Results 1,841-1,860 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

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

Brian Cowen: Stamp duty is a duty on the transfer of title to property. It has been in existence in some form since the 1690s and has not in general hindered persons moving, trading up or settling down. As the Deputy will appreciate, stamp duty is a significant contributor to the Exchequer which permits Government spending on public services such as health and education. Stamp duty receipts also allow for...

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

Brian Cowen: Stamp duty exists on various financial cards in order to provide Exchequer revenue. The stamp duty on cheques, bills of exchange and promissory notes has existed for many years and when electronic means of money transfers were subsequently introduced, stamp duty was gradually extended to these products to ensure that the stamp duty from cheques, etc., was not eroded. The current annual rates...

Written Answers — Customs and Excise Investigations: Customs and Excise Investigations (28 Sep 2005)

Brian Cowen: I presume what the Deputy has in mind are aircraft used by the United States forces that have landed in Shannon Airport for refuelling and then departed for destinations outside the State. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that there is no obligation on any aircraft engaged in third country traffic landing in the customs-free airport at Shannon for refuelling, not unloading or loading...

Written Answers — Motor Fuels: Motor Fuels (28 Sep 2005)

Brian Cowen: I assume the Deputy is referring to the price differential between auto-diesel, which is used in vehicles such as cars, vans, lorries and buses, and the type of diesel known as marked gas oil, which is used for other purposes including use as fuel for agricultural machinery. The price of mineral oils is a function of a number of factors, only one of which is tax. However, in this context,...

Written Answers — Urban Renewal Schemes: Urban Renewal Schemes (28 Sep 2005)

Brian Cowen: The deadline for the urban renewal scheme was extended from 31 December 2004 to 31 July 2006 in budget 2004 to cater for pipeline projects and to ensure an orderly winding-down of the scheme. In budget 2005, I directed my Department, together with the Revenue Commissioners, to undertake a thorough evaluation of the effect of various tax incentive reliefs including the urban renewal scheme. In...

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

Brian Cowen: Proposals to extend the Freedom of Information Act are currently being finalised. Pending publication of the details, I will not be making any further statements about the position of individual bodies.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Sep 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 child care 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. I believe there is a need to examine...

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

Brian Cowen: As previously advised to the Deputy in replies to parliamentary questions on 30 November 2004 and on 28 June 2005, capital gains tax, CGT, is a tax on a capital gain arising on the disposal of assets. A 20% rate of CGT applies on the gains arising on the disposal of assets, including land which is the subject of a compulsory purchase order, CPO. It was announced in the 2003 budget that no...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (28 Sep 2005)

Brian Cowen: On 7 July 2005 the latest report of the Decentralisation Implementation Group chaired by Mr. Finbarr Flood was published. The recommendations in the report have been accepted by the Government. The report is available on the Department of Finance's website at www.finance.gov.ie. The report outlined the progress that had been made since the previous report of the implementation group was...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (28 Sep 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the taxpayer's address was changed in error and that this has now been corrected.

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (28 Sep 2005)

Brian Cowen: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that there is no record of any claim to interest relief from the taxpayer for the year 2004. Relevant details have now been requested from the taxpayer and any allowable relief due will be processed on receipt of a reply.

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

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the full year cost to the Exchequer, based on projected 2006 incomes, of the changes mentioned by the Deputy is tentatively estimated to be in the region of €4 billion to €5 billion per annum. This tentative estimate is based on the assumption that a full flat tax system is introduced and that the existing income tax structure would be...

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

Brian Cowen: The position is that the VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law with which Irish VAT law must comply. Under the sixth VAT directive, member states may retain the zero rates on goods and services which were in place on 1 January 1991, but cannot extend the zero rate to new goods and services. As the majority of defibrillators were not subject to the zero...

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

Brian Cowen: I understand from inquiries made by my Department that the deduction to which the Deputy refers is the health contribution. The health contribution is currently charged at 2% once a person's income exceeds €400 per week or €20,800 per year. Once the threshold for liability is exceeded, the contribution is payable on all reckonable income unless the income or the person in receipt of same...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (28 Sep 2005)

Brian Cowen: My Department has requested the Registrar of Credit Unions in the financial regulator to examine and make recommendations on what are appropriate investments for credit unions. I understand that the registrar has not yet completed his examination and is continuing to consult and communicate with the credit union movement. As soon as the registrar submits his report to my Department it is my...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (28 Sep 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that reclaims in relation to share transfers that have been executed electronically through the CREST operating system are currently in arrears to 2 August 2005. Every effort has been made to process reclaims that have been correctly presented with all supporting evidence in a speedy manner and substantial progress has been made in reducing what was...

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

Brian Cowen: I should point out that there is no stamp duty on the purchase of new residential property for owner-occupiers where the dwelling is not greater than 125 square metres and where it complies with certain conditions in relation to building standards. The Finance Act 2004 substituted a requirement for a floor area compliance certificate for new houses with a floor area under 125 square metres,...

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

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that, in the case referred to by the Deputy, a deed dated 28 February 2001 was received by the Dublin Stamp Office on 26 March 2001. The deed or accompanying documentation did not contain any claim for owner-occupier relief. Stamp duty was assessed on the deed as submitted. An application for repayment of stamp duty, dated 13 April 2004, was received...

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

Brian Cowen: In common with the majority of payments made by the Department of Social and Family Affairs, unemployability supplement, which is an addition to disablement pension, is chargeable to income tax under the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the person in question is the assessable spouse for her own and her husband's tax liabilities and, hence, is the...

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

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the most recent basic data on incomes available from which information of the type requested by the Deputy could be derived are in respect of the income tax year 2002. The information requested is set out in the following tables for the income tax years 2000-01, 2001 short year and 2002. However, because of the Revenue Commissioners' obligation...