Results 15,461-15,480 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (27 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy will have received the information requested which was provided to her by my Department on 23rd June 2006 in response to Parliamentary Question number 255 of 23rd May 2006. The information is in the form of a series of tabular statements and a copy has been made available for the information of the House.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Revenue Commissioners have informed me that the person concerned is in receipt of the home carer tax credit for the current year and has been for the last number of years. This credit is in the sum of €770 per annum and is shown on the person's tax credit certificate.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the delay in stamping deeds in the Galway Stamps Office is being addressed. In May additional staff were assigned and further staff are due to be assigned when the recruitment process for them is completed. As a result of the measures already taken the level of arrears has dropped by twenty five percent. Once the additional staff are in position...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 272 and 273 together. Reduced rates of stamp duty on second-hand residential property for first-time buyers were introduced in the Finance Act (No. 2) 2000 in order to assist first-time buyers entering the housing market. The reduced rates apply where the purchaser or purchasers declare that they have not purchased property before and where they will occupy...

Written Answers — Departmental Guidelines: Departmental Guidelines (27 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Guidelines for the Appraisal and Management of Capital Expenditure Proposals in the Public Sector, as amended by my Department's Value for Money Circular Letter of 26 January 2006, apply, as appropriate, to all semi-State bodies which are expected to ensure that best practice is applied in assessing the commercial viability of all major projects. The guidelines state that the Board of...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy will be aware from recent replies to similar questions on this issue, I want to make sure any such relief can work and does not open up the VAT system to other very costly demands. The examination of the matter is ongoing and I will consider it in the context of next year's Budget.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: Stamp duty is a tax on certain documents, generally legal documents, used in transferring property or in creating rights for the parties concerned. The stamp duty code generally does not provide exemptions based on an individual's particular circumstances and introducing such a provision would represent a significant departure from normal stamp duty rules. However, I have been advised by the...

Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (27 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Department of Finance, in common with all other civil service Departments and Offices, fully implements the Government's policy on the employment of people with a disability. The Deputy may wish to note that, as part of a review of policy on the employment of people with a disability in the civil service, my Department commissioned independent research in relation to the operation of the...

Written Answers — Public Procurement Contracts: Public Procurement Contracts (27 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Government's policy objectives in relation to construction procurement reform is to seek to 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 developed a suite of...

Written Answers — Statutory Regulations: Statutory Regulations (27 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: No statutory regulations have been made by Mr. Tom Parlon TD, Minister of State at the Department of Finance. Mr. Parlon was appointed by the Government as Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works and his activities at that Office arise from that appointment.

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (27 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The preparation of the next NDP (2007-2013) is proceeding at present. The NDP will be a high level strategic document which will set out a clear framework for investment priorities over the period to 2013. It will encompass 7 year indicative allocations at national level rather than the current two region level. Allocations will not be set out at county level. A key objective of the NDP will...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (22 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I should first explain that the Financial Regulator is responsible for implementing Section 19(1) of the Building Societies Act 1989, although the Financial Regulator is obliged to consult with my Department regarding the fixing of a limit. Under the Building Societies Act, 1976 the Registrar of Building Societies set a limit of IR£3,000 on the amount which a Society could pay to the...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (22 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The information requested is being compiled by my Department and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (21 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Life Assurance Directive 2002/83/EC is effectively a consolidation of Directive 79/267/EEC (First Life Directive), Directive 90/619/EEC (Second Life Directive) and Directive 92/96/EEC (Third Life Directive). The original Directives were transposed into law by the European Communities (Life Assurance) Regulations, 1984 (S.I. No. 57 of 1984) and by the European Communities (Life Assurance)...

Written Answers — House Prices: House Prices (21 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. There are already fiscal measures which support first-time buyers, including 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...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (21 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The following are the number of staff in general service grades in my department who have resigned each year from 2002 to date: 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Principal Officer 0 0 0 0 0 Assistant Principal Officer 0 1 0 0 0 Higher Executive Officer 0 0 0 0 0 Administrative Officer 2 1 1 1 0 Executive Officer 1 0 0 0 0 Staff Officer 0 0 0 0 0 ...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (20 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I do not have plans at present to reduce or eliminate Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) on taxis. VRT on vehicles helps to broaden the tax base and provides an important source of Exchequer revenue. I am asked regularly to introduce tax reliefs for one purpose or another, but tax reliefs can be an inflexible and inefficient means of addressing policy issues, and to accede to all such requests...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (20 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the yield to the Exchequer in 2005 from excise duty on off course betting was €45.85 million. The Deputy may be aware that the betting duty rate will be reduced from 2% to 1% with effect from 1 July 2006 and consequently receipts for 2006 are likely to be less than for 2005.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (20 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: Section 86 of the Capital Acquisition Tax (CAT) Consolidation Act 2003, which provides an exemption from CAT in relation to certain dwellings, came into effect for gifts or inheritances taken on or after 1 December 1999. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the relevant information available is of the number of claims for this relief which were made in each of the years 2000 to...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (20 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that, in the case referred to by the Deputy, the original deed was required from the Land Registry in order to finalise the refund. The deed was received from the Land Registry on 16 June 2006. It will be processed immediately and a refund can be expected within 10 working days.