Results 681-700 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: 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 9 of the Consumer Credit Act. This is as a result of an amendment to the Act made last year, following consideration of a recommendation of the 1999 McDowell report. The Consumer Credit Act is the principal source of protection to personal borrowers. The...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: As I stated in my earlier reply it is not possible at present to examine the take up of tax relief for all pension contributions across different income categories. This is because the relevant information is not available to the Revenue Commissioners, because the tax relief for pension contributions for employees is normally given at source, that is, the taxable income is the income net of...

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

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that precise figures are not available as to the number of letters which issued from the financial institutions. It is understood to be in excess of 100,000. It is not known how many accounts or individuals this represents because some individuals had accounts in different banks or in different branches of the same bank. In other instances there was...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 24 and 49 together. The disabled drivers and disabled passengers (tax concessions) scheme is open to people with disabilities who meet the specified criteria and have obtained a primary medical certificate to that effect. The senior area medical officer attached to the local Health Service Executive is responsible for both the medical assessment and the...

Written Answers — National Pensions Reserve Fund: National Pensions Reserve Fund (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 46 together. I was pleased to note that the commission reported a return of 9.3% in 2004 or an appreciation of €951 million in fund value, excluding the 2004 Exchequer contribution of €1,177 million. As with its investment strategy, the fund's benchmarks are determined by the commission and I have no role in relation to them. I note from the review...

Written Answers — Revenue Disclosures: Revenue Disclosures (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that substantial progress has been made in relation to this inquiry. Arising from a voluntary disclosure programme 254 individuals came forward and made voluntary disclosures. To date this programme has recovered in excess of €105 million for the Exchequer. The Revenue Commissioners indicated previously that those individuals who fail to make...

Written Answers — Revenue Disclosures: Revenue Disclosures (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: Authorised Revenue officers are empowered to make an application to a judge of the High Court seeking an order requiring financial institutions to supply names, addresses and other relevant information concerning account holders who may have held bogus non-resident deposit accounts. Such applications are made under section 908 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, as amended by the Finance Act...

Written Answers — Revenue Investigations: Revenue Investigations (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they propose to initiate an investigation into the use by some taxpayers of insurance-based products to hide income or gains not declared for tax purposes. The preliminary work to underpin the investigation is nearing finality and I understand that the formal investigation will be announced shortly by the Revenue Commissioners. I am not in a...

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

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 47 and 51 together. Promotion and recruitment are key elements of the Government's decentralisation programme. In the implementation phase, they are important in supporting the efficient movement of Departments and offices to their new locations. In a more decentralised service, acceptance of a post, whether as a result of promotion or open recruitment,...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The intended purpose of the Dormant Financial Assets Bill was to extend the Dormant Accounts treatment of assets, other than life assurance and bank accounts, which have been dealt with in recent legislation. However, a secondary legislation approach can be adopted for some items and those requiring primary legislation can now be accommodated in the proposed Financial Services (Consolidation)...

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

Brian Cowen: Following on from the recent resignation of the chairman of the decentralisation implementation group, it is my intention to make an appointment to fill the vacancy as chairman of the group as soon as possible.

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

Brian Cowen: The Government remains committed to the aim of having 80% of all earners paying tax only at the standard rate and I will be looking at how best we can achieve this over my next two budgets. An Agreed Programme for Government specifically indicates that progress in relation to taxation commitments would be "over the next five years". The five years began in 2002 and extend to 2007. However, I...

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

Brian Cowen: When the scheme of capital allowances for the construction of private hospitals was introduced in 2001, the question of including psychiatric hospitals and geriatric-psychiatric hospitals within the ambit of this scheme did not arise. In recent months I have received proposals with regard to the provision of capital allowances for psychiatric hospitals. These proposals are being examined in...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy is aware, the court case referred to relates to the retirement lump sum of a person who retired in 1997 under an arrangement reached in 1997 for voluntary early retirement. The court held that a lump sum in this case should be paid. The amount involved was €27,687. I am informed by the Oireachtas Commission that there are up to 51 people in similar circumstances. These will...

Written Answers — House Prices: House Prices (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: Government policy in the housing market has focused, among other things, on improving supply thereby assisting home ownership particularly for first-time buyers. In this context, the years 2002 and 2003 were the eight and ninth successive years of record housing output with 57,695 and 68,819 completions respectively. This positive trend in supply has continued into 2004, with statistics for...

Written Answers — Basic Income Scheme: Basic Income Scheme (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: My Department did not produce the costing for the implementation of a basic income scheme. The examination of the issues involved in introducing a basic income scheme was undertaken by the steering group on basic income which was established as part of a commitment in Partnership 2000 for inclusion, employment and competitiveness. The group which was chaired by the Taoiseach's Department was...

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

Brian Cowen: Officials from my Department and the Department of Agriculture and Food met with officials from the Commission Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development on 23 February 2005. At this meeting, the Commission agreed to extend the deadline to respond to their letter of 6 January 2005 to the end of March.

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act 2003 established the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority. The post of consumer director is specifically provided for within the structure of the financial regulator established under that Act. The director exercises important consumer protection powers under legislation. The Central Bank and Financial Services...

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

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39, 42 and 72 together. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that a wide range of initiatives have already been taken to inform PAYE taxpayers of their entitlements to tax credits-reliefs and so avoid overpayments of tax. Revenue inform me that the vast majority of PAYE workers receive their full entitlements every year. At the beginning of each year a...

Written Answers — House Prices: House Prices (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy will be aware, the 2005 budget introduced a stamp duty relieving measure for first-time house purchasers who are owner-occupiers of second-hand houses by increasing the stamp duty exemption threshold for such purchasers from €190,500 to €317,500 and by having reduced rates for house values up to €635,000. This relieving measure will further assist affordability for...