Results 15,361-15,380 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Private Sector Debt: Private Sector Debt (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 95 together. As the Deputy will be aware, within the implementation of the overall legislative framework, private sector credit growth and debt levels are, in the first instance, a matter for the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland. This follows from its role as part of the European System of Central Banks and its functions, as the...

Written Answers — Social Finance: Social Finance (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 76, 85 and 96 together. A delivery model for the social finance initiative is currently being developed. This will involve the creation of a social investment vehicle that will essentially perform the role of a wholesale supplier of social finance funding. As far as the on-lending of the funds for individual projects is concerned, the idea is, as far as...

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

Brian Cowen: The implementation of the Decentralisation Programme is proceeding steadily. Over ten and a half thousand civil and public servants have applied to relocate under the Programme. The Central Applications Facility remains open and continues to receive applications. It is anticipated that interest will increase further as building and movement timetables firm up. Discussions have concluded on a...

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

Brian Cowen: When the Decentralisation Programme was announced in December 2003, a Decentralisation Implementation Group was appointed to drive the process forward. The Group's terms of reference include the examination of how decentralisation might enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the public service. The Implementation Group asked that all organisations participating in the programme should...

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

Brian Cowen: In line with my Budget 2006 announcement, the 2006 Finance Act provides for the termination of the tax exemption for stallion stud fees with effect from 31 July 2008. My Department has notified the European Commission of this provision. As I announced in the Budget, it is intended to hold discussions with the Commission later this year on a new tax regime appropriate to the industry.

Written Answers — Revenue Investigations: Revenue Investigations (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. However, I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that examinations of the tax affairs of property developers are a feature of the risk- based programmes operated by Revenue. As the Deputy may be aware, Revenue has committed to applying 25% of its audit and compliance...

Written Answers — Tax Incentive Schemes: Tax Incentive Schemes (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The plan for private hospitals in the grounds of public hospitals is designed to be a cost effective way of expanding the supply of beds for public patients. However, there have been no decisions yet in regard to approving any particular proposal. It will be a matter for the HSE to assess any proposals. The scheme of capital allowances for the construction of private hospitals was reviewed by...

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

Brian Cowen: I reject the Deputy's suggestion that VAT places an unfair burden on low income families. A simple look at the facts will show that as far as EU law will permit, every effort is made to reduce the incidence of VAT and Excise on low incomes. Firstly, there is no VAT on the main low income items such as food, oral medicines, childrens' shoes and clothing. Secondly, there are special reliefs in...

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

Brian Cowen: Exchequer receipts from VAT have varied between 30 and 31 per cent of total tax revenues over the past 4 years notwithstanding the growth in the property market and in the economy generally over this period. While the proportions of total tax revenue accounted for by particular tax heads can vary over time, the Exchequer is not significantly more reliant on revenues from VAT now than in...

Written Answers — Special Savings Incentive Scheme: Special Savings Incentive Scheme (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The SSIA scheme opened on 1 May 2001 and entry to it closed on 30 April 2002. The accounts mature between May 2006 and April 2007. A total of 1.17 million accounts were opened during the period outlined. The specific goal of the SSIA scheme was to encourage people to save over a period of at least five years. Its effect has been to stimulate such savings over varying income ranges which is...

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

Brian Cowen: I have noted the recent analysis of the housing market over the last ten years conducted using data from the ESRI/Permanent TSB house price index. While house prices have risen significantly over this period, the rates of increase must be seen in the proper context. In particular, there has been a large increase in household incomes due to higher employment, increases in earnings per capita...

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

Brian Cowen: Since 1987 Social Partnership has helped to maintain a strategic focus on key national priorities, and has helped to create and sustain the conditions for remarkable employment growth, fiscal stability, and a dramatic improvement in living standards which has benefited the people of this country. The challenges facing us now are no less complex or less important than they were back in 1987. I...

Written Answers — Price Inflation: Price Inflation (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: Inflation, as measured by annual changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 3.9 per cent in May. A large part of the recent pick-up in the annual inflation rate is due to external factors such as higher oil prices and interest rate increases by the ECB. On Budget day, my Department forecast that CPI inflation will average 2.7 per cent in 2006. This forecast was based on the usual...

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

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy may be aware, the monthly Exchequer Returns are available on my Department's website, as are my Department's receipts, expenditure and debt service profiles for 2006. The results for the first five months of 2006 confirm that the public finances remain sound. The Exchequer Returns to end-May showed a surplus of €1,841 million, compared with a deficit of €143 million for the...

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

Brian Cowen: I have no plans to introduce a tax on second homes. If any such proposal were to be made it would be necessary to consider the possible impact not only on the demand for such houses but also on the supply of new residences and on employment and output in the construction sector generally. The history of taxation intervention in the residential property market over the past ten years has shown...

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

Brian Cowen: As I indicated in my reply to question 12386/06 on 30 March I wrote to my Ministerial colleagues on 20th October last enclosing a copy of my address of the same date to the Dublin Chamber of Commerce and requesting them to ensure that their Departments take all the necessary steps to implement the measures set out in my address. My Department issued a Circular Letter to all Departments on 25...

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

Brian Cowen: The Decentralisation Implementation Group last published a report to government in June 2005. I met with the Chair of the Implementation Group recently to receive an update in relation to the progress being made in the implementation of the programme, the issues arising in the implementation of the programme, and to restate the Government's commitment to the implementation of the programme in...

Written Answers — Budgetary Process: Budgetary Process (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: In my Budget speech last December, I set out the Government's proposals for reforming the budgetary process. As I said I would on Budget Day, I subsequently wrote to the opposition Finance spokespersons and the Party Whips on 20 December last to invite them to a briefing on the Government's proposals for reform. A briefing session on the reform process for all the Opposition Finance...

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

Brian Cowen: The officials in my Department are in the process of examining this report. The findings will be taken into consideration among other things, as part of the ongoing review of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.

Written Answers — Special Savings Incentive Scheme: Special Savings Incentive Scheme (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The SSIAs were introduced in the 2001 Finance Act and give a credit to all SSIA investors of 25%. The aim of the SSIA scheme was to encourage savings. This aim has been successfully achieved with over 1.1 million persons availing of the special scheme. It is widely acknowledged that one of the reasons for the success of the SSIA scheme was its simplicity. It was clearly stated from the very...