Results 7,081-7,100 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Project Appraisals: Project Appraisals (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The responsibility for undertaking project appraisals rests in the first instance with the individual Departments and Agencies. They are prepared to facilitate and inform the internal decision making process. It has not been the practice to publish these appraisals as they generally contain commercially sensitive information, the publication of which could be prejudicial to the State's...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: While taxes are likely to be below target this year, reflecting developments in some taxes, such as stamp duty, it must be remembered that we expect to collect over €48 billion in overall tax revenue this year, around 51⁄2 per cent up on last year's very strong performance. This significant level of tax revenue will enable the Government to continue to make adequate provision for...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to examine the scope for reducing the VAT rate on environmental goods and services from the standard VAT rate of 21 per cent to the reduced rate of 13.5 per cent. I should mention that this is just one of a number of initiatives in the Programme aimed at delivering a cleaner environment. In carrying out this examination account will be taken...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96, 121 and 177 together. The information requested by the Deputies is set out as follows: Tax year Exempt (Standard rate liability fully covered by credits or Age Exemption Limits) Marginal Band Paying tax at the standard rate (including those whose liability at the higher rate is fully offset by credits) Higher rate liability not fully offset by credits...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 113 together. The Programme for Government signals that a carbon tax/levy would be introduced over the lifetime of this Government. The matter of the introduction of a carbon tax is one of the issues to be considered by the new Commission on Taxation to be established under the Programme. Consequently, at this stage, the precise design of such a tax...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: Departments have not been encouraged to slow down the roll out of capital projects under the National Development Plan 2007-2013. On the contrary, the Government remains fully committed to implementing the Plan. In this context, I will be publishing details of a new multi-annual capital investment framework for the 2008 to 2012 period on Budget Day which will provide for the continued rollout...

Written Answers — Public Sector Remuneration: Public Sector Remuneration (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: Report No 42 of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector, dealing with the seventh general review of the remuneration of top public service, posts was completed by the Review Body on 14 September 2007 and submitted to the Government. In line with the established Government policy of accepting the recommendations of this independent review body, the Government decided to...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am aware of the contents of the Information Commissioner's Annual Report for 2006, which was published earlier this year. The Freedom of Information Act, which covered 67 public bodies when it commenced in April 1998, now applies to over 500 bodies across the public sector. My Department is involved in an ongoing programme of FOI extension and is actively engaged with Government...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I assume the Deputy is referring to the National Pensions Reserve Fund. The National Pensions Reserve Fund (NPRF) was established under the National Pensions Reserve Fund Act 2000. The purpose in establishing the Fund was to meet as much as possible of the cost to the Exchequer of social welfare pensions and public service pensions to be paid from 2025 until at least 2055. These costs are...

Written Answers — Tax Forecasting: Tax Forecasting (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy should note that the Comptroller and Auditor General has not expressed concerns in this matter. In his report on the 2006 Accounts he has reviewed tax forecasts, recorded the facts and the views of the Accounting Officer. The report also referred to an October 2005 analysis by the International Monetary Fund of Ireland's track record on forecasting fiscal balance. It said: "On the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 112 together. Capital allowances are available in respect of capital expenditure incurred on the construction or refurbishment of a private hospital which falls within the definition of a qualifying hospital set out in Section 268 (2A) of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. To be a qualifying hospital in accordance with the legislation, a private...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The position is that the VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law with which Irish VAT law must comply. Under the VAT Directive Member States may only apply the reduced VAT rate to those goods and services which are listed under Annex III of the VAT Directive. As Annex III does not list the supply of road safety products, the rate that can apply to such...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The purpose of the employment of civil servants on constituency work for Ministers and Ministers of State is to enable Ministers and Ministers of State to devote their time to their Departmental duties, both at national and international (including EU) level, while at the same time enabling them to provide an appropriate service to their constituents in their capacity as public...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I have been informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the tax debt outstanding at 31 March 2007 and as reported in its annual report was €1,107million. This represents 1.8% of gross receipts, a level that is exceptionally low by international standards. The amount under appeal was €315million leaving the remainder, €792million available for collection. The debt of €792m represents a...

Written Answers — Economic Policy: Economic Policy (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The World Bank group comprises the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). Together the IBRD and IDA provide low-interest loans, interest-free credit,...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The position is that the PAYE allowance, as it was then, was introduced in 1980 to improve the tax progression of PAYE taxpayers and to take account of the fact that the self-employed generally then had the advantage of paying tax on a preceding year basis. The argument was also made at the time that the general scheme of allowances for expenses discriminated against employees and in favour...

Written Answers — Interest Rates: Interest Rates (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The level of interest rates is determined by the independent European Central Bank, ECB, in fulfilment of its mandate to secure price stability for the Euro area as a whole. The impact of ECB interest rate changes on household incomes in Ireland is an important element of the context for the Government's overall economic and fiscal strategy. This strategy has successfully delivered sustained...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: Over ten thousand nine hundred civil and public servants have applied to relocate under the Programme. Of these, approximately 6,000 or 55% are currently based in Dublin. The Central Applications Facility (CAF) remains open and continues to receive applications. At the end of October 2007, over 3,000 staff had been assigned to decentralising posts.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the cost of mortgage interest relief by way of tax relief at source for the years in question was as follows: 2004, € 232 million; 2005, € 279 million; 2006, € 352 million and from January to May 2007 inclusive, €211 million. On the basis of trends to date the cost of mortgage interest relief given through the tax relief at source system...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Irish deposit protection scheme is established under the harmonised arrangements set out in the EU Deposit Guarantee Schemes Directive 94/19/EC. The Directive currently provides for a minimum level of protection of €20,000 or 90% of the loss incurred by a depositor when a credit institution cannot repay funds, whichever is the lesser. The Exchequer or the Central Bank and Financial...