Results 11,061-11,080 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (10 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 18, Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008 — Second Stage (resumed), to adjourn at 1 p.m. if not previously concluded; and No. 1, Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) (Confirmation of Orders) Bill 2008 [Seanad] — Second Stage.

Order of Business (10 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: Aontaím le cheannaire an bhFreasúra maidir le cúrsaí polaitíochta an Tuaiscirt. Tá aontas i dTeach Laighin, i gcoitinne, mar gheall ar na polasaithe atá riachtanach chun dul chun cinn a dhéanamh sa Tuaisceart ó thaobh cúrsaí eacnamaíochta, sóisialta agus polaitíochta de. Aontaím le gach rud a bhí le rá ag an Teachta Kenny faoi sin. Maidir leis an Ghaeilge, mar a dúirt mé...

Order of Business (10 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I understand that the commitment given in respect of the civil unions Bill was that the heads would be circulated to Government Members for the purpose of advancing proposals and discussing how to proceed politically. We are, therefore, in the midst of a deliberative process and we will not be in a position to bring forward the Bill until that process is complete. The Deputy will be aware...

Order of Business (10 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: Réamhrá fada.

Order of Business (10 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: Níl aon reachtaíocht geallta maidir leis an ábhar seo.

Order of Business (10 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: Sea, os rud é go raibh an Teachta gearr leis an méid a bhí le rá aige, beidh mise gearr chomh maith. It is important to recognise the tenth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement and I will say one thing on it. I ask that this House, and everyone involved in politics, not make the assumption that now that the institutions have been put in place, we are seeing the full implementation of...

Order of Business (10 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: The second Bill mentioned by the Deputy is expected to be published this session. I cannot give a commitment that it will be enacted this session because that will depend on the course of the debate in the House. I am sure many positive contributions will be made on all sides of the House and there is the possibility of amendments being accepted from any side depending on the merit of the...

Order of Business (10 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I did not hear the last part of the Deputy's question.

Order of Business (10 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I do not have the details on that, but I will ask that somebody communicate with the Deputy as to what is envisaged in that respect. The Bill itself is due this session.

Order of Business (10 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is due this session.

Order of Business (10 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I think it is this session.

Order of Business (10 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am nearly sure I said this session.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (9 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: In regard to the Valuation Act, 2001, I should point out that the Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the exercise of his duties under the Act and that I, as Minister for Finance, have no function in decisions in this regard. The Valuation Act, 2001 provides that community halls including clubhouses which are not licensed to sell alcohol and whose facilities are not used primarily for...

Written Answers — National Biodiversity Plan: National Biodiversity Plan (9 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Department of Finance is not a relevant Department under the National Biodiversity Plan and is not required to prepare biodiversity plan. The only office or agency under my aegis with ongoing activities relevant to implementation of the National Biodiversity Plan is the Office of Public Works. While a formal Action Plan has not been prepared, the Office is aware of its responsibilities...

Written Answers — Election Expenses: Election Expenses (9 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: Section 32 of the Electoral Act, 1992, as amended by Section 14 of the Electoral (Amendment) Act, 2001, sets out the statutory basis for the payment of expenses to Returning Officers in respect of Dáil elections. I, as Minister for Finance, sanctioned a Schedule of Charges (Charges Order) which sets out the scale of maximum charges for Returning Officers' for the purpose of the General...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (9 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: It is Government policy to campaign for a complete ban on the use of cluster munitions and my colleague, Mr Dermot Ahern, TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs, is working to bring to completion negotiations on the first-ever instrument of international humanitarian law specifically directed against cluster munitions. I have raised this issue with the National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission and...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (9 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: The 2008 spending plans were set out in detail in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2008 which were published on 21 February 2008. I have no proposals to amend these plans. Total proposed gross expenditure for the year amounts to just under €62 billion made up of approximately €53 billion current expenditure and €9 billion capital expenditure. These are the totals set out for...

Written Answers — Registered Employers: Registered Employers (8 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they are not able to give precise figures for "the number of people registered as employers with the Revenue Commissioners in the construction industry as defined under the Registered Employment Agreement". The Revenue Commissioners use NACE (European Economic Activity) codes to classify taxpayers. This is the same system as used by the Central...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (8 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: Section 195 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 exempts from income tax certain earnings of writers, composers and artists. Specifically, the exemption applies to earnings from writing, composing or executing a certain work, which has been determined by the Revenue Commissioners to be an original and creative work, having or generally recognised as having cultural or artistic merit. The...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (8 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: A number of measures have been taken in my Department to reduce the volume of paper used in conducting Departmental business. In relation to payments in the economy generally, the Deputy will be aware that my Department's policy is to maximise the usage of electronic forms of payment instead of cheques or payable orders and I would draw the Deputy's attention to measures that I introduced in...