Results 12,481-12,500 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business (15 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: From my knowledge of the position it is unlikely to be published before Christmas. Work is continuing on that matter in the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I understand it can be expected before the end of the first half of next year.

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (14 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: Licensed moneylenders are covered by a range of provisions under the Consumer Credit Act, 1995 including the annual licensing process administered by the Financial Regulator. In this regard, the draft Directive on credit agreements for consumers, which is now at second reading in the European Parliament, will, if adopted, give rise to the need to review the Consumer Credit Act. The...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (14 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that information on the scheme of tax relief for the development of private childcare facilities was for the first time specified and separately included in personal income tax returns for the tax year 2004, which were filed in October, 2005. Based on the information that has been received and collated for the 2004 tax year, a total of €9.2 million...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (14 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the query raised by the Deputy regarding Personal Retirement Savings Accounts (PRSAs) gives rise to two separate and distinct issues: (a) the maximum possible pension contribution that can be made; and (b) the maximum tax relief attributable to the various scenarios outlined by the Deputy. As regards (a), this is a matter for the individuals and...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (14 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: As Minister for Finance I have primary responsibility for the Civil Service Pension Schemes. The Deputy is aware that under current arrangements, appointment to a pensionable post in the Civil Service is conditional on (i) membership of the Main Superannuation Scheme which provides for the member's own pension benefits and (ii) membership of an associated Spouses' and Children's Scheme which...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (14 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I have received pre-Budget submissions from many representative groups on the matter of capital gains tax and capital acquisitions tax. In relation to the IFA submission, this was presented to me at a meeting on 11 October 2007 and its recommendations were discussed with IFA representatives. As the Deputy will be aware, it is not customary for the Minister of Finance to comment on possible...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (14 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 107 together. The Deputies may recall that I have answered Parliamentary Questions on this issue over the past year, including on 4 July 2007. 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, these derogations allowed for...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (14 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the Business Expansion and Seed Capital schemes provide tax relief to investors in respect of investments in companies operating certain approved tourism facilities, including equestrian centres. Following an extensive review of the schemes in 2006, Finance Act 2007 extended the schemes to 31 December 2013 and increased the aggregate amount that...

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (14 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that since 1 January 2000 no investigations have been concluded or are currently underway into individual security breaches or alleged breaches by staff. Since the same date there have been seven investigations concluded and one investigation is currently underway into staff conduct involving the inappropriate accessing of information. The...

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (14 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they have written to the taxpayer to ascertain details of the actual wages received by him for each year that he was employed by the company in question. On receipt of this information the Revenue Commissioners will investigate the matter and will advise the taxpayer of the outcome without delay.

Order of Business (14 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Taoiseach is on his feet. Deputies should have a bit of respect. It is the same racket from over there all of the time.

Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: He continues whining.

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (13 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy will be aware the decision whether to provide any specific form of insurance cover and the price at which it is offered is a commercial matter based on the assessment an insurer will make of the risks involved. Data on flood risk is provided to insurers by private companies and the use of such information is a matter for the company concerned in determining whether any...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (13 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I assume that the Deputy has in mind the re-introduction of roll-over relief. It was announced in the 2003 Budget that no roll-over relief would be allowed for any purpose on gains arising from disposals on or after 4 December 2002. This relief was introduced when CGT rates were much higher than current levels. The abolition of this relief was in accordance with the overall taxation policy...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (13 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The position is that the PAYE allowance, as it was then, was introduced in 1980 to improve the tax progression of PAYE taxpayers and to take account of the fact that the self-employed generally then had the advantage of paying tax on a preceding year basis. The argument was also made at the time that the general scheme of allowances discriminated against employees and in favour of other...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (13 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that provision already exists for a limited scheme of tax relief in respect of expenditure incurred on the treatment of trade effluent and the supply of water. The scheme operates in conjunction with local authorities. It caters for a situation where, for the purposes of his or her trade, a person contributes a capital sum towards expenditure...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (13 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the taxpayer is due the age tax credit since 2004. The taxpayer's income tax liability has been reviewed for the years 2004 to 2006 inclusive to include the age tax credit and PAYE balancing statements for each year issued on 7 November 2007, together with a cheque in settlement. The age tax credit for the year 2007 has already been...

Written Answers — Public Private Partnerships: Public Private Partnerships (13 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Central PPP Unit in my Department hosts a project tracker, available at www.ppp.gov.ie, showing PPP projects of an estimated value of €20m or over which have reached the stage of the appointment of client advisers or later stages. Because of the commercial sensitivity of the information, the indicative project values are presented in broad ranges as supplied by the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (13 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I have no plans to reduce or eliminate VRT on taxis. In this regard, it should be recognised that tax reliefs have proved at times to be a blunt, inflexible and expensive means of providing assistance and achieving policy aims which might be more effectively achieved through regulatory or direct expenditure means. VRT on vehicles helps to broaden the tax base and provides an important source...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (13 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The initial application for a Primary Medical Certificate under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994, is made to the Senior Medical Officer of the relevant local Health Service Executive administrative area. If the Primary Medical Certificate has been refused in this case, the named person may appeal the refusal to the Medical Board of Appeal,...