Results 1,221-1,240 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Special Savings Incentive Scheme: Special Savings Incentive Scheme (10 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: It is not a requirement per se of the SSIA scheme for an individual to earn any income. However, Part 36A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, as inserted by section 33 of the Finance Act 2001, requires inter alia that for a saver to get the full benefit from an SSIA account he or she must be the beneficial owner of the funds in the account and must have subscribed to the SSIA from funds...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (10 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: The two reports of the decentralisation implementation group, of 31 March and 30 July 2004, provide detailed accounts of the progress made in implementing the decentralisation programme announced in December 2003. An analysis of the applications registered with the central applications facility by 7 September 2004 has also been published. The implementation group's report of 24 November 2004...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (10 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that some 66,000 income earners are estimated to have become exempt from income tax as a result of the changes announced in the 2005 budget. This figure is a provisional estimate. A married couple that has elected or has been deemed to have elected for joint assessment is counted as a single tax unit.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (10 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: Tax relief for unreimbursed medical expenses does not cover plastic surgery or other medical works or procedures undertaken on purely cosmetic grounds. The clinic referred to by the Deputy is not on the list of approved hospitals for medical treatments that might qualify.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (10 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a letter issued to the taxpayer on 3 May 2005 advising that no rent relief is due in respect of rent payments as only rent payable in respect of private rented accommodation is allowable.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (10 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Government's decentralisation programme, which was announced in the 2004 budget, will involve the transfer of 210 posts to Dungarvan. Initial data from the central applications facility indicates that 15 staff of Ordnance Survey Ireland have applied to decentralise to Dungarvan and a further 47 expressions of interest in decentralising to Dungarvan have been made by civil servants. All...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (11 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that notices of assessment issued on 1 July 1998 detailing the taxpayer's liabilities for the tax years 1996-97 and on 17 February 1999 for the years 1997-98. The taxpayer also received a demand for outstanding liabilities for 1996-97 on 2 September 1998 and made three additional payments reducing his liabilities for 1996-97 to €380.03. A total of...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (11 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am aware that a number of eastern European countries have introduced a flat rate of tax on personal and business income. The tax policies of individual countries reflect a range of factors and democratic choices, social, economic and cultural. The Irish tax system as it has developed, particularly over the period 1997 to date, with lower rates of personal and business taxation, has proven,...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (12 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners has primary responsibility for the prevention, detection, interception and seizure of controlled drugs intended to be smuggled or illegally imported into the State. The Revenue Commissioners have informed me that the position in relation to the issues raised by the Deputy is as follows. Drug enforcement work is carried out with the assistance...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (12 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: Since it would not be possible in the time available to assemble the information sought by the Deputy, I propose to ask each Minister to address the question and to reply directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (12 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a PAYE balancing statement for 2004, showing details of earnings and tax deductions, will issue to the taxpayer in the next few days.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (12 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: As I have stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 194 dated 10 May 2005, the Government's decentralisation programme, announced in budget 2004, will see the transfer of 210 posts to Dungarvan. Initial data from the central applications facility indicate that, while 15 staff of Ordnance Survey Ireland, OSI, have applied to decentralise to Dungarvan, there are a further 47 expressions...

Written Answers — Fairtrade Products: Fairtrade Products (12 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: My Department does not directly source Fairtrade products. Regarding the supply of services such as cafeteria services in my Department, it is a matter for the companies providing such services to make their own commercial decision in sourcing their supplies.

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (12 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: Nominations for appointments to boards of statutory agencies under the remit of my Department can arise in different ways. Some members of boards are ex officio appointments, others are nominated by appropriate bodies or organisations and the remainder are appointed by me, as Minister for Finance, taking account of the qualities, expertise and experience required to make a contribution to the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (12 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the income tax legislation provides for tax relief in respect of qualifying fees paid by an individual to an approved college in respect of certain full-time or part-time undergraduate courses, postgraduate courses and information technology and foreign language courses. On a specific note, for the purposes of the relief, the establishment in...

Leaders' Questions. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: It is obvious that the third anniversary of the Government's election has upset greatly the Leader of the Opposition. Based on what the House has heard from Deputy Kenny, it seems that he has a dull view of the world. I do not agree that the investments being made by the Government are not required. I do not accept what he had to say in regard to the state of the economy and country. In a...

Leaders' Questions. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I do not agree, for obvious reasons. To compare the final cost of projects with the costs estimated before the project concepts went to the planning stage is a ridiculous and objectionable line of argument. The Comptroller and Auditor General's report concluded that real project cost overruns due to underestimation was less than 20%, in line with quoted international trends. That was the...

Leaders' Questions. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am sorry, but it is true.

Leaders' Questions. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Rabbitte knows it all. That is the problem with him.

Leaders' Questions. (17 May 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am not distorting the figures.