Results 7,001-7,020 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Benchmarking Awards. (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The situation that arose relates to the implementation of the independent review body on higher remuneration in the public sector. It was established in 1969 as an independent standing body, whose primary function was to advise the Government on the general levels of remuneration appropriate to higher public servants in the Civil Service, local authorities, former health boards,...

Benchmarking Awards. (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: It is incorrect to state that the independent review body did not refer to performance pay. Those were in respect of further performance related payments they suggested should be paid. We have deferred consideration of these payments and they do not apply to the Judiciary or public office holders. The review body suggests it is much less than the proportion of the pay available as bonuses...

Benchmarking Awards. (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: It has been the policy of successive Governments to accept the independent review body recommendations.

Benchmarking Awards. (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: It has been. In respect of report No. 37 and the fifth general review, received in January 1997, on 4 March 1997 the Government published a report stating that in line with the established Government policy of accepting the recommendations of this independent review body, the Government had decided to accept the recommendations of report No. 37 in principle. It went on to say, because there...

Benchmarking Awards. (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: It is the issue. There is a fair deal of political hypocrisy emanating from this House.

Benchmarking Awards. (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: Top civil servants cannot negotiate with themselves on behalf of themselves. Since 1969 this independent review body has carried out that function. Successive Governments have adopted the recommendations.

Price Inflation. (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: On 6 December 2006, when I presented budget 2007, inflation, as measured by the consumer price index, was forecast to average 4.1% this year. This forecast was based on the normal technical assumption of unchanged interest rates. The budget day forecast for the harmonised index of consumer prices inflation — the EU inflation measure — was 2.6% this year. The most recent inflation...

Price Inflation. (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: Record social welfare packages were introduced in the past three budgets, in view of the revenue available and the growth rates achieved. Growth rates are changing and inflation must be monitored. We intend to assist those on social welfare and, in my time as Minister for Finance, which added to the successful efforts of my predecessor, we have met national anti-poverty targets by...

Price Inflation. (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy is aware that two weeks prior to the budget I cannot discuss issues of that nature in any level of detail. I can only provide a general indication of the Government's success up to now and refer to its and the previous Administration's intention to protect living standards of those in receipt of social welfare payments. We have been extremely successful in removing hundreds of...

Tax Code. (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The question of equity in the treatment of housing, of which the stamp duty code is a part, must be seen in the context of the overall tax treatment of property owners. The OECD has reported that Ireland "has some of the most generous tax provisions for owner-occupied housing". Ireland is the only country to allow tax relief on rent, mortgage interest payments, capital gains and capital...

Tax Code. (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: These matters were widely amplified and articulated as the people went to the polls and made decisions in respect of some of them. I note the Deputy's interest in protecting the tax base. His party's election campaign proposal in respect of this matter would have cost €660 million in a full year and would not have had any impact on prices or accrued any benefits for first-time buyers, the...

Tax Code. (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I know the Deputy was busy canvassing in his constituency at the time but these arguments were all rehearsed and a democratic decision was taken in respect of them, particularly in the context of his party's specific proposal.

Tax Code. (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: In the two years prior to the general election house prices were rising. When one considers movements in house prices, it is important to recognise that one is coming at this matter against a background of previous rises in such prices.

Tax Code. (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The rises to which I refer occurred during a period when we were trying to make house prices more affordable. One cannot, depending on which vested interest one talked to most recently, jump from one side of the argument to the other.

Tax Yield. (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: In the pre-budget outlook released in mid-October, a technical fiscal position for the years 2008 to 2010 was set out in Table 6. The publication projected tax receipts for 2010 to be €56,520 million on a technical basis, an increase of 6.25% over the 2009 estimate. This was the first time my Department published a tax revenue projection for 2010. Tax revenue of this magnitude is...

Tax Yield. (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: In our manifesto we set out what we expected from a 4.5% rise in growth per year and the spending priorities we would outline. Since then, we had the election and a programme for Government in which we set out the stall of the Government. In the second half of this year we saw a further slow down. The entire programme for Government and all manifesto commitments based on the assumptions...

Tax Yield. (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The programmes put forward in the election by Deputy Bruton's party and other parties with which it wished to coalesce were not specific when it was pointed out they were €1.7 billion above its programme commitments during the second week of the campaign. This was not Fine Gael's fault. It came from the then leader of the Labour Party who promised the sun, moon and stars to everybody....

Tax Yield. (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I did not interrupt Deputy Bruton. I was quite rightly asked what are my priorities if 4.5% growth is not achieved and I set them out clearly.

Tax Yield. (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: Unlike the Opposition at the time I received credit for the clarity which I applied to answering the question. With regard to the programme for Government, we have established the guiding economic principles for the next five years. We will aim to achieve further significant sustainable growth, operate a responsible fiscal policy, deliver the national development plan——

Tax Yield. (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: ——and we will invest in increasing the productive capacity of the economy. I intend to implement the capital investment programme in the national development plan——