Results 7,621-7,640 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Economic Growth: Economic Growth (30 Jan 2008)

Brian Cowen: On Budget day, 5 December 2007, my Department projected a GDP growth rate of 3.0 per cent and a GNP growth rate of 2.8 per cent for this year. Inflation on a harmonised basis was projected to rise by 2.4 per cent this year. These forecasts have not been changed. As is the normal practice, all of these figures refer to the annual average rate of increase. My Department, in line with most...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (30 Jan 2008)

Brian Cowen: The position is that the VAT regime and indeed the rating of all goods and services are subject to the requirements of EU VAT law with which Irish VAT law must comply. Whilst it would not be possible to provide a detailed breakdown of the complex rules and regulations governing VAT, the following summary addresses the specific points raised by the Deputy. Under the EU VAT Directive, Member...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (30 Jan 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that as a general rule all vehicles imported permanently into the State must register for VRT purposes within seven days of arrival. This rule applies equally to vehicles imported by EU and non EU persons. However, Section 135(a) of the Finance Act 1992 permits a European or other foreign registered vehicle which is temporarily brought into the...

Written Answers — Public Service Pay: Public Service Pay (30 Jan 2008)

Brian Cowen: Performance-related pay for the Chief Executive Officers of the commercial State bodies is determined by reference to performance criteria drawn up by the Board of the relevant body in consultation with the parent Department. The Guidelines on contracts, remuneration and other conditions of CEOs of commercial State bodies provide that these performance criteria are required to: comprise...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (30 Jan 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the position is, as follows: Where an individual receives an interest free loan from his or her employer or from his or her spouse's employer a charge to income tax arises. Prior to 2004, the onus was on the employee to inform the Revenue Commissioners of the benefit accruing. However, since 2004, the employer collects the tax due on the...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (30 Jan 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and VRT (up to certain limit) on the purchase of a car adapted for the transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities to those who meet certain disability criteria. The disability criteria for eligibility for the tax concessions under this scheme are set out in the...

Written Answers — Airport Customs Controls: Airport Customs Controls (30 Jan 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the control of import points, including private airfields, for the prevention of the smuggling of illegal drugs is primarily the responsibility of the Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners. The Revenue Commissioners are aware of the seizure of a substantial amount of heroin in Belgium in 2006 and reported links between that seizure and an...

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (30 Jan 2008)

Brian Cowen: Under the revised VRT system, the VRT rate applicable to both new and used imported cars registered on or after 1 July 2008 will be determined by the CO2 emission rating of the car and will no longer be related to engine size. As outlined in Annex D to the Summary of 2008 Budget Measures, in respect of pre-owned used cars imported after 1 July 2008, the CO2 emissions will have to be declared...

Written Answers — Benchmarking Awards: Benchmarking Awards (30 Jan 2008)

Brian Cowen: I should point out that the current public service pay agreement under Towards 2016 provides for two pay increases for the public service in 2008 subject to the Performance Verification process, a 2.5% increase with effect from 1 March 2008 and a further 2.5% increase with effect from 1 September 2008. I am aware that the CPSU is conducting a ballot on the benchmarking process and that the...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (30 Jan 2008)

Brian Cowen: I have been informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the receipts from the betting duty from off-course betting are as follows: 2006 — €54.29m 2007 — €36.37m (estimate). The decrease in yield for 2007 arose from the reduction in the betting duty from 2% to 1% with effect from 1 July 2006.

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (30 Jan 2008)

Brian Cowen: Vehicle registration tax chargeable on the registration of all category A vehicles, whether new or a used import, in the State on or after 1 July 2008 will be by reference to the vehicle's: (1) level of CO2 emissions as contained in the relevant EC certificate of conformity or EC type approval certificate, and (2) open market selling price (OMSP) as declared by an authorised distributor in...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (30 Jan 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that where rents are paid directly to a person who is resident outside the State, the tenant is obliged to deduct income tax at the standard rate of 20% from the rental payment and to give the landlord a certificate of the tax deducted. Direct payments include a situation where rent is paid into a bank account in the name of the non-resident...

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (30 Jan 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that as a general rule all vehicles imported permanently into the State must register for VRT purposes within seven days of arrival. This rule applies equally to vehicles imported by EU and non EU persons. However, Section 135 (a) of the Finance Act 1992 permits a European or other foreign registered vehicle which is temporarily brought into the...

Written Answers — Public Sector Contracts: Public Sector Contracts (30 Jan 2008)

Brian Cowen: Government recognises the contribution and the value for money that small businesses can provide in public procurement and encourages participation to the greatest extent possible. The consultation with stakeholders carried out during 2007 was undertaken to identify the issues that impacted on the small business sector in the current public procurement market. It did not envisage publication...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (30 Jan 2008)

Brian Cowen: The following table shows the number of posts in my Department and in the agencies under the aegis of my Department which will be decentralising, the decentralised location, the number of posts which have decentralised as at 31 December 2006, the number who have decentralised to date; the indicative completion date for each location and the number of Departmental staff involved in...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (30 Jan 2008)

Brian Cowen: Under the decentralisation programme my Department will decentralise one hundred and thirty (130) posts to Tullamore. One hundred and twenty three (123) staff of my Department have already decentralised to Tullamore and a further two (2) have accepted offers of decentralisation. Of those in Tullamore eighty two (82) staff transferred from Dublin posts, twenty five (25) staff were serving in...

Written Answers — Departmental Reviews: Departmental Reviews (30 Jan 2008)

Brian Cowen: Currently, there are no general reviews of the type referred to by the Deputy being conducted by my Department. The Department of Health and Children has commissioned, with the agreement of my Department, a study into the combined operation of the annual Income and Expenditure Account and the Appropriation Account which the Health Service Executive is required to maintain under the Health...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (30 Jan 2008)

Brian Cowen: As I have informed the House on previous occasions, the Standards in Public Office Act 2001 already allows the Standards in Public Office Commission to carry out investigations on its own initiative, where it considers it appropriate to do so, on breaches of the provisions of the Ethics legislation, by persons in the Commission's area of responsibility, and as provided for by the legislation....

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (30 Jan 2008)

Brian Cowen: In the case to which the Deputy refers, the decision to make a settlement was based on the particular circumstances of the case, which involved, inter alia, the nature of information provided to scheme members and, as such, is self-contained.

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (30 Jan 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and Vehicle Registration Tax (up to a certain limit), and exemption from motor tax, on the purchase of an adapted car for transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities. The disability criteria for these concessions are set out in the Disabled Drivers and Disabled...