Results 13,801-13,820 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Tax Code. (20 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: This is not a low wage economy.

Tax Code. (20 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Ahead of the Curve industrial policy review provided confirmation that we have small and big businesses. More than 800,000 members of the 2 million workforce are employed in small and medium size enterprises, the great majority of which are indigenous. I introduced proposals in the most recent budget to comprehensively overhaul the business expansion and seed capital schemes to ensure...

Price Inflation. (20 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: My Department assesses data produced by the Central Statistics Office on the contribution from different sectors to price growth. The CSO rebased in December 2001. The figures for the years 2002-06 show that consumer price inflation increased by approximately 12.5% over this period. Of this figure, it is estimated that approximately 10% is due to services sector price inflation, while 2.5%...

Price Inflation. (20 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: I do not set prices, they are set by the regulators. There is an independent regulatory sector. The specific characteristics of an island market of this size mean that the electricity and gas sectors differ from those of the United Kingdom and other countries. The Government's long-term strategy is to continue to reposition the economy towards the production of more knowledge intensive...

Price Inflation. (20 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am not suggesting there are simply deficiencies in the regulatory framework. I am saying this is the discipline imposed on the market by the introduction of the independent regulatory framework. In the past, prices in these areas were regulated by Departments working through the commercial semi-State sector. All sides in this House long ago agreed that commercialisation of the semi-State...

Interest Rates. (20 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: The level of interest rates is determined by the independent European Central Bank, ECB, in fulfilment of its mandate to secure price stability for the euro area as a whole. The impact of ECB interest rate changes on household incomes in Ireland is an important element of the context for the Government's overall economic and fiscal strategy. This strategy has successfully delivered...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (8 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that, as regards separated spouses, the above question gives rise to a number of issues that may be enumerated as being: 1. the tax treatment of maintenance in respect of children; 2. the tax relief in respect of child care; 3. the tax treatment of maintenance to a spouse; 4. the tax credits to which separated spouses may be entitled. As regards...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (8 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: I have been informed by the Revenue Commissioners that an application for a tax clearance certificate has not been received from the person concerned. As soon as an application is received, it will be examined with a view to issuing the required certificate.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (8 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: I assume that the Deputy is referring to the tax exemption on rental income available to a person who meets the conditions of the "Rent-a-Room" scheme. This scheme exempts from income tax income received from the letting of rooms in a person's sole or main residence provided the income does not exceed €7,620 in a year. I announced in Budget 2007 that with effect from 1 January 2007, I...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (8 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 142 together. I take it that the appointments that the Deputy is interested in are appointments made to bodies under the aegis of my Department. The following table gives details of appointments made for the first six months of 2002 and for the period 1 January 2007 to 28 February 2007. Name of Body No. of Appointments made in the first 6 months of...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (8 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: I have been informed by the Revenue Commissioners that for claims for the tax year 2006 and previous tax years back to 2003 a person can only claim tax relief for medical expenses incurred on their own behalf, on behalf of their child or children or on behalf of their spouse. They cannot claim medical expenses relief on behalf of a partner. However, the Deputy may wish to note that, as a...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (8 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: I have been informed by the Revenue Commissioners that Section 469 of the Taxes Consolidated Act, 1997 provides for relief from income tax on "health expenses". "Health expenses" is defined as expenses in respect of the provision of health care and includes the cost of "the supply, maintenance or repair of any medical, surgical, dental or nursing appliance used on the advice of a...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (8 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the Inspector of Taxes for Westmeath Offaly is unable to determine if any tax refund is due to the named individual (and/or her spouse) until such time as forms P60 are submitted. However, from the information available, it would appear that correct tax credits were granted to both the named individual (and her spouse) for the 2006 tax year.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (8 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a duplicate certificate of tax credits and standard rate cut off point for 2007 issued to the taxpayer on 5 March 2007. The taxpayer has agreed to forward her Form P60 for 2006 and on receipt of same any overpayment of emergency tax deducted will be refunded to her without delay.

Written Answers — Departmental Units: Departmental Units (8 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: I initiated the Central Expenditure Evaluation Unit (CEEU) in my Department in June 2006 with the appointment of a Head of Unit and assignment of appropriately qualified staff. The Unit's initial phase of operations included development of a work programme and running a recruitment process for appropriately skilled expenditure evaluators. Two evaluators have now been appointed from this...

Written Answers — Public Private Partnerships: Public Private Partnerships (8 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: The National Development Plan/Community Support Framework (NDP/ CSF) 2000-2006 is an integrated investment plan and strategy for economic and social development for Ireland. The Plan is delivered through seven Operational Programmes (OPs), the Economic and Social Infrastructure OP, the Employment and Human Resources OP, the Productive Sector OP, the Southern and Eastern (S&E) Regional OP,...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: I have been informed by the Revenue Commissioners that a tax registration form was received by the Wicklow Tax District in mid February. A letter issued to the applicant advising them of their tax registration number on 2 March 2007. On receipt of the tax registration number the applicant can apply to the Revenue Commissioners, Collector-General's Division, Charities Section, Nenagh, Co....

Finance Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (7 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: The amendment was also proposed on Committee Stage and is concerned with contributions to occupational pension schemes by those on lower incomes. It seeks a tax credit to be contributed by the Exchequer to the individual's pension scheme equivalent to relief at the higher rate of tax of 41%. I take it this tax credit would be instead of relief the individual may receive at the standard rate...

Finance Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (7 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: There has clearly been a revised figure based on much more information.

Finance Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (7 Mar 2007)

Brian Cowen: It would explain why one should perhaps be cautious.