Results 7,981-8,000 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: While I cannot yet anticipate the outcome of the Government decision, my impression is that the referendum is more likely to be held in the first rather than second half of the year. However, I cannot be held to that timeframe until a formal decision has been made. I will ask the line Minister concerned to indicate to the Deputy whether primary or secondary legislation will be used to...

Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I understand the Bill is due this session, although I cannot be specific. Deputies will have an opportunity to discuss the Bill on Second Stage and there will be considerable interest in it on all sides.

Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I understand the sale of alcohol Bill is due later this year. I accept the incident to which Deputy Upton referred highlights the sad position society is in when such violence can be wreaked on a street on what appear by all accounts to be two very reputable individuals who were model tenants in the properties in which they stayed in the Deputy's constituency. It is a sad occasion and I...

Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The heads of the Bill have been approved but detailed drafting is still required.

Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I understand the nurses and midwives Bill is due this year. The Chief Whip liaises with the Attorney General and the legislation committee in an effort to progress legislation. Unfortunately, there are always competing priorities. For example, the referendum Bill is being given significant personal attention by the Attorney General.

Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Tribunals of Inquiry Bill has reached Second Stage. Deputy Sheehan can come to the House and hold his arm appropriately.

Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I cannot give an accurate reply. I will have to ask the Minister concerned.

Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: As that is a specific policy matter for the line Minister, I cannot give a specific and accurate response. I will refer the Deputy's inquiry to the Minister.

Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: Yes.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy will be aware that the Finance Bill introduces an amendment to the VAT Act 1972 that will reduce the VAT rate applicable to non oral contraceptive products from 21% to 13.5%. This is a significant reduction in itself which will take effect from the passing of the Finance Bill. It is hoped that this measure will address concerns raised by the various health bodies. In relation to...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The premise on which this question is based appears to be that businesses should receive specific compensation through the tax system for the loss of business which they consider they have experienced or will experience as a result of works carried out by local authorities and others. I do not consider the tax system to be the appropriate mechanism through which to deal with matters of this...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I want to assure the Deputy that the Government's position on our corporate tax regime is unambiguous. It is clearly stated in the Programme for Government that the 12 1⁄2% rate of corporation tax will remain. That commitment is protected, in an EU context, by the principle of unanimity in taxation matters. The draft Reform Treaty confirms that position. Although the Deputy does not specify...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The proposals published by the Commission begin the process which will lead to an agreement on the contributions of individual Member States towards meeting the EU targets agreed at the 2007 Spring Council. The Commission proposes that Ireland reduces its greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020, based on 2005 emissions figures, and achieve an overall target of 16% of final energy consumption...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) has since 1989, operated a savings protection scheme (SPS) for credit unions. The SPS aims to protect the individual savings of members by ensuring that credit unions are financially and administratively sound and provides for savings protection for each individual credit union member. It is important to note that under the SPS regime no member of a...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Irish deposit protection scheme complies with harmonised arrangements set out in the EU Deposit Guarantee Schemes Directive 94/19/EC. The Directive currently provides for a level of protection of 90% of the loss incurred by a depositor when a credit institution cannot repay funds, subject to a maximum payment of €20,000. The Exchequer or the CBFSAI do not fund the scheme; it is funded...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (26 Feb 2008)

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 — Ethics Legislation: Ethics Legislation (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 36 together. 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...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: On Budget day, my Department projected a GDP growth rate of 3 per cent for this year and a GNP growth rate of 2.8 per cent. While lower than in recent years this is still a robust rate of economic growth given the prevailing international conditions. A General Government deficit of -0.9 per cent of GDP in 2008 and a General Government debt level of around 26 per cent of GDP at end-2008 were...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the 2005 income tax year was the first year for which it was possible to capture the number of returns of income and gains made by persons not domiciled in the State. The number of individuals that show they are not domiciled in the State on their 2005 return of income is 4,955. In addition, the 2005 returns show 2,239 spouses as non-domicile....

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy will be aware, within the implementation of the overall legislative framework, private sector credit growth and debt levels are, in the first instance, a matter for the Central Bank and the Financial Services Authority of Ireland (CBFSAI). This follows from its role as part of the European System of Central Banks and its functions, as the Financial Regulator, in relation to the...