Results 13,081-13,100 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Jul 2007)

Brian Cowen: Customs duties, VAT and excise duty where applicable are payable on goods purchased over the Internet and imported into Ireland from outside of the EU. Consignments of a negligible value, i.e. not exceeding a value of €22, do not attract import charges. However, this relief does not apply to tobacco products, alcoholic products, perfumes or toilet waters. Further relief is available for...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Jul 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Decentralisation Programme is being implemented on a voluntary basis. There are no plans to introduce a redundancy or financial severance package and, as on previous occasions, the payment of removal or relocation expenses will not arise.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Jul 2007)

Brian Cowen: I assume that what the Deputy has in mind are circumstances where one parent in a married couple gives up work to care for a child with a severe or on going medical condition. This cannot be seen from a tax point of view in isolation. While a couple in such circumstances may lose entitlement to the employee credit of €1,760 per annum (where the spouse who has given up work was in PAYE...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (5 Jul 2007)

Brian Cowen: The disability criteria for eligibility for the tax concessions under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme are set out in the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994. The initial application for a Primary Medical Certificate is made to the Senior Medical Officer of the relevant local Health Service Executive administrative...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Jul 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that, while there is no provision to allow tax relief specifically for expenses relating to dyslexia, Section 469 Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides for relief under the heading of "health expenses" for: (a) a person under the age of 18 years, or, (b) if over that age, a person receiving full-time instruction at any university, college, school or...

Written Answers — Sugar Beet Industry: Sugar Beet Industry (5 Jul 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that they have decided that on the basis of all the information now available to them relating to the current proposals for the payment of diversification aid to former sugar beet growers to be drawn down within the framework of the National Restructuring Programme for Ireland, submitted to the EU Commission last December, payments to growers will be...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Jul 2007)

Brian Cowen: My Department has decentralised one hundred and seventeen (117) posts to its new offices in Tullamore, County Offaly and arrangements are being made for a further sixteen (16) posts to be filled. One hundred and fifteen (115) posts have been reduced in my Dublin offices. The overall net gain in terms of post numbers as a result of decentralisation to Tullamore is two (2), but this will be...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (5 Jul 2007)

Brian Cowen: Ireland is participating in the current negotiations of the 15th replenishment of the International Development Association (IDA). The latest meeting took place in Maputo, Mozambique and was attended by a senior official from my Department. As the Deputy will be aware, the Government has made significant commitments to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. This commitment...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Jul 2007)

Brian Cowen: The position is that VAT rates are applied in accordance with the rules and rating structures provided for under the EU VAT Directive. It is EU law, agreed by all Member States, that defines the scope for applying a rate to a good or service. In this regard, Ireland, apart from the farmers' flat rate VAT addition, operates three rates of VAT: Zero-rate which generally applies to most food,...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (5 Jul 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the law in regard to Primary Medical Certificates is contained in Section 92 of the Finance Act, 1989 (as amended) and the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations, 1994 (S.I. 353 of 1994). Primary Medical Certificates are issued by the local Senior Medical Officer who is an official of the relevant Health Service...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (5 Jul 2007)

Brian Cowen: A fixed stamp duty is chargeable on ATM cards, Laser cards, cards with combined ATM and Laser functions, and on credit card accounts. The stamp duty rates applicable are as follows: Stamp Duty Rate Application ATM Cards €10 Applied on all cards active on 31 December each year. Laser Cards €10 Applied on all cards active on 31 December each year. Combined ATM & Debit Cards €20...

Order of Business (5 Jul 2007)

Brian Cowen: I expect the Dublin transport authority Bill to be brought to Government, and some decisions to be taken on it, before we return for the next session.

Order of Business (5 Jul 2007)

Brian Cowen: It is expected that that Bill will be published in 2007.

Order of Business (5 Jul 2007)

Brian Cowen: Heads of a Bill have been approved and it is expected later in this Dáil, perhaps in the new year.

Order of Business (5 Jul 2007)

Brian Cowen: It has not been promised in the House but the Government will look at all these matters in the context of trying to ensure we do everything possible to make our roads safer and to ensure people discharge their responsibilities adequately.

Order of Business (5 Jul 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Competition Authority is an independent body and I am not aware of any legislation promised in this area. It is true, however, that the question of preventing abuse of agency workers was raised at the meeting of the social partners. That will be dealt with under an agency Bill which will be considered in due course.

Order of Business (5 Jul 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Minister that there are no plans to change the Competition Act 2002. Discussions took place in respect of the other issue, and are ongoing among the Minister, the Department and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. On the question of the list of legislation, obviously we hope it will be an accurate reflection of what will come on stream in our coming term. It will be...

Order of Business (5 Jul 2007)

Brian Cowen: Legislation relating to the national transmission company will probably be brought forward during the course of next year. I do not accept for a moment that what the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Ryan, said on a debate on energy policy, including the options for nuclear energy, is in any way at variance with the commitments in the programme for Government....

Order of Business (5 Jul 2007)

Brian Cowen: As I was saying before I was interrupted——

Order of Business (5 Jul 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Minister made it clear that if there was a debate on nuclear energy, it would quickly become evident why he felt it should not be part of our energy portfolio. However, he was not dismissive of anybody who wished to raise the matter in a debate. He was quite prepared to debate the issues with them.