Results 12,541-12,560 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the taxpayer paid emergency tax in a former employment, which ceased on 1 July 2007. A new employer would normally make a refund of any tax over deducted in a previous employment following receipt of a cumulative certificate of tax credits. A cumulative certificate has issued in this case but as the taxpayer is on unpaid sick leave at...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The staffing of my constituency office is set out below: Title Number Salary Range € Personal Assistant 1 44,314 – 56,250 Personal Secretary 1 29,093 – 46,167 Executive Officer 1 29,093 – 46,167 Staff Officer 1 33,258 – 44,407 Clerical Officer 1 23,086 – 37,652 To date in 2007, overtime, salary related allowances and other allowance payments amount to €9,567.93. The...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The staffing of my private office is set out below: Title Number Salary Range € Administrative Officer 1 33,439 – 59,213 Executive Officer 2 29,093 – 47,980 Staff Officer 2 33,258 – 44,407 Clerical Officer 3 23,086 – 37,652 To date in 2007, overtime, salary related allowances and other allowance payments amount to €35,131.57. The amount paid in expenses for foreign and...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: There is one EU Directive awaiting transposition into Irish law by my Department at the current time. Directive 2007/18/EC makes two minor technical amendments to the Capital Requirements Directive (2006/48/EC) relating to the treatment of financial exposures to certain institutions and multilateral development banks. This Directive was due for transposition on 30th September 2007. It is...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: As indicated in my response to Deputy Richard Bruton on 9 October 2007, since the £5 travel tax was abolished in Budget 2000 there have been no Irish Government taxes levied on flights into, out of or within Ireland.

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 to 120, inclusive, together. The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and Vehicle Registration Tax (up to a certain limit) on the purchase of an adapted car for transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities, as well as relief from excise on the fuel used in the car, up...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Finance Act 2007 introduced a new scheme to allow the operation of DIRT free savings accounts. To qualify, there are two conditions: be aged 65 years of age or over and total income must not exceed the relevant exemption threshold, i.e. €19,000 (for an individual) or €38,000 (for a married couple). I have no plans to introduce a similar exemption for any other category of taxpayer....

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the most recent year for which complete information on the cost of rent relief to the Exchequer is available is for the income tax year 2004. Using that data, the full year cost to the Exchequer of rent relief for those aged under 55 years is projected at €67 million in 2007 terms. On this basis, a doubling of the allowance could cost in the...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I will present Budget 2008 to the Dáil on 5 December 2007 and as is normal I will not comment on the contents of the Budget in advance of that date.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy will be aware, changes to stamp duty are considered in the context of the annual Budget and Finance Bill cycle.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The tax treatment of income derived from the payment of diversification aid to former sugar beet growers is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. I am informed by the Commissioners that based on the information available to them on the current proposals for the payment of such aid the payments will be subject to income tax. As regards Budget 2008, it is a long-standing practice of the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (6 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 — Counterfeit Goods: Counterfeit Goods (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that, in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No. 1383/2003, controls on the movement of counterfeit goods apply at the point of importation into the European Communities. Revenue has responsibility for enforcing this legislation where counterfeit goods are imported into Ireland from outside the EC. The legislation works on the basis that Rights...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (1 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Programme for Government is an agreed five year programme between the Government parties, in which we have set out our guiding policy principles. Specifically our guiding economic principles for the next five years are: We will aim to achieve further significant, sustainable growth with our programme based on an average growth rate of 4.5%. We will operate a responsible fiscal policy...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 56 together. In relation to the makeup of the increase in Gross Current Expenditure provided for in the Pre-Budget Outlook, I would direct the Deputy's attention to the Chart on page B.10 of that publication. This Chart shows that the increases for: non-pay demographic and demand-led expenditure account for 35% or €819 million of the gross current...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The cost of new spending initiatives will be set out on Budget day together with the Government's overall fiscal funding provisions for 2008. I cannot provide further details at this stage.

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (1 Nov 2007)

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...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (1 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and Vehicle Registration Tax (up to a certain limit) on the purchase of an adapted car for transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities, as well as relief from excise on the fuel used in the car, up to a certain limit. The disability criteria for these concessions...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (1 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) that under the decentralisation programme two hundred and nineteen (219) people have accepted offers to move to Trim, County Meath, of whom one hundred and eighty-five (185) are OPW headquarter staff. A further thirty-eight (38) OPW staff have applied on the Central Applications Facility for a transfer to Trim.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (1 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: All stamp duties, including the stamp duties on financial cards, are reviewed in the context of the annual Budget and Finance Bill. Stamp duty is a significant contributor to the Exchequer, which helps fund public services such as health and education, while keeping the direct tax burden low thereby facilitating continued economic success, which is of benefit to all taxpayers.