Results 6,901-6,920 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The staffing of my constituency office is set out below: Title Number Salary Range € Personal Assistant 1 44,314 – 56,250 Personal Secretary 1 29,093 – 46,167 Executive Officer 1 29,093 – 46,167 Staff Officer 1 33,258 – 44,407 Clerical Officer 1 23,086 – 37,652 To date in 2007, overtime, salary related allowances and other allowance payments amount to €9,567.93. The...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The staffing of my private office is set out below: Title Number Salary Range € Administrative Officer 1 33,439 – 59,213 Executive Officer 2 29,093 – 47,980 Staff Officer 2 33,258 – 44,407 Clerical Officer 3 23,086 – 37,652 To date in 2007, overtime, salary related allowances and other allowance payments amount to €35,131.57. The amount paid in expenses for foreign and...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: There is one EU Directive awaiting transposition into Irish law by my Department at the current time. Directive 2007/18/EC makes two minor technical amendments to the Capital Requirements Directive (2006/48/EC) relating to the treatment of financial exposures to certain institutions and multilateral development banks. This Directive was due for transposition on 30th September 2007. It is...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: As indicated in my response to Deputy Richard Bruton on 9 October 2007, since the £5 travel tax was abolished in Budget 2000 there have been no Irish Government taxes levied on flights into, out of or within Ireland.

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 to 120, inclusive, together. 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...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Finance Act 2007 introduced a new scheme to allow the operation of DIRT free savings accounts. To qualify, there are two conditions: be aged 65 years of age or over and total income must not exceed the relevant exemption threshold, i.e. €19,000 (for an individual) or €38,000 (for a married couple). I have no plans to introduce a similar exemption for any other category of taxpayer....

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the most recent year for which complete information on the cost of rent relief to the Exchequer is available is for the income tax year 2004. Using that data, the full year cost to the Exchequer of rent relief for those aged under 55 years is projected at €67 million in 2007 terms. On this basis, a doubling of the allowance could cost in the...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I will present Budget 2008 to the Dáil on 5 December 2007 and as is normal I will not comment on the contents of the Budget in advance of that date.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy will be aware, changes to stamp duty are considered in the context of the annual Budget and Finance Bill cycle.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The tax treatment of income derived from the payment of diversification aid to former sugar beet growers is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. I am informed by the Commissioners that based on the information available to them on the current proposals for the payment of such aid the payments will be subject to income tax. As regards Budget 2008, it is a long-standing practice of the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I assume that the Deputy has in mind the re-introduction of roll-over relief. It was announced in the 2003 Budget that no roll-over relief would be allowed for any purpose on gains arising from disposals on or after 4 December 2002. This relief was introduced when CGT rates were much higher than current levels. The abolition of this relief was in accordance with the overall taxation policy...

Written Answers — Counterfeit Goods: Counterfeit Goods (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that, in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No. 1383/2003, controls on the movement of counterfeit goods apply at the point of importation into the European Communities. Revenue has responsibility for enforcing this legislation where counterfeit goods are imported into Ireland from outside the EC. The legislation works on the basis that Rights...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: In the nine months ended 2007, my Department spent some €665,000 on Travel & Subsistence of which €374,000 was in respect of EU and international travel. This compares with €633,000 spent during the same period in 2006 of which €378,000 was in respect of EU and international travel. The increase arises in the Home Travel category, which is mainly due to increased audits carried out...

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Mid-Shannon Corridor Tourism Infrastructure Investment Scheme was introduced in the Finance Act 2007. It is a new pilot tax based scheme for tourism facilities in the mid-Shannon area. The scheme is aimed at encouraging the development of new tourism infrastructure, or the refurbishment of existing tourism infrastructure, in that area. The scheme will be commenced by way of Ministerial...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: Since 2003 expenditure profiles are published annually on the Department of Finance website. The actual amount of expenditure issued is published as part of the end month exchequer material. Set out below are tables for each year that compare the published profile of net voted current expenditure with the actual amounts issued from the Exchequer on a monthly basis since 2003. Prior to 2003,...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: There is no mechanism at present allowing for a refund of VRT where a car is exported to the UK from the State; and I have no plans to introduce such a scheme at this time.

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 to 143, inclusive, together. The overall allocation of Exchequer funding for the provision of disability specific services is provided for in the annual estimates. The multi annual investment package for disability announced in Budget 2005 provided for expenditure of €135m in 2006, €198m in 2007, €253m in 2008 and €308m in 2009 mainly for health...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (8 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The restrictions on the use of tax reliefs announced in Budget 2006 and provided for in Section 17 of Finance Act 2006, which took effect from 1 January 2007, were introduced to ensure equity in the tax system. Income from the harvesting of forestry was listed as one of the specified reliefs that would be affected by the measures. Relief not used in one tax year can be carried over to...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (8 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I take it the Deputy is referring to projects undertaken under the Town Renewal Scheme. Developers of projects wishing to avail of the tax reliefs provided for under the Town Renewal Scheme must obtain a letter of certification from the relevant local authority stating that the development is consistent with the objectives of the Town Renewal Plan. This requirement is provided for in...

Written Answers — Budget Submissions: Budget Submissions (8 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I have noted the issues raised by the Cider Industry Council and they will be considered in the context of the forthcoming Budget.