Results 721-740 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

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

Brian Cowen: There is in fact no such proposal from the European Commission at this time. The Commission has invited Council to discuss the options suggested by the Commission for direct EU taxation to fund, in part at least, the Union budget from 2014 onwards. In putting forward this suggestion, the Commission has identified VAT as one of three options for that direct EU tax. Currently, the EU budget is...

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

Brian Cowen: I assume the Deputy is referring to the recent decision of the European Court of Justice concerning Hotel Scandic, a Swedish company which was about to provide subsidised meals to its employees. There has been no European Court of Justice case involving the Revenue Commissioners' interpretation of VAT rules on canteen food sales. In the Scandic case the European Court of Justice found that...

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

Brian Cowen: As stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 52 of 1 February 2005, all organisations that are decentralising, including Ordnance Survey Ireland, OSI, have prepared and submitted an implementation plan as requested by the decentralisation implementation group, DIG. This plan included detailed material on all issues to be addressed in terms of people, property and business planning and...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 112 together. I would also refer the Deputies to my response to Questions Nos. 23 and 82 of 1 February 2005. A detailed evaluation of the National Development Plan 2000-2006 was conducted by the ESRI in 2003. The evaluation found that the NDP has made significant progress towards its objectives of promoting continuing sustainable national economic and...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Department of Social and Family Affairs has the primary role in the provision of financial support in respect of children. Child benefit is the main fiscal instrument through which such support is provided. Child benefit provides support to all parents or guardians in their parenting role irrespective of the parents' economic or income status and, as such, it does not contribute to...

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

Brian Cowen: I am satisfied that the Revenue Commissioners are pursuing a programme which is dealing in a very determined way with tax evasion. The commissioners are taking an approach which, depending on the nature of the case, involves either a monetary settlement and possible publication, or criminal investigation and prosecution. This combined policy has yielded significant results. In recent years,...

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

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the table provided gives information in relation to court prosecutions initiated for tax evasion. Year No. of Cases Fines Imposed Custodial Sentence (suspended in brackets) Details of Custodial Sentence 1997 1 £635 Nil 1998 6 £42,854 2 (2) (a) six months (suspended) 1999 1 £19,046 Nil ...

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

Brian Cowen: The 2003 annual report of the National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission shows that at 31 December 2003 the market to market value of the fund was €9,561 million. This included cash deposits of €1,283 million, net current assets of €36 million, unrealised gains on foreign derivative contracts of €70 million and equities and bonds worth €8,172 million. Of this €8,172 million,...

Written Answers — Public Private Partnerships: Public Private Partnerships (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Government is committed to developing the PPP process as a viable procurement option for appropriate projects within the overall context of public investment in infrastructure and public services. PPPs are one procurement tool to be used alongside traditional approaches. In common with all large capital projects, the value for money achieved in individual projects is determined by a...

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

Brian Cowen: The latest figures from the central applications facility show there is very substantial interest in the programme. New applications for decentralisation continue to be received. Since the period for priority applications finished in September 2004, over 500 new applications have been received. During the period for priority applications up to 7 September 2004, a total of 8,958 staff, made up...

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

Brian Cowen: I announced in my Budget Statement that my Department and the Revenue Commissioners will undertake a detailed review of certain tax incentive schemes and tax exemptions in 2005. This review will evaluate their impact and operation including their economic and social benefits for the different locations and sectors involved and the wider community. In addition, the review will examine the...

Written Answers — Consumer Debt: Consumer Debt (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am aware of the concerns expressed by a number of commentators in relation to the continued strong growth in credit, particularly to the household sector and the possible effects of increasing indebtedness upon borrowers. The growth of credit and the associated increase in indebtedness is a matter for the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland, taking into account its role...

Written Answers — National Debt: National Debt (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: Between 31 December 1997 and 31 December 2004, the national debt fell from €38,966 million to €37,846 million, a reduction of €1,120 million in cash terms. I would suggest that the generally-accepted measure of the debt burden on an economy is the percentage of gross national product, GNP, to which the debt equates. Between 1997 and 2004, the debt-to-GNP ratio has fallen from 66.1% to...

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

Brian Cowen: The budget 2005 spending projections for each Department were updated in the 2005 Revised Estimates for Public Services which were published last week. The REV provided that estimated net voted spending on departmental services will be €36.2 billion. The end-February Exchequer returns showed that net spending by Departments and offices is €0.2 billion below profile — of which about 80%...

Written Answers — Public Private Partnerships: Public Private Partnerships (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 111 together. The multi-annual capital investment framework set out in annex D of budget 2005 sets out targets for the period 2005-2009 for capital investment funded by PPP-National Development Finance Agency, NDFA. The total 2005-2009 PPP-NDFA targets, which would be remunerated by long-term unitary payments from Departments' Votes, is €3.675...

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

Brian Cowen: The two reports of the Decentralisation Implementation Group, DIG, dated 31 March 2004 and 30 July 2004 provide detailed accounts of the progress made in implementing the decentralisation programme announced last December. An analysis of the applications registered with the central applications facility by 7 September 2004 has also been published. Each organisation produced a first iteration...

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

Brian Cowen: The recent developments which are currently the subject of a Garda investigation and widespread publicity, must be viewed in perspective. There is no evidence to date that these activities are of a scale or volume that would pose potential security risks in international banking. Similarly, there is no evidence of any significant involvement, whether deliberate or inadvertent, of the national...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Security: Banking Sector Security (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 — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concessions scheme is open to people with disabilities who meet the specified medical criteria. An interdepartmental review group was established to review the disabled drivers' and disabled passengers' tax concessions scheme. The group examined all aspects of the scheme including the qualifying medical criteria. The report was published on my...

Written Answers — Debt Relief: Debt Relief (8 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: Adequate financing for debt relief is essential to help reduce poverty in many parts of the world. It is important to adequately finance the relief of debts owed to the International Monetary Fund so that the fund can continue to play a role in the poorest countries. The managing director has stated that he will, as requested, bring forward proposals at the spring meetings, covering the...