Results 14,581-14,600 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Mortgage Lending. (22 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: I will raise the matter following this discussion and I am sure it will be investigated. That is the statutory remit of the Financial Regulator. It is a question of ensuring it has the information so it can investigate any issues.

Stamp Duty. (22 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: A 2% stamp duty is charged on most non-life insurance premiums and this is part of the normal stamp duty system. The exceptions are re-insurance, voluntary health insurance, marine, aviation and transit insurance and export credit insurance. This duty was introduced in 1982 and it yielded €90 million in 2006. It is not possible to distinguish between the different types of insurance...

Stamp Duty. (22 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: I have had no complaints about these charges, nor has the Financial Regulator contacted me about them.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: Investments under the National Development Plan/Community Support Framework (NDP/ CSF) 2000-2006 are delivered through seven Operational Programmes (OPs) which are directly managed and implemented by Government Departments, the Regional Assemblies and other Agencies. My main concern is to ensure that the available funds are allocated in a manner that meets the Government's objectives and...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: By reference to the 2007 pre-Budget income tax ready reckoner prepared by the Revenue Commissioners the full year cost to the Exchequer of reducing the top rate of tax from 42% to 40% is estimated to be €457 million. This figure is provisional and subject to revision. The ready reckoner is available on my Department's website, at www.finance.gov.ie.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the estimated cost of extending the current stamp duty exemption of €317,500 to €419,809 with a 6% stamp duty applying to houses costing from €419,810 to €635,000 for first time buyers of all second hand residential property is estimated at €35 million in a full year, based on the stamp duty yield in the first 9 months of 2006 grossed...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (21 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: As indicated in the Pre Budget Outlook, the tax projections take account of performance to the end of September and revisions to the economic projections since Budget 2006. The tax projection for 2007 shows an increase of €3,550 million or 8.1 per cent over the projected outturn for 2006. The principal sources of revenue, as a proportion of total tax revenue, are Income tax (28 per cent),...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: It is intended that the NDP 2007-2013 will be published in January next. The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) was commissioned by my Department to undertake an independent ex-ante evaluation of the investment priorities for the NDP 2007-2013. The ESRI's report was published on the 24th of October 2006.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (21 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: The primary mechanism for placing civil servants who are in posts which are due to decentralise but wish to remain in Dublin is by way of bilateral transfer. As staff in organisations who are remaining in Dublin, who have applied to decentralise, continue to be transferred into decentralising organisations, the posts they vacate become available to those wishing to remain in Dublin. In...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (21 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: The number of staff in my Department who currently have live applications on the Central Applications Facility for decentralisation to other Departments/Offices is sixty nine (69), a further thirty seven (37) staff have already transferred to other departments giving a total of 106 people. This 106 figure does not include staff in my Department who have already decentralised to Tullamore or...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: Capital Gains Tax (CGT) is a tax on a capital gain arising on the disposal of assets. A 20% rate of CGT applies on the gains arising on the disposal of assets. In Budget 2003, it was announced that no rollover relief would be allowed for any purpose on gains arising from disposals on or after 4 December 2002. Rollover relief applied when CGT rates were much higher. In effect, it was a...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (21 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the net receipts from stamp duty on ATM/Debit cards, in 2005 were as follows: €m ATM card without a 'Debit' function 22.4 'Debit' card without an ATM function 3.3 Combined ATM and 'Debit' card 12.2 Total 37.9

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (21 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the yield of Excise and VAT to the Exchequer which would be raised from a €1 increase on a packet of 20 cigarettes is estimated at €219 million based on 2005 figures.

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (21 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Credit Union Act, 1997 provides the legal framework for the regulation of credit unions. The Act provides the credit union movement with a regulatory structure that reflects and promotes the particular ethos and philosophy of the credit union movement, its strong tradition of volunteer service and the core objective of providing opportunities for saving and lending for members of credit...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 258 and 259 together. I assume that what the Deputy has in mind is the cost of increasing the maximum mortgage interest relief available for first time buyers in the first seven years of a mortgage in certain cases. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the full year costs to the Exchequer, based on projected 2007 incomes, of the changes referred to...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the relevant available information relates to the estimated cost of tax relief on pension contributions by employers, employees and self-employed and the exemption from tax of income in the pension funds. This information is provided for the three income tax years 2001 to 2003, the latest year for which it is available. Cost of income tax...

Written Answers — Motor Vehicle Registration: Motor Vehicle Registration (21 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the original vehicle registration tax, VRT, paid is taken into account where a commercial vehicle which has been previously registered for VRT purposes in the State is converted in such a manner that the VRT classification changes from category B or C (commercial) to category A (passenger). Section 132(5) of the Finance Act 1992 provides for the...

Written Answers — Civil Service Staff: Civil Service Staff (21 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: I understand that the Deputy's question relates specifically to the situation regarding civil servants. There are a number of grounds on which a civil servant may be removed from office. First, under the Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Act 2005, which was commenced on 4 July 2006, disciplinary action may be taken on grounds of misconduct, irregularity, neglect, unsatisfactory behaviour...

Estimates for Public Services 2007: Motion (21 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: I move: That Dáil Éireann commends the 2007 Estimates for Public Services (Abridged) published by the Minister for Finance on 16 November 2006. The 2007 gross pre-budget Estimates provide for expenditure of just over €54 billion, comprising €46.7 billion current and €7.6 billion capital. This represents an increase of just over €4 billion or 8.1% on the 2006 forecast outturn. The...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (16 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: It has been clarified with the Deputy that the question being asked is the number of Irish speaking civil servants who have received allowances for their ability to communicate as Gaeilge. There are no allowances in the Civil Service for officers who are able to communicate through Irish. My view is that there is no basis or need for the payment of such an allowance.