Results 1,941-1,960 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Tax Code. (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: We also have a few of those vehicles in our part of the country. Now that we are operating in a higher energy environment, the question of energy efficiency, the use of alternative fuels and securing greater efficiencies is something countries must consider now, as was discussed with ECOFIN. At an informal ECOFIN meeting held by the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, in Manchester...

Tax Code. (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: It is a discretionary tax in that respect. We are all open to environmental initiatives. If someone can think up a way whereby €1 billion euro can be discarded, just like that, it would be interesting to know how the public services he or she wants can be maintained. We cannot have it every way. There are environmental initiatives to be looked at and we can look at this one. However, as...

Economic Growth. (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: As is usual my Department published the annual economic review and outlook, ERO, in mid-August. The economic forecasts for 2005 contained in the ERO were based on data to the end of July. The ERO forecast was broadly unchanged in overall terms from that published on budget day, with growth in real GDP again forecast at 5.1% and growth in GNP revised upwards slightly from 4.7% to 5%. The...

Economic Growth. (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy states, there are more downside factors coming into the equation on the international economic scene than would have been the case six months ago. The energy issue is certainly one of which people would be much aware. It is against a background of world trade growth, which is still strong when one looks at the emerging economies such as India, China and other Asian economies....

Economic Growth. (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: In reply to Deputy Bruton, the components of the growth are changing all the time. We have an issue with manufacturing industry about which we must be mindful, both in terms of international mobile investment which continues to be strong and in terms of the strategy Enterprise Ireland is undertaking in building more successes in the SME sector and in building bigger Irish companies. There is...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: Public procurement of computer systems operates within a policy defined by European and domestic procurement law. Up to date guidelines for public procurement, including information technology solutions, were issued to Departments and offices by my Department in 2004. I am satisfied that the procurement systems in place are robust and as a general rule operate in a satisfactory manner....

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy is aware, I announced in my Budget Statement that my Department and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners are undertaking a detailed review of certain tax incentive schemes and tax exemptions in 2005. Two external consultancy firms have been examining the area-based and sectoral property tax incentive schemes. The review also involves the examination by my Department and the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: The stallion stud fee exemption was introduced in the Finance Act 1969 and amended in 1985. The stallion relief was included as part of annual reports on aid granted in Ireland to the agriculture sector sent by the Department of Agriculture to the Commission in 1982 and on a number of subsequent occasions. The Commission wrote to the Irish authorities on 24 June 2003 stating that a complaint...

Written Answers — Revenue Commissioners Audits: Revenue Commissioners Audits (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the matter of random audits, including the purpose and methodology, has been the subject of discussion at the Committee of Public Accounts committee following examination of this issue by the Comptroller and Auditor General. As a consequence, in December 2003, the Revenue Commissioners gave a commitment to the Committee of Public Accounts that...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: VAT receipts paid to the Exchequer in the year to end-September 2005 amounted to €9,578 million. This compares to a figure of €8,504 million in the same period last year, a year-on-year increase of 12.6%. This increase has been driven by strong growth in the domestic economy and, in particular, in personal consumption expenditure.

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy will be aware that in July last year, the Government approved, on the initiative of the then Minister for Finance, reduced fees for all legal representation including that of third parties at tribunals or inquiries established from September 2004, and to existing tribunals and inquiries with effect from various dates set in the light of consultations between the Attorney General...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: From the outset both the Government and I have made it clear that participation in the decentralisation programme is voluntary. Those public and civil servants who do not wish to relocate outside Dublin will be offered alternative posts in Dublin. Regular consultations are taking place with unions representing civil and public servants. These consultations are seeking to address the full...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: The National Development Finance Agency, NDFA, was established under the National Development Finance Agency Act 2002. Section 3 of the Act sets out its functions in regard to advising State authorities on the optimum means of funding public investment projects in order to achieve value for money, including by means of public private partnership arrangements, PPP. Under the Act, it is a...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: Section 50 of Finance Act 2004 provided for the introduction of a limited scheme for excise tax relief for biofuels. The purpose of the provision was to allow qualified and conditional relief from excise of biofuel used in approved pilot projects for either the production of biofuel or the testing of the technical viability of biofuel for use as a motor fuel. As the Deputy may be aware, it...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: I have asked the chairman of the Revenue Commissioners to monitor the application of the current non-resident rules, through examination of cases handled in the Revenue large cases division, and to provide me with a report once this examination is complete. The chairman has confirmed to me that this work is under way and that he will report to me as soon as possible. I am informed by the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Government decision on carbon tax was made in September 2004 following a thorough examination of the issues involved, including how a carbon tax would be implemented and the associated environmental, economic and social impacts. In addition, my Department carried out an extensive consultation process in which 117 written submissions were received. Following this examination, the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: The central applications facility received over 9,000 applications for decentralisation up to the closing date for priority applications which was 7 September 2004. Since that date a steady stream of new applications have been received. At the start of the summer the figure for post 7 September 2004 new applicants was 750. This figure has risen to almost 1,300 over the last three months...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 102 together. The Government announced last August that it has agreed to the preparation of a successor to the current national development plan which runs to the end of 2006. The new national development plan will cover the seven year period from 2007 to 2013. The preparation of the new plan will be co-ordinated by the Department of Finance....

Written Answers — Special Savings Incentive Scheme: Special Savings Incentive Scheme (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: The SSIA scheme opened on 1 May 2001 and entry to it closed on 30 April 2002. The accounts are due to mature between May 2006 and April 2007. A total of 1.17 million accounts were opened during the period outlined. The impact of maturing SSIA funds on the economy in 2006 and 2007 is subject to ongoing consideration within my Department. The impact on consumer demand is difficult to estimate...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy is aware, in my 2005 Budget Statement, I announced that my Department and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners would undertake a detailed review of certain tax incentive schemes and tax exemptions in 2005. This review was to evaluate their impact and operation including their economic and social benefits for the different locations and sectors involved and to the wider...