Results 11,261-11,280 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen
- Finance Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2008)
Brian Cowen: That is an initiative we must take up with Revenue to see if there is any way around the problem where people pay a management charge to the management company for the provision of services, not just refuse services, but others also.
- Finance Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2008)
Brian Cowen: The problem is management is the vehicle which pays the service charge to the local authority or the service provider. This leaves the question at one remove from those paying the service charge. The question is: how is it possible to devise a system that might be of assistance to individual occupiers in isolating the portion that is the service charge and seeing whether there is a way in...
- Finance Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2008)
Brian Cowen: Revenue has a track record in this regard. It is interested in trying to accommodate taxpayers. For example, where people make a claim, the credit is provided forever more. People would probably get the benefit, even if they moved. The idea that Revenue is trying to deny them their entitlements is wrong. There is a responsibility on taxpayers to claim their entitlements. The provision...
- Finance Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2008)
Brian Cowen: I will talk to Revenue about how we might make progress on the issue but I do not want anyone to think it is only a matter of doing that and everything else will follow. That is not the case. I point out to Deputy Bruton that he cannot make the assumption that the market would come into play because there was competition on all routes. There is not. Even if it was agreed with the ten...
- Finance Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2008)
Brian Cowen: The assumption that there is competition on all routes is not correct. I did not say there was not merit in what was said, just that Deputy Bruton's suggestion was not the solution.
- Finance Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2008)
Brian Cowen: As the Deputy is aware, we debated this topic on Committee Stage. It was also discussed at some length during previous Finance Bill debates. As I indicated to the select committee, the position is that the existing law already provides an exemption from an employee benefit-in-kind charge where employers provide free or subsidised child care services for their employees. The exemption...
- Finance Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2008)
Brian Cowen: Child care policy must be kept under review all the time. I am simply making the point that there are many initiatives and that additional places are being provided. The question of affordability arises in this regard. Fair dues to the Minister of State, Deputy Brendan Smith, for being prepared, after a very good consultation process, to work with others and give them a timeframe in which...
- Finance Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2008)
Brian Cowen: With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, amendments Nos. 14 and 20 are being discussed together. The Deputy's amendment as tabled on Committee Stage highlighted the issue of whether the cost of retraining provided by an employer as part of a redundancy package was taxable. I indicated to the Select Committee on Finance and the Public Service that I would consider the issue before Report...
- Finance Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2008)
Brian Cowen: I tabled the amendment in response to the issue raised. I am not in a position to change it now on Report Stage â I have just introduced it and would like to see it enacted. There is a requirement to encourage those who avail of the training offer to be in a position to return to the workforce. The course is required to be completed within six months of the employee being made redundant,...
- Finance Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2008)
Brian Cowen: They should take the â¬5,000 and use it later when the course becomes available.
- Finance Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2008)
Brian Cowen: The person does not take the â¬5,000 training fee. He or she takes it as part of his or her redundancy package. Within the redundancy packages one person might receive â¬25,000 and another, â¬20,000 plus â¬5,000.
- Finance Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2008)
Brian Cowen: They would all receive the same amount.
- Finance Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2008)
Brian Cowen: Let us enact the provision, as I believe it will meet the need identified. Other situations are being raised which are legitimate. Other avenues can be pursued in enabling people to get on those courses. They will not just be dependent on this sum of â¬5,000. Some may take that opportunity because they see something that is available immediately and they can go after it. If they do not...
- Finance Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2008)
Brian Cowen: Everything is under review all the time. I review issues regularly.
- Finance Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2008)
Brian Cowen: I have made the point about Ministers for Social and Family Affairs and Ministers for Finance.
- Finance Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2008)
Brian Cowen: Fair enough but the Deputy will know that the succinctness of my reply is not disrespectful to the weight of the issues he has raised. We intend to respond by developing longer term policies to deal with these challenges in the wake of the consultation process to which he referred. However, I cannot accept the Deputy's amendment on its own.
- Finance Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2008)
Brian Cowen: Section 6 of the Finance Bill implements the budget announcement to improve the level of rent relief and the section amends section 473 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, which grants relief to taxpayers for rent paid in respect of private rented accommodation which is their sole or main residence. The changes I am introducing will introduce an amount of relief due to all categories as...
- Finance Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2008)
Brian Cowen: The Green Paper has begun a debate on the options we should take in regard to a whole range of pension-related issues. We should avoid deciding what to do in a piecemeal fashion. It would be better to do this in an integrated and planned way. That is what the Government, in conjunction with the social partners, wants to do. The Deputy raised some important but complex issues which need to...
- Finance Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2008)
Brian Cowen: I am not opposed to that general approach. I do not understand why certain categories are denied choice, particularly if others have it. I understand the logic of the Deputy's argument. Reforms will be required in order to make pension provision more attractive. Too often the question is asked as to why more people on lower incomes are not involved with pension schemes. The answer is...
- Finance Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2008)
Brian Cowen: There is a lot we can do this year and in the coming years.