Results 15,241-15,260 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Government Record: Motion (Resumed). (5 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: We will defend our fiscal policies and continue to manage the economy responsibly. Deputy Kenny spoke about election bribes. He should look at his party's programme at the last general election. It was an appalling indictment of an Opposition which had no clear vision of where it was going. The Government will continue to work through the national development plan, the plans we have for...

Government Record: Motion (Resumed). (5 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: —— and things are going terribly badly because we are in government. It is really an attempt by the Opposition parties to overcome the frustration at being out of power, which I can understand. I look forward to next year and having a sensible, literate, informed debate on the economic and social direction the country should take, which will not be based on fatigued government or...

Government Record: Motion (Resumed). (5 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: They are the equivalent of the entire Labour parliamentary party.

Government Record: Motion (Resumed). (5 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: Place your trust in Deputy Rabbitte.

Government Record: Motion (Resumed). (5 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: Just because the Labour Party trusts him does not mean we will.

Government Record: Motion (Resumed). (5 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: There will be no reverse takeovers here.

Written Answers — Financial Confidentiality: Financial Confidentiality (5 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: As I indicated yesterday in reply to a question on this issue from Deputy Michael D Higgins, it is my understanding from media reports that the US authorities have had access, for the purpose of identifying terrorist financing, to information from a Belgium-based and financial industry owned company with US offices that operates a worldwide messaging system used to transmit electronic...

Written Answers — Tax Statistics: Tax Statistics (5 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: I intend to take Questions Nos. 194, 195, 196, 198 and 200 together. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that PRSI and income levies are not included in the tax figures used in the study. The Revenue Commissioners collect PRSI and income levies on behalf of the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the Department of Health and Children. They are treated as income tax only for...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (5 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am not clear what additional details the Deputy requires in relation to the information provided in my reply to question no. 113 of 8th June 2006. However, I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the average rate of tax paid by high wealth individuals in 2002 and 2003 was arrived at by expressing the aggregate tax paid as a percentage of the aggregate income of the individuals...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (5 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they do not comment on the tax affairs of specific taxpayers. In relation to the methodology used for the top 400 study, I am advised that in calculating the effective rate used in the study, the income figure used was the figure before deducting specific reliefs, such as capital allowances or trading losses. Speaking generally, ships or yachts...

Written Answers — Departmental Publications: Departmental Publications (5 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: The TSG papers for the 2006 Budget were published on the Department of Finance website on Friday, 30th June 2006. The documents may be viewed on www.finance.gov.ie — Policy Areas and Publications — TSG Group.

Written Answers — Public Procurement Contracts: Public Procurement Contracts (5 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Government in mid 2004 decided to reform construction procurement so as to help achieve greater cost certainty, better value for money and more cost effective delivery of public works projects. My Department, with the assistance of the Government Contracts Committee for Construction (GCCC), specialist legal drafters and external technical expertise, has now developed a suite of Standard...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: The provision of passenger transport services, including school transport services, is exempt from VAT under the EU Sixth VAT Directive. This means that school transport providers do not charge VAT on the services they supply and cannot recover VAT on the goods and services that they purchase for use in providing that service. Essentially, only VAT registered businesses which charge VAT are...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (5 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that it is not possible to furnish precise figures of the VAT take on house purchases, as the information sought on VAT returns does not require the yield from particular sectors of trade to be identified. However, based on data published by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the estimated additional net VAT yield from...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (5 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: A 2% stamp duty is charged on most non-life insurance premiums and 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. It was introduced in 1982. The yield in 2005 is €90.8m. The purpose of the non-life levy is to broaden the stamp duty base while maintaining low direct tax...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (5 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that statistics are not available at this time which would enable the information requested by the Deputy to be provided. Budget 2006 introduced a new tax exemption for childminding where an individual minds up to three children, who are not their own, in the minder's own home. The cost of the exemption was estimated to be €4 million in a full...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (5 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: I take it that the Deputy is referring to payments made in each of the years 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005. My Department did not make payments solely for public relations work in those years. It did, however, make payments in respect of two contracts in the period which, while mainly for other purposes, involved a public relations element. Details are in the first table. In addition, the Euro...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (5 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: During my tenure as Minister for Finance since September 2004, a Special Adviser, a Personal Assistant anda Personal Secretary have been appointed on an unestablished contract basis in my Department, the annual salaries costs and other expenses for whom are as follows: Position Held Special Adviser Personal Assistant Personal Secretary € € € Salaries (other expenses) ...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (5 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: The staffing of the office of the Minister of State in my Department is set out as follows: Minister of State's Office Grade Number Salary Range € Higher Executive Officer 1 42,180-53,541 Clerical Officer 1 20,995-34,050 Both of these staff members are permanent civil servants. To date in 2006, allowance payments amount to €9,344. The amount paid in expenses for the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (5 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: The staffing of my private office and constituency office is set out below: Minister's Private Office Grade Number Salary Range € Administrative Officer 1 31,828-56,361 Executive Officer 2 27,692-43,944 Staff Officer 2 31,656-34,448 Clerical Officer 3 22,102-35,838 Minister's Constituency Office Grade Number Salary Range € Executive Officer 1...