Results 981-1,000 of 11,861 for speaker:Brian Hayes

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (2 Oct 2013)

Brian Hayes: I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 170 together. The OPW, in the preparation of the planning application, commissioned the services of an external provider to undertake ground investigations to inform, the design and planning application process. The fees associated with that engagement were €8,066.90. Specialist planning advice, which did not exist within the OPW, was also...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Properties (1 Oct 2013)

Brian Hayes: The OPW is currently assessing the property options arising in respect of all closed Garda Stations including the former Garda Station in Castletownshend Garda Station, Castletownshend, Co. Cork. The stated policy is to identify if other State Bodies, including government departments and the wider public sector has a use for the property. If no State requirement is identified or if a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works Properties (1 Oct 2013)

Brian Hayes: The Commissioners of Public Works have agreed to transfer the property in question to Dublin City Council. The legal contracts are currently being finalised and it is expected that the transfer of ownership will be completed shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Monuments (26 Sep 2013)

Brian Hayes: Visitor Numbers to Desmond Hall for 2011 and 2012 were 3,702 and 4,290 respectively. There have been 8,538 visitors to date to Desmond Hall in 2013. This large increase was due to a number of factors including a concerted local advertising campaign, an increased number of public events, excellent summer weather and better overall access to the site. The OPW National Monuments Service...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (25 Sep 2013)

Brian Hayes: The tables below show the amount of funding the Office of Public Works has provided to Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme in the years requested. Dublin City Council Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme 2011 Project Location Amount of Funding Approved Date of Approval Funding...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works Projects (24 Sep 2013)

Brian Hayes: The Commissioner of Public Works (Functions and Powers) Act, 1996 and The State Authorities (Management and Development) Act 1993 provide the necessary legislative authority for the Commissioners of Public Works to discharge their responsibilities. No public announcement was made on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (24 Sep 2013)

Brian Hayes: I am aware of the very good work being done by the Dublin City Council pilot Flood Forums. I believe that this type of community engagement is an effective approach to dealing with the risk of flooding particularly where the risk is primarily related to pluvial or rainfall events and surface water problems due to inadequate drainage as is the case in certain parts of Dublin city. In these...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (24 Sep 2013)

Brian Hayes: A Working Group comprising of representatives of the insurance industry and the Office of Public Works was established earlier this year to oversee the exchange of information regarding completed OPW flood relief schemes which the insurance industry can take into account in assessing flood risk cover in locations where such works have been carried out. Agreement on the technical format of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Programme Expenditure (24 Sep 2013)

Brian Hayes: It is planned to undertake important works at St. Enda's Park, Rathfarnham, including works to the river banks, weir and pond, in the coming years. Advancing individual projects will depend on prioritisation and the availability of exchequer funding.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Taxation Agreements with Ukraine and Dominica: Motion (19 Sep 2013)

Brian Hayes: DTAs are specifically tailored to every agreement. As a result, not all agreements are the same. There is a minimum standard which is set by the OECD and it is then a matter for each country to negotiate around that. This is obviously one of the reasons it takes longer for us to conclude these negotiations, particularly if other countries are seeking considerations which may not be...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Taxation Agreements with Ukraine and Dominica: Motion (19 Sep 2013)

Brian Hayes: Yes. There is a Council of Europe agreement on this but I do not believe that has been tested in the courts in the context of whether what we are discussing can happen. Tax authorities and governments in many countries regard this as an important issue. That said, I understand there is no legal basis for it. That is one of the reasons the OECD has been, quite rightly, exerting pressure on...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Taxation Agreements with Ukraine and Dominica: Motion (19 Sep 2013)

Brian Hayes: As stated earlier, it accounts for approximately 80% of the world's GDP. We have agreements in place with all our key markets.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Taxation Agreements with Ukraine and Dominica: Motion (19 Sep 2013)

Brian Hayes: We do not engage in direct discussions because that is obviously an issue for the British authorities. The Vice Chairman will be aware, however, of a very substantial statement issued by the Chancellor of the Exchequer some time ago in which he indicated his intention to seek new agreements with those islands which have a connection with Britain. The Vice Chairman is right to highlight the...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Taxation Agreements with Ukraine and Dominica: Motion (19 Sep 2013)

Brian Hayes: There are 69 double taxation treaties in place and 22 TIEAs, which are separate. The Deputy is right in saying there is a gradation among the three types of agreement, the lowest being the TIEAs. The latter deal with specific information that is sought from time to time whereas double taxation agreements are more comprehensive. It is important to note, in light of recent commentary both...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Taxation Agreements with Ukraine and Dominica: Motion (19 Sep 2013)

Brian Hayes: In all cases we attempt to obtain a double taxation agreement. We have 69 such treaties in place, as I said, and have given a commitment to the OECD to ramp that number up significantly. If securing a DTA is not possible, whether because of concerns on the part of the other country or whatever, a tax information exchange agreement is the next option. We should bear in mind that these are...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Taxation Agreements with Ukraine and Dominica: Motion (19 Sep 2013)

Brian Hayes: No, that is not really a fair representation of the situation. It is important to bear in mind that this is the first bilateral tax information agreement of any sort that we have had with Dominica. It is not a question of that country being unable to agree a DTA with us. The logical outcome probably would be a DTA, but the reality is that DTAs often come about largely as a consequence of...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Taxation Agreements with Ukraine and Dominica: Motion (19 Sep 2013)

Brian Hayes: I am not certain whether that was the case. I will find out and get back to the Deputy.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Taxation Agreements with Ukraine and Dominica: Motion (19 Sep 2013)

Brian Hayes: Yes, that particular provision is standard. The five countries in respect of which a DTA has been agreed but not implemented are Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar, Azerbaijan and Ukraine, the last of which we are dealing with today. In the case of Kuwait, we completed our ratification procedure on 6 February 2011 but it has not yet done the same. Such agreements can only come into effect when both...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Taxation Agreements with Ukraine and Dominica: Motion (19 Sep 2013)

Brian Hayes: I understand Dominica is a member of the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes, which has a very direct connection to the OECD and has the power to carry out peer reviews on each of its members. I am aware of a review that was done on Ireland in 2010 and reported in 2011. On that occasion we obtained a compliant standard, which is the highest. As a...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Taxation Agreements with Ukraine and Dominica: Motion (19 Sep 2013)

Brian Hayes: I understand ten TIEAs have been agreed in the past three years and a similar number of DTAs. As I said, there has been a radical ramping up of the number of DTAs, largely as a consequence of the OECD requirement in this regard. I will get back to the Chairman with specific information.