Results 15,501-15,520 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (13 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: Under the Dormant Accounts Act 2001 and the Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Act 2003, credit institutions and insurance undertakings are required, each April, to transfer to the National Treasury Management Agency, all moneys falling dormant in the previous year. Each credit institution and insurance undertaking is also required under the legislation to keep a register of their dormant...

Written Answers — Social Finance Fund: Social Finance Fund (13 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 240 together. The Government's intention to promote community development was originally set out in the Programme for Government. In 2003, Sustaining Progress highlighted the role of social finance in that context. The banks' indication of willingness to contribute seed funding to the social finance initiative was given in response to a specific...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (13 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 242 together. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the reason for the delay in the stamping of deeds in the Galway Stamps Office is as a result of increasing volumes of business combined with the considerable loss of experienced staff due to staff changes, including normal course inter-departmental transfers, and long-term sick leave since...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: Teagasc is an agency under the aegis of the Department of Agriculture and Food. This relocation of Teagasc to Kanturk is not part of the Decentralisation Programme as announced in December 2003. I have asked my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture and Food, to respond to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (13 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: Since the last general election in May 2002 there has been no delegation of functions to the Minister of State at the Department of Finance under Section 2(1) of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1977 of any of the statutory powers of the Minister for Finance.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) is an agency under the aegis of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. I will answer on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Under the Government's Decentralisation Programme, the NSAI, with a total 132 staff, is to be relocated to Arklow. The total number of first preference priority...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the High Wealth Individuals Business Unit of the Large Cases Division monitors the tax compliance of approximately 300 individuals who are considered to be Ireland's wealthiest individuals, each having in general a net worth in excess of about €50m. This unit also monitors the related trusts and private investment vehicles of these individuals....

Written Answers — Residential Mortgage Borrowing: Residential Mortgage Borrowing (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy will be aware, a high proportion of household indebtedness in Ireland relates to borrowing for house-purchase which, in turn, involves the acquisition of an asset for the households. In the same way, borrowing by the business sector generally underpins investment, and the creation of business assets yielding future income. It therefore reflects the strong performance of the...

Written Answers — State Claims Agency: State Claims Agency (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the State Claims Agency that costs to date in respect of the Solicitors and Counsel retained in this case were €8,363.71. The Agency operates on behalf of instructing clients and I have no function in the matter.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that a breakdown by gender of the estimated number of income earners availing of the one parent family tax credit, for the years 2003 to 2005 inclusive, is set out in the following table: Year Single Male Single Female Widower Male Widow Female Total 2003 30,250 64,490 2,820 7,150 104,710 2004 31,280 66,470 2,850 7,290 107,890 ...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 118 together. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that a one-parent family tax credit is a credit that can be claimed by a single parent (whether widowed, single, deserted, separated or divorced) who has a dependent child resident with him/her for the whole or part of the relevant tax year. The payment or non-payment of maintenance, as the case...

Written Answers — Credit Cards: Credit Cards (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The legislation in respect of the €40 stamp duty charge on credit card accounts is contained in section 124 of the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999. In the Finance Act 2005, this section was amended to ensure, that where an individual switches credit card companies during a year, commencing with the year ended 1 April 2006, only one €40 stamp duty charge will arise in the year. Where...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy is referring to the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme that provides relief from VAT and VRT on the purchase of a car adapted for the transport of a person with certain physical disabilities, as well as relief from excise on the fuel used in the car up to a certain limit. The disability criteria for eligibility for the tax concessions under this...

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I will make a full announcement about the social investment facility, which has every prospect of being a successful initiative, as soon as my consultations and deliberations in that regard have concluded. The figure of €25 million was mentioned at the time of the budget.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: The levy was for three years. That is what happened.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I do not renege on deals — that is the difference between Deputy Burton and me.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: Was that another snarl?

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: A little less pettiness would not go astray.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: I understand that no such legislation is promised. The points that have been raised by the Deputy are further reasons for the all-party committee to sit down to work out which wider policy issues should be addressed.

Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Brian Cowen: Yes.