Results 8,081-8,100 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The legal services ombudsman Bill is scheduled for this session. I will ask that the Minister, Deputy Brian Lenihan, be contacted to see if he can find out from the Courts Service the reason for that rather long adjournment of the proceedings given the tragic nature of the event. The recognition of Kosovo is a matter for decision by the Government imminently——

Order of Business (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: On the first matter, the statements tomorrow will be beneficial to the House. As the Deputy has said, the Joint Committee on Health and Children has dealt with this matter extensively. As a result of its work and discussions, it has succeeded in bringing some clarity to the issues, unlike the advocacy positions of the various parties concerned. The establishment of a three-person committee...

Order of Business (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: Regarding that matter, I made a provision, subject to a commencement order, as has been said. The question of changing the law in a certain area, which has been referred to by the Deputy as a loophole, relates to a practice that has been engaged in by builders in terms of how to secure the transfer of land and provide for land to be built upon——

Order of Business (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is to provide for land to be built upon.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am not sure but I think I indicated, in the course of conversations on the Finance Bill on Committee Stage, that I commissioned an independent consultant's report on whether it would be right to introduce the commencement order, given the state of the building industry and where it was in the cycle at this stage. The advice I obtained was not to proceed, in view of the present state of the...

Order of Business (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is not the law of the land.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: On a point of information, it is not the law of the land until the commencement order issues. It is an enabling section. I obtained independent advice not to commence the section. The report recommended——

Order of Business (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am not aware it is promised.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is not possible to indicate when the last item referred to by the Deputy will be introduced. The electricity (transfer of transmission assets) Bill on the EirGrid question is due this session. On the question of the labelling, our staff will have to revert to the Deputy to try to ascertain to which Bill he is referring.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I do not.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: On the licensing issue, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has asked for a report by 31 March, from Mr. Holmes, reviewing the on-licence, off-licence issue. I cannot say any more than that, to remain in line with the Chair's ruling. That is as helpful as I can be, except to say that the Dublin Port tunnel is a great success.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I understand the legislation to which the Deputy refers will be dealt with in the middle of this year, at the earliest.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is not on our legislative list. The Progressive Democrats is in government, but not in the Department in question.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: It will probably be in the middle of this year.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: While I am not aware of promised legislation, the issue is probably being examined. Tomorrow's statements in the House will enable us to get an update in respect of all of these matters.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: We hope to see it this year.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: Probably not this year.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that DIRT is payable on investment income, regardless of the amount of tax credits available to a taxpayer unless the individual is 65 years of age or over or is permanently incapacitated, and their total income (including the gross DIRT income) is less than the relevant exemption limit. Based on the limited information supplied, the taxpayer...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (27 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The commencement dates of all the sections and subsections of the Finance Act 2007 are specified within the Act, except for those sections which are subject to commencement order by the Minister for Finance. Sections which are subject to commencement order and have come into force are: Section 19(1), commenced on 6 September 2007, Section 104(1), commenced on 3 December 2007, and Section...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Feb 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...