Results 7,121-7,140 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Special Savings Incentive Scheme: Special Savings Incentive Scheme (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I have received numerous proposals for tax changes in the context of the Budget and it is a long-standing tradition that the Minister for Finance does not comment on tax measures in the run-up to the Budget.

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: It is a long-standing practice of the Minister for Finance not to comment in advance of the Budget on any tax or expenditure matters that might be the subject of Budget decisions.

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

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the estimated number of income earners on the income tax records in 2006 earning in excess of €300,000 is projected at 9,680. The figure is an estimate from the Revenue tax-forecasting model using actual data for the year 2004 adjusted as necessary for income and employment growth for the year in question. It is, therefore, provisional and...

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

Brian Cowen: As part of the Government's Decentralisation Programme work has commenced on site in relation to the provision of new accommodation for the Revenue Commissioners in Bishop Street, Newcastlewest. I am informed by the Office of Public Works that construction of the building should be completed in approximately twelve months and I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they are ready to...

Written Answers — Hospitals Building Programme: Hospitals Building Programme (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The scheme of capital allowances for the construction or refurbishment of buildings used as private hospitals was introduced in the Finance Act 2001 and came into effect in May 2002. Provided that capital expenditure on the proposed co-located private hospitals, which are designed to free-up capacity in public hospitals, conforms with the existing legislation governing that scheme, normal tax...

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

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the Vehicle Registration Tax paid for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 amount to €946 million, €1,149 million and €1,287 million respectively.

Written Answers — Vehicle Seizures: Vehicle Seizures (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that their officers, who are based at numerous locations around the country, carry out regular and ongoing checks to identify and deal with breaches of Vehicle Registration Tax Regulations as regards the use of foreign registered vehicles in the State. Revenue also periodically carries out co-ordinated national enforcement campaigns to detect...

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

Brian Cowen: The Deputy may recall that I have answered Parliamentary Questions on this issue over the past year, including on 4 July 2007 and in recent weeks. The 2003 EU Energy Tax Directive incorporated special derogations which allowed specific excise duty reliefs to be applied in a number of Member States. In the Irish context, the derogations allowed for reduced rates to apply to fuel used for...

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

Brian Cowen: A progress report by the Decentralisation Implementation Group was submitted to me and published on 8 October last. The group reported that implementation of the Civil Service element of the Decentralisation Programme is progressing satisfactorily. At the end of October 2007, over 3,000 staff had been assigned to decentralising posts. Almost 1,300 of them are in place in 20 new locations,...

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

Brian Cowen: A progress report by the Decentralisation Implementation Group was submitted to me and published on 8 October last. The Group reported that implementation of the Civil Service element of the Decentralisation Programme is progressing satisfactorily. At the end of October 2007, over 3,000 staff had been assigned to decentralising posts. Almost 1,300 of them are in place, in 20 new locations,...

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

Brian Cowen: The Finance (No. 2) Act 2007 introduced an exemption from stamp duty for first-time buyers in accordance with the commitments made in the Programme for Government to bring about immediate change to the stamp duty regime for first-time buyers. As the Deputy will be aware, it is a long-standing tradition that the Minister for Finance does not comment on possible tax changes in the run-up to...

Written Answers — Price Inflation: Price Inflation (20 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 168 together. The Director General of the Central Statistics Office has sole responsibility for, and is independent in, deciding the statistical methodology and professional standards to be used in compiling the Consumer Price Index. The index is designed to measure the change in the average level of the prices paid by consumers for goods and...

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

Brian Cowen: It is important to note that the Commission has not adopted any proposal for EU tax harmonisation. The Deputy may have in mind that the Commission services have been working at a technical level on developing a proposal in relation to a common consolidated corporate tax base (CCCTB). In view of the fact that the technical specifications for a CCCTB are only being developed by a...

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

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 171 together. A comprehensive system of banking supervision is in place under both EU and domestic law to ensure that credit institutions do not put customers' deposits at risk through imprudent lending practices. Banking supervision encompasses the authorisation of banks and building societies, their prudential supervision on an ongoing basis and the...

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

Brian Cowen: It is always worth remembering that sound prudential supervision aimed at ensuring the continuing solvency and liquidity of banks provides the best protection for depositors. As the Deputy is aware, Ireland's system of financial regulation is based largely on a comprehensive and detailed EU template and conforms to international best practice standards. According to the IMF, our regulatory...

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

Brian Cowen: The Finance (No. 2) Act 2007 introduced an exemption from stamp duty for first-time buyers in accordance with the commitments made in the programme for Government to bring about immediate change to the stamp duty regime for first-time buyers. As the Deputy will be aware, it is a long-standing tradition that the Minister for Finance does not comment on possible tax changes in the run-up to...

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

Brian Cowen: A progress report by the Decentralisation Implementation Group was submitted to me and published on 8 October last. The group reported that implementation of the Civil Service element of the Decentralisation Programme is progressing satisfactorily. At the end of December 2006, over 2,400 staff had been assigned to decentralising posts in Dublin and this number had increased to over 3,000 at...

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

Brian Cowen: While the Department of Finance does not have a breakdown of Stamp Duty receipts on an Exchequer basis, the Revenue Commissioners have provided a breakdown of Stamp Duty on a net receipts basis. Revenue net receipts differ from Exchequer receipts due to accounting and timing issues. Stamp Duty from Residential Properties on a Revenue net receipts basis for 2005 were €945 million, or 35%...

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

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that, as the information furnished on tax returns does not generally require the yield from a particular sector or sub-sector of economic activity to be identified, the precise figures of net yield of tax revenues collected in respect of the activities specified in the question cannot be readily identified. Information can, however, be provided as...

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

Brian Cowen: Based on Exchequer returns to the end of October 2007, the Departments and Agencies that are showing a capital underspend relative to the profile of monthly expenditure published in January 2007 are as follows: Vote Amount of underspend % underspend â'¬ million % Health Service Executive 75 18 Enterprise, Trade and Employment 65 20 Arts, Sport and Tourism 53 24 Office of Public...