Results 7,501-7,520 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (19 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the available information in respect of the number of cars (new and used) imported into Ireland for the years 2005, 2006 and the period 1 January to 30 November 2007 is as follows: Year 2005 New 171,881 Used 41,801 Total 213,682 2006 New 178,265 Used 56,327 Total 234,592 2007 New 186,323 (Jan to Nov) Used 56,864 Total...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (19 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: There are no childcare facilities specifically for the children of civil servants in my Department. The Office of Public Works acts as agent for my Department in developing crèches around the country for the children of civil servants as part of an initiative by the Government to improve childcare provision and increase the number of childcare places available in Ireland. The Interim Board...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (19 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: Where appropriate, financial provision is made in the relevant supply services as published in the Estimates for the Public Services and accounted for in the annual Appropriation Accounts. In relation to statutory bodies, financial information is provided in their published accounts.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (19 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: I take it that the Deputy is referring to securitisation special purpose vehicles (SPVs). Securitisation SPVs are as a general rule unaffiliated in terms of their ownership structure. It is an essential function of these SPVs that they are not owned by the originating institution; this allows the investor to rely on the asset within the SPV, and protects the investor from any risk of exposure...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the information the Deputy requires is as follows: 1.Average PO age (combined standard and higher scale) = 53 2.Average AP age (combined AP std & AP HS) = 52 3.Average HEO age (combined HEO std & HEO HS) = 49 4.Relocating to other departments/offices from former taxes grades 2006/2007 = 19 5.Retirements/resignations at PO, AP & HEO in 2006 PO10...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (19 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: One Hundred and twenty-two (122) staff of my Department have decentralised to Tullamore and a further four (4) have accepted offers of decentralisation. Of those in Tullamore eighty two (82) staff transferred from Dublin posts to Tullamore, twenty-five (25) were serving in various other locations in the country and fifteen (15) were recruited specifically for Tullamore. About thirty (30)...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (19 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: The term "complex financial instrument" is not defined in Irish legislation and, as mentioned in the media and elsewhere, embraces a wide range of financial instruments, particularly in the area of derivatives. Accordingly, I have no data on the extent of usage of such instruments. If the Deputy has a concern about a specific instrument, I shall be happy to make further enquiries on the...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (19 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: In my role as the Minister for Finance I have responsibility for the development of the legal framework governing financial regulation. The day-to-day responsibility for the supervision of financial institutions is a matter for the Financial Regulator. The Pensions Board is responsible for the regulation of occupational pension schemes and Personal Retirement Savings Accounts in Ireland as...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (19 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: I assume that the Deputy is referring to the threshold relating to the restriction on the use of tax reliefs by high income individuals, which I announced in Budget 2006 and which took effect on 1 January 2007. While preliminary tax payments will have been received for 2007, income tax returns, which will demonstrate the effect of the restriction, are not due to be made until late 2008. It...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (19 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: The latest relevant information available is based on tax returns by individuals and companies of tax exempt income arising from stallion stud fees for the tax year 2005. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the total number of such returns was 185 with the total exempt income reported at €51.8 million, an average of €280,000. There are 13 returns of stallion stud fees in excess...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (19 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that its Large Cases Division looks after the tax affairs of high wealth individuals. The 2005 income tax returns show that 19 of these individuals filed returns on which they claimed non-residency for Irish tax purposes. I am further advised by the Revenue Commissioners that residence is a feature of its risk-based programmes and that the procedures...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (19 Dec 2007)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy will appreciate, consultation of the nature referred to is undertaken with a wide range of persons, groups, bodies and agencies across the very wide spectrum of budgetary and other policy and administrative matters relating to my Department. If the Deputy has a question about a specific item, I will make appropriate inquiries.

Economic Competitiveness. (30 Jan 2008)

Brian Cowen: Last month in my budget, I indicated that the outlook is for a moderation in the rate of economic expansion this year. At the time, my Department forecast GDP and GNP to rise by 3% and 2.8%, respectively. These forecasts reflected the transition to a more sustainable level of output in the new housing sector and a more moderate rate of growth in some of our major trading partners was...

Economic Competitiveness. (30 Jan 2008)

Brian Cowen: In general terms, as we face into more moderate growth rates in the immediate years ahead, the level of resources that will become available means that we must use the existing level of resources as efficiently as possible. The role of Government is to ensure that this happens. In respect of competitiveness, inflation and price stability, we will continue to have a budgetary stance that...

Economic Competitiveness. (30 Jan 2008)

Brian Cowen: I do not accept that little is happening in practice. An efficiency review has been put in place to see how we can look at issues there. In respect of the overall point made by Deputy Bruton, be it in respect of utility prices or electricity, and the Minister concerned with the advent of the all-island electricity market, which brings its own competitive pressures, we are moving from the...

Fiscal Policy. (30 Jan 2008)

Brian Cowen: On budget day, my Department projected a GDP growth rate of 3% for this year and a GNP growth rate of 2.8%. While lower than that experienced in recent years, this is still a robust rate of growth, given the prevailing international conditions. At budget time, my Department estimated that house completions in 2008 would be around 55,000 units. I believe that, in aggregate terms, the budget...

Fiscal Policy. (30 Jan 2008)

Brian Cowen: There is evidence that there will be some reduction in the residential housing output and, therefore, less employment in the construction sector. However, as far as construction industry forecasts are concerned, there is still activity in commercial property, house renovation and the increased impact of extra investment in the Government's capital investment programme. There are some...

Fiscal Policy. (30 Jan 2008)

Brian Cowen: We have a responsibility whether times are good or bad. The consistent policy framework we have adopted over the past ten years has served the country well. During that period there was extraordinary economic growth and employment creation with a reduction of our indebtedness by half. We are in a position to withstand some of these external shocks far more capably than would otherwise have...

Benchmarking Process. (30 Jan 2008)

Brian Cowen: Public service pay must develop in a manner consistent with competitiveness, price stability and budgetary policy. Government policy on public service pay is that the public service should be in a position to attract and retain its fair share of good quality staff at all levels. It should neither lead the market nor trail it. The current public service pay agreement under Towards 2016...

Benchmarking Process. (30 Jan 2008)

Brian Cowen: The pay of public servants is set by reference to rates in the private sector. The review body, like the benchmarking body, the Labour Court and the arbitration boards, is part of the established pay determination machinery. Both the review body and the benchmarking body compared public sector jobs to jobs of equal value in the private sector. The review body found that the salaries of...