Results 8,301-8,320 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (2 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that Section 135 (a) of the Finance Act 1992 permits a European or other foreign registered vehicle which is temporarily brought into the State by a person established outside the State to be exempted from the requirement to register for vehicle registration tax purposes for a period normally not exceeding 12 months from the date upon which the...

Written Answers — Departmental Facilities: Departmental Facilities (2 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: Given the range of Government Departments, Offices and Agencies under my aegis and the geographical spread of car parking facilities, it has not been possible to collate all the requested information in the time available. I can, however, advise the Deputy that in relation to my own Department there are just under 280 car parking spaces available to staff. The majority of these are...

Written Answers — Vehicle Registration Tax: Vehicle Registration Tax (2 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the vehicle in question has a hybrid engine (petrol/electric) and as a result there was a 50% VRT reduction granted on the first registration of the vehicle. The vehicle was first registered by the dealer on 8 January 2007 and, as the first registered owner of the vehicle, the dealer was granted the reduction in VRT as per Finance Act 1992,...

Written Answers — Garda Ombudsman Commission: Garda Ombudsman Commission (2 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: The filling of sanctioned vacancies within independent agencies is essentially a matter for those agencies — while sanction is required in order to fill posts, it is not a function of the Minister for Finance to require an organisation with statutory independence to ensure that all of its sanctioned posts are filled to the maximum extent of the authorised level at all times. Management has...

Written Answers — Garda Ombudsman Commission: Garda Ombudsman Commission (2 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 195 and 196 together. Across the public service, recruitment and promotion practices generally are being managed in a way which facilitates the achievement of the Decentralisation Programme in an efficient manner. The primary mechanism for placing Civil Servants whose posts are due to decentralise but who themselves wish to remain in Dublin is by way of...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (2 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: The reasoned opinion which the Deputy refers to was received in January 2007 and it made reference to Sections 71 and 73 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. These provisions relate to the tax treatment of the income arising on an Irish resident from UK sources. The European Commission took the view that these provisions were contrary to the obligations under Article 56EC and Article 40EEA...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (2 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: PAYE workers may claim an income tax allowance in respect of their membership subscription to a registered Trade Union. The amount of the allowance in 2008 is €350 at the standard rate of tax, which is equivalent to a tax credit of €70. This credit, when claimed, is included in the individual's annual certificate of tax credits. Where the tax credit has not been claimed up to now, an...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (2 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: The position is that it is a general principle of taxation that, as far as possible, income from all sources should be subject to taxation. This includes income received in the form of a social welfare pension and investment income. However, I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that, based on the limited information supplied, it would appear that the taxpayer's tax credits are...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (2 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the following table. Bodies etc. outside the Department of Finance, established by and reporting to the Department between 1 January 2007 and 31 March 2008. Name of Body Year established Advisory Forum on Financial Legislation 2007 NDP Central Monitoring Committee 2007 NDP High Level Group 2007 NDP High Level Strategic...

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (2 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: My Department has not used helicopters for any purpose in the period in question.

Order of Business (3 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Order of Business today shall be as follows: No. 5, Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008 — Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that Private Members' business shall be No. 31, motion re rate of unemployment, which shall also take place tomorrow immediately after the Order of Business and shall be brought...

Order of Business (3 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I apologise to the House.

Order of Business (3 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Order of Business shall be No. 5, Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008 — Second Stage (resumed). Private Members' business shall be taken immediately after the Order of Business and will conclude after 90 minutes.

Order of Business (3 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: On the question of what business can be taken and what debates can be held, that is a matter for the Whips to consider. The House had a debate on the cancer care situation some weeks ago and I contributed to that debate. The Taoiseach made the point yesterday in response to Deputy Gilmore and it is on the record that an interim policy and procedures have been adopted on the serious...

Order of Business (3 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I will check for the Deputy the other issues referred to in the legislation. On the question of the possible examination of how electoral commissions will work in the future, comments have been made by Members on all sides of the House on the impact of the constituency revisions that have been published in the report by the commission to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local...

Order of Business (3 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——for which I have particular sympathy.

Order of Business (3 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is open to this House to do what it wishes about it if we can get a consensus and perhaps a political will should be developed here to stand up for what we would regard as more common-sense solutions than those that are before us. What we usually do is delegate the responsibility elsewhere, the report comes before the House and we do not have the political courage to sort something out...

Order of Business (3 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: Because it is so politically correct, we do not interfere but stand back. It could be open to people in this House to come up with solutions if they so wish.

Order of Business (3 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am very strongly of the view that if there is a will in this House, an all-party committee could meet to discuss whether a solution can be found. Obviously one person's solution might be another person's problem. We could arrange for a minimum 20-seat representation for the Labour Party and that should sort out the problem.

Order of Business (3 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I have gone to my constituency's political meeting and asked the people of south Offaly for their views on this issue.