Results 15,321-15,340 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: There are no precise details on the numbers claiming such status although it is considered that the numbers are relatively small. The Revenue Commissioners audited nine such claims in 2005 and found nothing amiss. The Revenue Commissioners tell me that a fuller picture of such claims will be available from October next when information on non-residence now required on tax forms since 2002...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The issue of allowing businesses to deduct VAT on conference related business expenses has been raised on a number of occasions in recent years. The Government's tourism action plan implementation group has recommended a change in the VAT rules to allow for the deductibility of VAT incurred by businesses on conference related expenditure, that is, hotel accommodation and meals. In this...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I have no plans to carry out a formal review of the decentralisation programme under the value for money and policy review process. As the Deputy will be aware, my predecessor announced in his Budget speech in December, 1999 that the Government intended to proceed with a new, more radical, programme of decentralisation. Since that announcement, my Department received submissions,...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: This Government acknowledge the continuing cost pressures on parents, particularly those with young children. The Government have substantially increased Child Benefit since coming into office in 1997. From April this year Child Benefit payments have increased to €150 per month for the first and second children and €185 for the third and subsequent children. Overall expenditure on Child...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 42, 54, 83, 94 and 111 together. As I indicated when I addressed the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance and the Public Service on June 14th last on the issue of the new NDP, the next Plan will be a high level strategic document setting out at Programme level Government investment priorities over the period to 2013. These priorities will be informed by...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that landlords are liable to Income Tax on their net rental income, which is calculated by reducing gross rents by allowable deductions such as mortgage interest, repairs, maintenance and insurance. By virtue of a provision of this year's Finance Act, from 2006 onwards the deductibility of mortgage interest is dependent on the landlord meeting the...

Written Answers — Ethical Investment Guidelines: Ethical Investment Guidelines (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: Under the National Pensions Reserve Fund Act 2000, the National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission controls and is responsible for the investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund (NPRF). It has discretionary authority to determine the Fund's investment strategy in accordance with the Fund's statutory investment policy of securing the optimal total financial return provided the level of...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: In the new National Partnership agreement "Towards 2016", the Government has agreed, as part of the pay, workplace and employment rights and compliance elements of the agreement, to engage with employers and trade unions in the context of its formulation of a comprehensive approach to future pensions policy. This overall review of pensions policy, which will be facilitated by the Department...

Written Answers — National Pensions Reserve Fund: National Pensions Reserve Fund (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission, which controls and is responsible for the investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund, publishes Fund values on a quarterly basis. The latest published figure is for 31 March 2006 when the Fund's value was €16,612m. The equivalent figure for 31 March 2005 was €12,309m. I understand that the Commission will publish figures for 30 June...

Written Answers — Tax Compliance: Tax Compliance (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy is aware I cannot, for reasons of taxpayer confidentiality, comment on the tax affairs of individual cases. I can however confirm that the details of a settlement with a building company, in the sum of €22,169,642, were published yesterday in the latest quarterly list compiled by the Revenue Commissioners in accordance with the provisions of Section 1086 of the Taxes...

Written Answers — Housing Market Regulation: Housing Market Regulation (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I noted the ECB president's comments. As I have said in previous replies to questions, the Government is doing its part by continuing to run a prudent, stability-oriented budgetary policy which gives us room for manoeuvre in the event of an economic downturn, whatever the cause. We are not borrowing to fund our planned major infrastructural investment programme and this investment will help...

Written Answers — Social Partnership Agreements: Social Partnership Agreements (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: Pay — The public service pay agreement under Towards 2016 provides for a pay increase of 10% over a twenty-seven month period with an initial five months' pay pause. This increase is to apply as follows: ∙3% from 1 December 2006 ∙2% from 1 June 2007 ∙2.5% from 1 March 2008, and ∙2.5% from 1 September 2008. It is estimated that the cumulative cost of implementing these increases is...

Written Answers — State Bodies: State Bodies (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The level of the fees payable to the non-executive chairpersons of State bodies was revised by Government at its meeting on 20 June 2006. The revised fees are payable with effect from 1 January 2006. The Government decided to increase the fees payable to ordinary board members and directors of State bodies by roughly the amount of the increase payable to senior civil servants in the period...

Written Answers — Home Reversion Products: Home Reversion Products (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: Home reversion products primarily involve the sale of a part of the interest in a property. Unlike Equity Release Mortgages they do not constitute a financial service that would be subject to supervision by the Financial Regulator. At present it is understood that there are two companies who offer this product on the Irish market. Since this activity involves selling part of a home, as...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: This Government has already taken measures that seek to address problems faced by first time buyers. The situation is kept under review each year at budget time. Fiscal measures which support first-time buyers include preferential stamp duty rates for first-time owner-occupiers of second-hand houses, who are exempt from stamp duty on properties valued at €317,500 or less with reduced rates...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I have no proposals for the Information Commissioner to be consulted in relation to the merits of extending the FOI Act to the bodies mentioned by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the most recent relevant information available is in respect of income tax relief allowed for contributions to "retirement annuity contracts" for the income tax year 2002, which are available to the self-employed and to employees not in occupational pension schemes. Obviously the capacity to avail of a tax relief depends on one's income and...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The primary mechanism for placing general service 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 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. It is expected that a significant number...

Written Answers — Public Service Staff: Public Service Staff (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The following is a breakdown by gender of the staff in each category/grade at Principal level and above in my Department and offices/agencies under the remit of my department: Department of Finance Male Female Secretary General 5 0 Chief Medical Officer 1 0 Assistant Secretary 11 0 Deputy Chief Medical Officer 0 1 Director* 2 1 Principal 44 14 *The Head of...

Written Answers — Economic Growth: Economic Growth (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: My Department is projecting GDP growth of 4.8 per cent this year with broadly similar growth rates in the following two years. Recent stock market changes have not altered this view to any significant degree.