Results 1,701-1,720 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (23 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: The present value of public service pensions is the estimated accrued cost in 2005 terms of future pension payments in respect of service to date of those currently employed in the public service. The main factors determining the estimate are the discount rate, pay, length of service and life expectancy. The latest estimate of the present value of pensions of people now employed in the public...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: A tax credit certificate issued to the person in question on 12 May 2005. As the person has now ceased employment, an unemployment repayment can be applied for at the local tax office, at Sullivan's Quay, Cork.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: Tax relief for health expenses is provided for under section 469 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. The relief is granted at the highest rate of tax at which the taxpayer is chargeable for the year of the claim. Relief cannot be claimed for any expenditure that has been, or will be, reimbursed by a medical insurer or where a compensation payment is, or will be, made in respect of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (23 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: Given my Department's functions, there was no expenditure from its Vote in respect of either referendum on the Treaty of Nice. However, under the Referendum Act 1994, the expenses of returning officers concerned with the holding of referendums are met from the Central Fund, which is administered by my Department. The Act also provides that postal expenses incurred during the holding of...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (23 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: There are currently eight EU directives for which my Department has responsibility which have yet to be incorporated into Irish Law. Council Directive 2003/98/EC Re-use of Public Sector Information lays down ground rules for the re-use of public sector information for commercial purposes. The statutory instrument effecting the transposition was signed by the Minister for Finance on 16 June...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: There is no specific exemption from income tax for volunteer youth workers. In the absence of the full facts, it is difficult to comment on the taxation of the individual referred to by the Deputy. From the brief information provided, it seems likely that the individual will be employed and paid by an Irish employer and, therefore, the income he receives will be fully chargeable to income tax...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government is already providing support to parents through child benefit, grants under the equal opportunities childcare programme, capital allowances for expenditure on child care facilities and an exemption from a benefit-in-kind charge where employers provide free or subsidised child care facilities for their employees. There is a need to examine...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: As set out in my reply to the Deputy on this issue on 14 June, the Government decided in September 2004 not to introduce a carbon energy tax. A lot of work went into examining how a carbon energy tax could be implemented and its likely effects in environmental, economic and social terms. In this respect, the Government decided that a carbon tax was not an appropriate policy option and that,...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (28 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: Appointments to boards of State bodies are, in the first instance, subject to the relevant legislation governing the establishment of the bodies in question. Generally, appointments to the boards of State bodies are made by the relevant Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance. I can assure the Deputy that, as Minister for Finance, I would expect that all such appointments would...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Government's taxation policy is designed at maximising the employment and economic benefits of industrial development by creating an attractive climate for investment throughout Ireland. In this respect Ireland offers one of the most beneficial corporate tax environments in the EU with a corporation tax rate of 12.5% applying since 1 January 2003. This is a general measure which applies...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 288 and 289 together. I do not accept the Deputy's views that first-time buyers are being penalised by an ever increasing burden of taxation nor are they been ripped off by increased taxation. The policies pursued by this Government have ensured that the income tax burden has fallen for all categories of income earner since 1997. In 1997 the entry point to...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: As previously advised to the Deputy in a reply to a parliamentary question on 30 November 2004, capital gains tax is a tax on a capital gain arising on the disposal of assets. A 20% rate of CGT now applies on the gains arising on the disposal of assets, including land which is the subject of a compulsory purchase order. It was announced in the 2003 budget that no roll-over relief would be...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (28 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: Proposals for further extension of the FOI Act are still under consideration. I have nothing to add to the previous reply referred to by the Deputy at this time.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (28 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: Apart from the Euro Changeover Board of Ireland, see below, my Department did not have expenditure on the services of models during the period in question. During its existence from 1998 to 2002, the Euro Changeover Board of Ireland, which is funded from my Department's Vote, carried out a range of promotional and other activities in connection with the changeover to the euro. On occasion...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (28 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 323 from him on 14 June last. As I advised the Deputy then, I will be putting proposals to Government shortly on the issue of a successor to the current national development plan, which will run until the end of 2006. I cannot, therefore, comment any further until the Government has taken a decision in this regard.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a repayment of €184.62 is due to the person in respect of medical expenses for 2004. A cheque for this amount will issue on 28 June. The person's tax liability, and that of her husband, were also reviewed for 2004 to see if any additional relief was due under section 1020 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, i.e. special provisions relating...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: It is assumed that the thresholds for the proposed new tax bands mentioned by the Deputy would not alter the existing standard rate band structure applying to single and widowed persons, to lone parents and married couples. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the full year cost to the Exchequer, estimated by reference to 2005 incomes, of the introduction of each of these 30% rate...

Written Answers — Endowment Policies: Endowment Policies (28 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority — the financial regulator — is currently studying the situation with regard to endowment loan shortfalls, having commenced a survey last year, to determine whether and to what extent there will be difficulties for customers. It would be inappropriate to reach any conclusions in this issue in advance of IFSRA's consideration of the matter....

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the taxpayer is on emergency tax as there is no record that Revenue was notified of the person's employment, either by the person himself or his employer. The position has now been clarified by Revenue and a certificate of tax credits issued, dated 24 June 2005. This will regularise his income tax affairs.

Written Answers — EU Receipts: EU Receipts (28 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Irish receipts from and payments to the EU budget in the past ten years are detailed in the table below. The table also outlines the net position in relation to Ireland. Year Receipts from EU Budget Payments to EU Budget Net Receipts â'¬m â'¬m â'¬m 1995 2,568.7 689.2 1,879.5 1996 2,818.2 687.1 2,131.1 1997 3,179.9 652.0 2,527.9...