Accordingly, Departments and implementing...

Capital Projects. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: There has been a great improvement in this area and major projects are now coming in not only on time but before time and on budget. The learning curve relating to this process was not sufficiently steep and we did not come to grips quickly enough with certain problems that arose. Some of these problems came about as a result of judicial reviews which arose on foot of people exercising their...

Capital Projects. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I previously served as Minister for Health and Children and am aware it can be the case that when a capital project — for which there have been many calls and in respect of which everyone is agreed — is proceeded with, industrial relations issues begin to arise on the current side in terms of staffing levels etc. People seek leverage and this can cause problems in respect of attempts to...

Capital Projects. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: No. I am saying that there are reasons other than those to which the Deputy referred. There are real problems that arise.

Capital Projects. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I have brought forward new guidelines. I have circulated these and I want them to be implemented. That is where I stand and I will be accountable for what I do.

Capital Projects. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I have circulated guidelines relating to contracts for implementation. I will also be engaging in detailed discussions with the construction industry in respect of other aspects of this matter. There has been an improvement in the way the system operates. Deputy Bruton, in his position as an Opposition spokesperson, is trying to suggest that nothing has been done and that they money has been...

Capital Projects. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy never made that clear.

Benchmarking Awards. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I refer the Deputy to my previous reply of 1 February 2005. In the first public service pay agreement under Sustaining Progress, the parties agreed that the benchmarking process was the appropriate way to determine public service pay rates. They committed themselves to engage in consultation on the terms of reference, modus operandi, establishment and timescale of a further benchmarking...

Benchmarking Awards. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: To answer that specific supplementary question, as stated in the national pay agreement, the parties considered in its request that the body should seek to ensure the optimum level of transparency consistent with the efficient and effective operations of the benchmarking process. How this is reflected in the report is a matter for the benchmarking body as it is independent. In the last...

Benchmarking Awards. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I disagree.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 14 together. The Government established the National Development Finance Agency, NDFA, on 1 January 2003. The NDFA has, inter alia, the function of advising State authorities on the optimum means of financing public investment projects, whether procured through a PPP approach or through traditional procurement. The NDFA does not have a project approval...

Written Answers — Special Savings Incentive Scheme: Special Savings Incentive Scheme (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that all qualifying savings managers are furnishing their 2004 SSIA annual returns at present. The Revenue Commissioners will shortly begin analysing these returns and it is expected that final details of this analysis will be available at the end of April 2005. All qualifying savings managers have, in advance of the annual return, provided a...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy may be aware, I have made a number of changes to the capital gains tax code in the 2005 Finance Bill, as initiated. These include provisions relating to the 15% deduction from the consideration on the disposal of certain assets, to the updating of the titles of certain bodies which are exempt from capital gains tax and to an exemption for foreign pension bodies doing pensions...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Government's decentralisation programme involves some 10,500 civil and public service jobs in more than 56 locations. As I have said on a number of occasions the Government is committed to the full implementation of the programme. My office has been tasked with procurement of development sites in the designated locations and the procurement of accommodation solutions to the office and...

Written Answers — Stability and Growth Pact: Stability and Growth Pact (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The European Commission presented a formal communication on 3 September 2004, outlining a range of proposals for strengthening economic governance in the European Union and clarifying the implementation of the Stability and Growth Pact. Since then, the issues involved have been the subject of detailed and wide-ranging discussions. The most recent discussions took place at the ECOFIN Council...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: As a result of the budget, the standard rate bands for this and subsequent years are €29,400 for a single person, €38,400 for a married one-earner couple and €58,800 for a married two-earner couple of which €38,400 is transferable. Lone and widowed persons have a standard rate band of €33,400. Taxable income above these levels is subject to the higher rate of tax of 42%. The major...

Written Answers — Expenditure Review Initiative: Expenditure Review Initiative (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: As I stated in a reply to a previous parliamentary question on 1 February this year, I would like to see greater progress being made in improving the arrangements for carrying out expenditure reviews and in completing reviews. I am committed to ensuring that we get better value for money from public expenditure. I have therefore accepted the recommendations in the first formal report from the...

Written Answers — Termination of Employment: Termination of Employment (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I refer the Deputy to my previous replies of 14 October 2004, 23 November 2004 and 1 February 2005. The previous Minister, as shareholder, indicated his consent to arrangements, outlined to him by the chairman of Aer Rianta on 24 September last, concerning the package the board proposed to make to the deputy chief executive who was leaving the company. I understand that the proposed package...