Results 12,661-12,680 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: I have no plans to introduce any further tax breaks along the lines suggested by the Deputy. However, as the Deputy may be aware, Section 848A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides tax relief on donations made by either individuals or corporate bodies to eligible charities and other approved bodies including first and second level schools and third level institutions including...

Written Answers — Tax Investigations: Tax Investigations (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that from time to time, they initiate a number of projects aimed at tackling tax evasion in specific sectors. One such project, which is ongoing and is expected to extend into 2008, involves the targeting of unauthorised trading in vehicles. Revenue are not in a position at this stage to say how many unauthorised used car dealers in County Meath will...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Budget is six weeks away. It has been the practice of successive Ministers for Finance not to comment on tax changes which may or may not be included in the annual Budget in the run up to that Budget and I do not propose to depart from that approach.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: Since 1 January 2007 my Department has spent €80,846.90 on paper and stationery items such as envelopes, note pads, ruled paper, folders etc. Some €12,710.14 of this relates to expenditure on recycled paper and envelopes.

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that statistics on Stamp Duty transactions are not compiled by reference to the address of the property purchased and, accordingly, it is not possible to provide the information requested.

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the most recent year for which the necessary detailed information on claimants for tax relief in relation to service charges is the income tax year 2004. In that year an estimated number of 180,215 claimants on the PAYE tax record availed of the tax relief for service charges, but it is not possible to distinguish between the numbers claiming...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that on the basis of P35 returns filed by employers for the income tax year 2004, the latest year for which the necessary detailed statistics are available, some 1,740,412 income earners in the State were identified as being active on the PAYE record. A breakdown by reference to each tax region is shown in the table. Tax Region Income earners...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: I would draw to your attention that the stamp duty rates applicable in Northern Ireland are those that apply in the UK. In this respect, I will compare the stamp duty regimes of Ireland and the UK. I would point out, however, that I cannot possess comprehensive knowledge of the tax codes of other jurisdictions. As stamp duty has been in existence since the 17th Century, the same stamp duty...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the number of income earners who are self-employed or proprietary directors and expected to be on the income tax record in 2008 is projected at 239,000 and 110,900 respectively. The number given for the self-employed relates to income earners whose main source of income is from non-PAYE sources. The cost to the Exchequer of extending the PAYE...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: There are no plans to extend the scheme referred to by the Deputy to include the purchase by employers of bicycles and electrical bicycles for their employees to travel to work. There is provision in the existing Benefit-in-Kind arrangements to allow an employer to provide an employee with a small benefit to a value not exceeding €250 in any one year without applying PAYE and PRSI to that...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Commissioner of Public Works that a contract was placed on 12th October 2007 with Frank McGrath Construction Ltd in the sum of €2,862,100.00 inclusive of V.A.T. (two million eight hundred and sixty two thousand and one hundred Euro inclusive of VAT) for the provision of a new Revenue office in Newcastle West, Co. Limerick. It is anticipated that the building will be...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: Under current betting legislation, betting exchanges are not deemed bookmakers. They differ from bookmakers in that they facilitate the matching of bets between outside parties unlike a bookmaker who takes the bet and the associated risk involved. Bets entered into or accepted through an exchange are not liable to betting duty.

Pre-Budget Outlook: Motion (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: I move: That Dáil Éireann commends the Pre-Budget Outlook incorporating Pre-Budget Estimates for Public Services 2008 published by the Minister for Finance on 18 October, 2007. I welcome this opportunity to present to the House my pre-budget outlook, which was launched last Thursday. I look forward to hearing the views of other Deputies on this. Before I set out the details of the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (18 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that an application for mortgage interest relief for the current year was received from the persons in question on 4 September 2007. An application for interest relief for prior years was also received on the same date. It is expected that the persons will receive mortgage interest relief for the current year from 1 November. The mortgage provider...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (18 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115, 118 and 119 together. The National Development Plan (NDP) 2007-2013 was launched by the Government on 23 January of this year. Investment under the Plan is grouped under five Priorities: Economic Infrastructure; Enterprise, Science and Innovation; Social Infrastructure; Human Capital and Social Inclusion. Each Priority contains a number of programmes...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (18 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 117 together. The National Development Plan/Community Support Framework (NDP/CSF) 2000-2006 has made a major contribution to our economic growth and employment levels and has significantly enhanced Ireland's competitiveness. The benefits of projects and programmes in areas including childcare, housing, rural development, training and business...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (18 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy is aware, the data relating to the numbers paying tax at the higher rate, the standard rate and exempt were set out in my reply to her question on 10 October 2007. An explanation as to why the data are presented in this way is contained in the 2007 Budget booklet, pages C.23 to C.28. What matters to earners is the amount of their earnings that they keep in their pockets. For...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (18 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 122 together. With regard to occupational pensions (that is approved superannuation schemes set up by the employer) I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that there is no statistical basis on which to provide an estimate of the highest individual value of tax relief as the required data at individual employee level is not available to the Revenue...

Order of Business (18 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: The issue under discussion is a proposal for a Council regulation extending the provisions of EU social security regulations. The Ceann Comhairle has already ruled on the previous matter. The Minister has always been anxious to put the details of this matter on the record of the House.

Order of Business (18 Oct 2007)

Brian Cowen: The political charges and assertions made this morning for the purposes of the Opposition are not valid. The Minister will be in the House today and it is for the Ceann Comhairle to decide the length of time given to a Private Notice Question. The Minister is available and anxious to address the matter today and there are two Priority Questions dealing with it. The Opposition is seeking to...