Results 7,361-7,380 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Budget Statement 2008 (5 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: It will be extremely simple and considerably less expensive for both buyers and sellers. More importantly, this regime will also provide for a highly progressive stamp duty system whereby those buying the more expensive houses will always pay a higher effective rate than those buying the average house. That is equity at work.

Budget Statement 2008 (5 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: Since the percentage rates concerned will be paid only on the balance over the relevant threshold, rather than on the whole amount as under the current system, the effective rate paid on most homes will be well below the headline rate.

Budget Statement 2008 (5 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: For example, a couple buying a new home for the national average house price of almost €370,000 will pay just over €5,000 less than at present. The effective tax rate falls at all levels — the duty paid on a €350,000 home will fall from 6% under the current stamp duty regime to about 4.5% under the new system and the duty on a €500,000 house will be reduced from 7.5% to...

Budget Statement 2008 (5 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: The gross cost of these measures in 2008 is €190 million. Details are in the summary of budget measures. The Rental Sector I also recognise the importance of the rental sector and the cost pressures on those renting. Accordingly, I will increase income tax relief on rent payments by 11%. I also propose to increase the threshold for the rent-a-room scheme from €7,620 to €10,000 to...

Budget Statement 2008 (5 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: Budget 2008 has been framed against the most challenging backdrop experienced in a considerable number of years.

Budget Statement 2008 (5 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: Growth is moderating, the international financial markets have been turbulent and the global outlook is uncertain. Rather than adopt a conservative, cautious stance, I believe we must respond to the challenge by taking determined action and pushing ahead with renewed vigour.

Budget Statement 2008 (5 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: Today's budget meets the challenge head on. It supports the incomes of the vulnerable. It keeps taxes low for working people and it helps home buyers and the housing market. It protects our environment for the future. It keeps the national development plan on track and it borrows modestly to invest ambitiously. It will sustain our development as an economy, a society and a nation. I...

Written Answers — Video Conferencing Facilities: Video Conferencing Facilities (5 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: My Department has deployed two levels of videoconferencing facilities which allows personnel in different buildings to interact via video and audio conferencing simultaneously. The system can facilitate communication between two people in private offices (point-to-point) or can involve several sites (multi-point) with more than one person in each meeting room or conference room. At present...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (5 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: In 2007, 145 Department of Finance Staff members availed of the tax saver commuter scheme.

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (5 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 109 together. Other than confidential waste, the weight of general and recyclable waste generated by my Department is not recorded. Since there are different methods of disposing of waste it is not possible to quantify recycled waste as a percentage of all waste. Charges for general waste are based on bulk bin loads, for recyclable waste on the number...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that both Irish and EU VAT law requires retailers who are registered for VAT to issue VAT invoices to any consumer who is registered for VAT. VAT registered retailers are also obliged to issue VAT invoices to Government Departments, local authorities, statutory bodies and any person carrying on a business activity that is exempt from VAT. The VAT...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (5 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: I have been informed by the Revenue Commissioners that no correspondence has been received from the taxpayer relating to a redundancy payment and that, until a redundancy payment is made, Revenue are not in a position to comment on the specific case.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (5 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000 — 2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. The NCIP came into effect from 1 January 2006, with an allocation of €575 million for the 5 year period of 2006 to 2010, some €357...

Written Answers — Cancer Screening Programme: Cancer Screening Programme (5 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: Last June I approved National Quality Assurance Standards for Symptomatic Breast Disease Services under the Health Act 2007. The aim of the Standards is to ensure that every woman in Ireland who develops breast cancer has an equal opportunity to be managed in a centre which is capable of delivering the best possible outcome. Based on the Standards, and the fact that the BreastCheck...

Written Answers — Video Conferencing Facilities: Video Conferencing Facilities (5 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: Video-conferencing facilities are currently being installed in my Department's offices to facilitate interaction with other Departments and agencies located outside of the capital, and to minimise non-essential travel in the future. These facilities will be operational very shortly. With regard to internal meetings, travel does not generally arise as the vast majority of my Department's...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (5 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: A total of 161 members of staff in my Department are in receipt of tax saver commuter tickets in 2007.

Written Answers — Departmental Meetings: Departmental Meetings (6 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take QuestionsNos. 79 and 80 together. My Department has a committee consisting of senior management known as the management advisory committee or MAC which meets weekly to discuss progress on the Department's principal activities. The MAC may also meet more frequently if required. The minutes are circulated, with reference where appropriate to follow-up action required and the...

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

Brian Cowen: The part time Teachers (16) assigned to CMOD (Centre for Management, and Organisation Development), are not classified as part of the Civil Service. In addition, 2 of the staff in my Constituency Office are contract staff. Apart from these, all staff employed by my Department are Civil Servants. In relation to the Office of the Minister of State, 4 of the staff are contract staff.

Written Answers — Business Expansion Scheme: Business Expansion Scheme (6 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: I announced in my Budget 2008 statement that the requirement that recycling companies must have received grant assistance before availing of the Business Expansion Scheme (BES) is to be replaced by a requirement that their business proposals must be certified by an industrial development agency or County Enterprise Board before they avail of the scheme. This change to the requirements will be...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (6 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: The extent of my responsibility for the bodies and agencies on the following list under the remit of my Department varies in accordance with the nature of the legal arrangements. While I have responsibility for policy and legislation in respect of such bodies and agencies, legal responsibility for the performance of their statutory functions and operational responsibilities rests with the...