Results 1,961-1,980 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

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

Brian Cowen: As part of the decentralisation programme it is intended that 50 posts of the Revenue Commissioners will be decentralised to Listowel, County Kerry. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the timing of the movement of staff to Listowel is dependant on suitable accommodation being available. At present the Office of Public Works is examining a number of proposals in relation to a...

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

Brian Cowen: I am advised by Revenue Commissioners that the following information provides the up to date position on court prosecutions initiated for tax evasion: In 1997, there was one prosecution initiated for tax evasion. A fine of €635 was imposed with no custodial sentence. In 1998, there were six cases initiated and eight convictions secured and fines totalling €42,854 were imposed. There were...

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

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 114 together. As I have already outlined to the House, the stallion stud fee exemption was introduced in 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...

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

Brian Cowen: The Government programme, An Agreed Programme for Government, states that "over the next five years our priorities ...will be ... to ensure that 80% of all earners pay tax only at the standard rate". The five year period mentioned commenced three years ago when the Government were elected to office. I should also point out, however, that the commitment is given in the context of a broader...

Written Answers — : (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: The 2% stamp duty, levied on non-life insurance premia, is part of the stamp duty system and applies to most categories of non-life insurance business, including motor insurance. It was introduced in the Finance Act 1982 at 1% and was subsequently increased to 2% in 1993. This is a modest levy compared with other EU member states, most of which have such a tax and where it is generally levied...

Written Answers — Export Performance: Export Performance (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: Preliminary data indicate that the volume of exports of goods and services declined by 0.6% year-on-year in the first half of 2005. This follows a relatively solid expansion of 7% in exports in 2004. There is considerable uncertainty surrounding the reasons for the subdued performance to date in 2005. Both goods and services exports have been weak. Industrial production, that is, goods data...

Written Answers — Non-Resident Accounts: Non-Resident Accounts (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: Authorised Revenue officers are empowered to make an application to a judge of the High Court seeking an order requiring financial institutions to supply names, addresses and other relevant information concerning account holders who may have held bogus non-resident deposit accounts. Such applications are made under section 908 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, as amended by the Finance Act...

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

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that there are two ways in which a taxpayer may have been in breach of the amnesty, first, in making a false declaration or, second, in not making a declaration. I am informed that the Revenue Commissioners do not have figures for the number of detected breaches of the amnesty. Because of the confidentiality conditions built into the 1993 amnesty...

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

Brian Cowen: The response to the decentralisation programme has been excellent. 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....

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: The 2004 annual report and financial statement of the National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission shows that at 31 December 2004 the market value of the fund was €11,689 million. This included cash deposits of €1,233 million, other net current assets of €38 million, unrealised gains on foreign derivative contracts of €28 million, €11 million in property, and equities and bonds worth...

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

Brian Cowen: At end September 2005 voted capital expenditure, including carryover from 2004, was €370 million behind profile as compared with the profile published in January last. I have set out below the factors for the shortfall as compared to profile as advised to my Department by the Departments concerned. In general I would point out to the Deputy that because of its nature it is difficult to...

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

Brian Cowen: The National Development Finance Agency Act 2002, No. 29 of 2002, provides for accountability and reporting arrangements for the National Development Finance Agency, NDFA, in regard to its functions. Under section 12 of the Act, the board of the agency is charged with ensuring that its functions are performed effectively. Under section 20 of the Act, the agency is subject to audit and...

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

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the total tax debt outstanding at 31 March 2005, as reported in Revenue's annual report and in the recent report of the Comptroller and Auditor General, was €1.2 billion, not €2.5 billion as quoted by the Deputy. As with any tax system, there will always be people who pay late, people who try to avoid paying and people who cannot pay. In this...

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

Brian Cowen: The Government is committed to having the minimum wage exempt from tax. However, we are also committed to sustaining economic growth and keeping the public finances in a healthy condition. The question of restoring the position which applied after budget 2005 where those earning the minimum wage were removed from the tax net will be a matter for consideration in the context of the annual...

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

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the number of reviews of tax liability sought by PAYE taxpayers in the past five years which resulted in refunds are as follows: Year No. of Reviews 2000 292,952 2001 306,111 2002 304,272 2003 314,298 2004 350,016 2005 322,361 It is not possible to indicate the amounts involved in review requests which are currently on...

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

Brian Cowen: The taxation of motor fuel and other oil products is made up of two elements, mineral oil excise and VAT. The amount of mineral oil excise collected is based on the volume of motor fuel sold, in this case the number of litres of petrol, or diesel sold. The revenue collected from mineral oil excise does not fluctuate with price changes. Therefore, assuming there is no change in the volume...

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

Brian Cowen: I understand that the general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has called for stricter penalties and sanctions to be introduced where tax advisers are involved in tax abuse. As Minister for Finance, I have made it clear that I will put in place whatever measures are necessary when the need to address complicity in tax non-compliance is identified. My first Finance Act, Finance...

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

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that about 10,000 notices of intention to make a disclosure were received from taxpayers, or agents on their behalf, by the 23 May deadline. In some instances the notices were described as protective, with taxpayers needing to establish whether in fact any liabilities arose. Revenue was not in a position to make any estimate of the numbers in advance...

Written Answers — Money Laundering: Money Laundering (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 125, 219 and 220 together. There is strong co-ordination of measures to deter money laundering in the financial system at EU level. A third money laundering directive has recently been adopted by the Council and the Parliament and is due to come into affect shortly. The directive will require to be transposed into domestic legislation in each member state...

Written Answers — Banking Sector: Banking Sector (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 143 together. The publication of the Competition Authority's final report on competition in the non-investment banking sector on 22 September 2005 is welcome. The report focuses on two markets — personal current accounts and SME lending. It finds that Irish banks do not compete aggressively for existing customers in those markets. The report maps out...