Results 981-1,000 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Commemorative Coinage: Commemorative Coinage (21 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: Since the introduction of euro notes and coins in 2002, two commemorative coins have been issued in Ireland: €5 and €10 coins to mark the Special Olympics World Summer Games 2003; and a €10 coin to mark the accession of ten new member states to the EU during the Irish Presidency in 2004. A €10 coin will be issued in May this year to mark the bicentenary of the birth of William Rowan...

Written Answers — Tax Clearance Certificates: Tax Clearance Certificates (21 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the information requested is not readily available but Revenue will source as much information as possible and forward this to the Deputy within a matter of weeks.

Written Answers — Parental Leave Provisions: Parental Leave Provisions (21 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: The arrangements for maternity leave for civil servants come within my area of responsibility. Arrangements in other parts of the public service are the responsibility of the appropriate Minister. Under maternity protection legislation all employees are entitled to 18 weeks' paid maternity leave and eight weeks' additional unpaid maternity leave. Maternity benefit is payable to employees for...

Written Answers — Budget Submissions: Budget Submissions (21 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: On the issues raised in the submission from the Retired Nurses Association that are within my area of responsibility, while superannuation benefits of nurses are a matter for the Minister for Health and Children in the first instance, the position for public service pensions generally is that prior to 31 July 1973 the law required that female employees had to resign on marriage. In such...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (21 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 102 together. In carrying out the functions of his-her office, every Minister is expected at all times to observe the highest standards of ethical behaviour. In 2003, pursuant to section 10(2) of the Standards in Public Office Act 2001, the Government drew up the Code of Conduct for Office Holders. The code was published by the Standards in Public...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures. : Drug Seizures. (26 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 226 to 230, inclusive, together. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the relevant statistics are set out in the following table. Year Cannabis (kgs) Cocaine (kgs) Ecstasy Ecstasy (kgs) Crack Cocaine (kgs) Heroin (kgs) 1995 3,214.34 0.01 12,129 3.64 3.95 1996 1,902.1 651.01 1,059...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (26 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: The net receipt of income tax collected under the PAYE system in the calendar year 2004 was €8.111 billion. This was approximately €200 million or 2.5% higher than expected.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (26 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: The National Development Finance Agency, NDFA, was established on 1 January 2003. The role of the NDFA is to advise Departments on the optimum means of financing the cost of capital projects in order to achieve value for money, whether procured through a PPP approach or through traditional procurement. In the case of PPP projects, it also involves advising State authorities on all aspects of...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (26 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: The functions of the National Development Finance Agency, NDFA, which was established on 1 January 2003, are performed through the National Treasury Management Agency, NTMA, under section 11(1) of the National Development Finance Agency Act 2002. In common with the other functions performed through the NTMA, the NDFA is staffed by persons who are employees of the NTMA. The NTMA currently...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (26 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the VAT yield from renewable energy for 2005 is tentatively estimated at €10.1 million. The ESB estimates that 7.5% of electricity production is from renewable energy sources. The VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law, with which Irish VAT law must comply. The supply of electricity is subject to the...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (26 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: I can confirm to the Deputy that the correspondence in question was received in my Department on 20 April 2005. I have asked the Revenue Commissioners to examine the matter and report back to me as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (26 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the tax liabilities which an oil rig worker incurs while working outside the country for more than six months in a year depend on the individual's personal circumstances. In particular, the following factors will be relevant: the individual's residence position; the source of the individual's income, be it Irish or foreign; the individual's...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (26 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: The central applications facility was set up to receive applications from civil and public servants to participate in the decentralisation programme. From the outset, the terms on which the facility operates have been the subject of detailed discussions with the Civil Service unions. Based on these discussions, all applicants were allowed to nominate a total of ten locations to which they...

Written Answers — Economic and Monetary Union: Economic and Monetary Union (26 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: I have no problems with the integrated approach. It clearly makes sense. It is essential that the proposed national programmes to give effect to the guidelines be underpinned by sound macroeconomic policies and be sufficiently flexible to take account of national circumstances and national policy priorities. I welcome the fact that this concern is clearly reflected in the Commission's approach.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (26 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: It is undoubtedly true that the tax relief scheme for donations, introduced by my predecessor in the Finance Act 2001, is an effective means of incentivising private individuals to assist charities in the Third World. With regard to the proposals of the ICTRG, I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 50 by Deputy Cuffe on the same subject on 3 March last. As I indicated on that...

Written Answers — Oil Prices: Oil Prices (26 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: Economic models can be used to simulate the possible impact of changes in oil prices. Model results suggest that, holding other factors constant, each sustained $10 per barrel rise in the price of oil reduces growth in the Irish economy by approximately 0.5 percentage points in a full year, relative to baseline. As outlined in the stability programme update of December 2004, this lower growth...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (26 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: When the new decentralisation programme was announced by my predecessor, he appointed a decentralisation implementation group to implement it and drive the process forward. The group's terms of reference include the examination of how decentralisation might enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the public service. In its report of March 2004, the implementation group recommended that...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (26 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: As I outlined to the House in my answers to similar questions on 3 March 2005, promotion and recruitment are key elements of the Government's decentralisation programme. I refer the Deputy to my earlier reply which set out the general position on this matter. In accordance with the recommendations of the decentralisation implementation group, recruitment and promotion practices and procedures...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (26 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am aware of the concerns expressed by a number of commentators on the continued increase in credit growth, particularly to the household sector, and the possible effects of increasing indebtedness upon borrowers. The growth of credit and the associated increase in indebtedness are a matter for the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland, taking into account its role as a...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (26 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that, under section 598 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, an individual who is 55 years or over may obtain relief from capital gains tax on the sale of his or her qualifying assets. In a case where the site being sold is part of a farm that was leased under the 1992 or the 2000 EU early retirement from farming scheme, qualifying assets include land...