Results 11,441-11,460 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that, based on information derived from personal income tax returns for the tax year 2005 (the latest year for which the most complete data is available), some 4,450 individuals returned rental income of €56 million from foreign properties. This figure of €56 million was the profit rent, net of allowable expenses such as interest, repairs,...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Finance Bill provides for the introduction of an excise duty on electricity, called electricity tax, as required under the EU Energy Tax Directive. The tax will be charged to the operator who supplies electricity to the consumer. It will apply to supplies of electricity made on or after 1 October 2008. The rates of tax are being set at the minimum rates specified in the Directive; that is...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the taxpayer has received and continues to receive all the tax credits and reliefs to which he is entitled.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a PAYE balancing statement form P21 for the year 2007 will issue to the taxpayer in the coming days.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The position is that in matters relating to the VAT rating of goods and services, I am constrained by the requirements of EU VAT law with which Irish VAT law must comply. In this regard, I would point out that the rate of VAT that applies to a particular good or service depends on the nature of the good or service and not on the status of the consumer. Accordingly, there is no provision in EU...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The most significant tax incentive for all companies, whether large or small and across all sectors, is our low rate of corporation tax of 12.5% on trading income and our relatively low rates of tax on other income as compared with other countries. A broad tax base is the price that must be paid to keep tax rates low and low tax rates benefit businesses generally. Any proposal for new tax...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The proposal is to develop a pilot savings scheme for low-income households, similar to the SSIA scheme which is now terminated. While the proposal has a number of socially progressive features, I am not convinced that such a scheme is the appropriate way forward. Raising the income levels of those affected by more jobs, higher wages or better social welfare support may be more productive....

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The amount spent on taxis by my Department and the State agencies under its aegis in the years 2003 to date in 2008 are contained in the following tables. In all cases the minimum percentage of taxis which are accessible for people with disabilities and wheelchair users is 10% of the available fleet of taxis. Spend by the Department of Finance on taxis for years 2003 to date in 2008 Year...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The number of companies that pre-qualified to tender for the new Garda Station in Castleisland was seven. There was no successful applicant from Co. Kerry.

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: In this year's Finance Bill, I have introduced new tax provisions in relation to profits derived from petroleum exploration and production activities. A new tax called a "profit resource rent tax" will apply at rates of 5%, 10% or 15% in addition to the corporation tax rate of 25% that currently applies to profits from petroleum activities. It will apply when profits exceed certain defined...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Government is firmly committed to the development of biofuels generally in Ireland. While the promotion of biofuel is primarily a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that in Finance Act 2006 I provided for significant tax measures to promote biofuels in Ireland. This scheme, which received the necessary...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is designed to measure the change in the average level of the prices paid by consumers for goods and services. It measures in index form the monthly changes in the cost of purchasing a representative basket of consumer goods and services. The Director General of the Central Statistics Office has sole responsibility for, and is independent in, deciding the...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I assume the comments referred to are those contained in the recent Recommendation for a Council Opinion on the updated stability programme for Ireland, 2007 — 2010, where the European Commission commented on the recent deterioration in our export competitiveness. This deterioration has primarily been brought about by productivity growth here not keeping pace with price developments. The...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 109 together. At the outset, I would point out to the Deputy that as far as the national position is concerned, the Government have taken steps last October under Section 19 of the Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 2007, which amended Part V of the Central Bank Act, 1997, to provide for an appropriate system of...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The primary responsibility for managing a bank and for preventing fraud or inappropriate working practices in that bank lies with the management of that institution. No regulatory authority can put in place a supervisory regime to ensure that a financial institution can never be a victim of fraudulent or reckless trading activity from within. It is up to management to have appropriate...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: There is already an extensive body of harmonised EU financial regulation in operation across the Union. This regulatory regime reflects best practice globally and this is reflected by the fact that EU financial regulation standards are now being followed by countries outside the Union. Recent discussions at EU Councils of Ministers have focused on the broad issue of international financial...

Tax Code. (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The terms of reference of the Commission on Taxation are entirely consistent with An Agreed Programme for Government. The terms of reference of the commission explicitly provide, among other things, that it should undertake its work "having regard to the commitments on economic competitiveness and on taxation contained in the Programme for Government". The Government programme is one for...

Tax Code. (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: The purpose of the Commission on Taxation is to examine the taxation code. As I stated during discussions on Committee Stage of the Finance Bill, it has broad terms of reference to enable it to examine the gamut of matters that it believes are germane to improving our tax system. It is set out in the programme for Government that, subject to the controlling economic and fiscal framework,...

Tax Code. (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: That is a partial and predictable interpretation of the commitments. The point I made during the campaign, in an argument I believe I won, was that Fine Gael had not costed its proposals properly.

Tax Code. (26 Feb 2008)

Brian Cowen: There is a major problem in the Fine Gael Party in getting over this. The record will speak for itself and I do not wish to detain the House. We set out what we felt was possible based on the economic assumptions in our plan, which were 4.5% growth rates. Fine Gael proposed a slightly lower growth rate and a slightly higher inflation rate. The bottom line is that in terms of overall...