Results 12,381-12,400 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen
- Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (20 Nov 2007)
Brian Cowen: As part of the Government's Decentralisation Programme work has commenced on site in relation to the provision of new accommodation for the Revenue Commissioners in Bishop Street, Newcastlewest. I am informed by the Office of Public Works that construction of the building should be completed in approximately twelve months and I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they are ready to...
- Written Answers — Hospitals Building Programme: Hospitals Building Programme (20 Nov 2007)
Brian Cowen: The scheme of capital allowances for the construction or refurbishment of buildings used as private hospitals was introduced in the Finance Act 2001 and came into effect in May 2002. Provided that capital expenditure on the proposed co-located private hospitals, which are designed to free-up capacity in public hospitals, conforms with the existing legislation governing that scheme, normal tax...
- Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (20 Nov 2007)
Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the Vehicle Registration Tax paid for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 amount to â¬946 million, â¬1,149 million and â¬1,287 million respectively.
- Written Answers — Vehicle Seizures: Vehicle Seizures (20 Nov 2007)
Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that their officers, who are based at numerous locations around the country, carry out regular and ongoing checks to identify and deal with breaches of Vehicle Registration Tax Regulations as regards the use of foreign registered vehicles in the State. Revenue also periodically carries out co-ordinated national enforcement campaigns to detect...
- Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (20 Nov 2007)
Brian Cowen: The Deputy may recall that I have answered Parliamentary Questions on this issue over the past year, including on 4 July 2007 and in recent weeks. The 2003 EU Energy Tax Directive incorporated special derogations which allowed specific excise duty reliefs to be applied in a number of Member States. In the Irish context, the derogations allowed for reduced rates to apply to fuel used for...
- Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (20 Nov 2007)
Brian Cowen: A progress report by the Decentralisation Implementation Group was submitted to me and published on 8 October last. The group reported that implementation of the Civil Service element of the Decentralisation Programme is progressing satisfactorily. At the end of October 2007, over 3,000 staff had been assigned to decentralising posts. Almost 1,300 of them are in place in 20 new locations,...
- Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (20 Nov 2007)
Brian Cowen: A progress report by the Decentralisation Implementation Group was submitted to me and published on 8 October last. The Group reported that implementation of the Civil Service element of the Decentralisation Programme is progressing satisfactorily. At the end of October 2007, over 3,000 staff had been assigned to decentralising posts. Almost 1,300 of them are in place, in 20 new locations,...
- Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (20 Nov 2007)
Brian Cowen: The Finance (No. 2) Act 2007 introduced an exemption from stamp duty for first-time buyers in accordance with the commitments made in the Programme for Government to bring about immediate change to the stamp duty regime for first-time buyers. As the Deputy will be aware, it is a long-standing tradition that the Minister for Finance does not comment on possible tax changes in the run-up to...
- Written Answers — Price Inflation: Price Inflation (20 Nov 2007)
Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 168 together. The Director General of the Central Statistics Office has sole responsibility for, and is independent in, deciding the statistical methodology and professional standards to be used in compiling the Consumer Price Index. The index is designed to measure the change in the average level of the prices paid by consumers for goods and...
- Written Answers — Tax Harmonisation: Tax Harmonisation (20 Nov 2007)
Brian Cowen: It is important to note that the Commission has not adopted any proposal for EU tax harmonisation. The Deputy may have in mind that the Commission services have been working at a technical level on developing a proposal in relation to a common consolidated corporate tax base (CCCTB). In view of the fact that the technical specifications for a CCCTB are only being developed by a...
- Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (20 Nov 2007)
Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 171 together. A comprehensive system of banking supervision is in place under both EU and domestic law to ensure that credit institutions do not put customers' deposits at risk through imprudent lending practices. Banking supervision encompasses the authorisation of banks and building societies, their prudential supervision on an ongoing basis and the...
- Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (20 Nov 2007)
Brian Cowen: It is always worth remembering that sound prudential supervision aimed at ensuring the continuing solvency and liquidity of banks provides the best protection for depositors. As the Deputy is aware, Ireland's system of financial regulation is based largely on a comprehensive and detailed EU template and conforms to international best practice standards. According to the IMF, our regulatory...
- Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (20 Nov 2007)
Brian Cowen: The Finance (No. 2) Act 2007 introduced an exemption from stamp duty for first-time buyers in accordance with the commitments made in the programme for Government to bring about immediate change to the stamp duty regime for first-time buyers. As the Deputy will be aware, it is a long-standing tradition that the Minister for Finance does not comment on possible tax changes in the run-up to...
- Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (20 Nov 2007)
Brian Cowen: A progress report by the Decentralisation Implementation Group was submitted to me and published on 8 October last. The group reported that implementation of the Civil Service element of the Decentralisation Programme is progressing satisfactorily. At the end of December 2006, over 2,400 staff had been assigned to decentralising posts in Dublin and this number had increased to over 3,000 at...
- Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (20 Nov 2007)
Brian Cowen: While the Department of Finance does not have a breakdown of Stamp Duty receipts on an Exchequer basis, the Revenue Commissioners have provided a breakdown of Stamp Duty on a net receipts basis. Revenue net receipts differ from Exchequer receipts due to accounting and timing issues. Stamp Duty from Residential Properties on a Revenue net receipts basis for 2005 were â¬945 million, or 35%...
- Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (20 Nov 2007)
Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that, as the information furnished on tax returns does not generally require the yield from a particular sector or sub-sector of economic activity to be identified, the precise figures of net yield of tax revenues collected in respect of the activities specified in the question cannot be readily identified. Information can, however, be provided as...
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (20 Nov 2007)
Brian Cowen: Based on Exchequer returns to the end of October 2007, the Departments and Agencies that are showing a capital underspend relative to the profile of monthly expenditure published in January 2007 are as follows: Vote Amount of underspend % underspend â'¬ million % Health Service Executive 75 18 Enterprise, Trade and Employment 65 20 Arts, Sport and Tourism 53 24 Office of Public...
- Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (20 Nov 2007)
Brian Cowen: Maintaining and improving Ireland's competitive position is imperative to ensure Ireland continues to grow strongly and remains an attractive location for inward foreign direct investment. Recent IDA data shows that 2006 was another positive year with regard to new investment projects coming to Ireland. Some 71 new business projects, involving a total investment in the coming years of more...
- Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (20 Nov 2007)
Brian Cowen: The breakdown in stamp duties collected in the years 2002 to 2006, and up to the end of September 2007, is as follows: Category of Charge 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 (end Sept Provisional) â¬m â¬m â¬m â¬m â¬m â¬m 1. Land & Property* 666 1,075 1,461 2,002 2,989 1,924 Of which Residential Property 349 528 752 945 1311 831 2. Stocks & Shares 303 256 261 324 406 472 3. Companies...
- Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (20 Nov 2007)
Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the information requested in relation to repayments to PAYE taxpayers is that 663,837 repayments, amounting to â¬418 million, were made in 2006 and 748,222 repayments, amounting to â¬490 million, had been made in 2007 up to 16 November last. The repayments made in 2006 refer to the years 2002 to 2006, inclusive. The repayments made in 2007...