Results 15,681-15,700 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Government is firmly committed to ensuring openness and transparency in relation to information held by public bodies, consistent with the right to privacy and the public interest. These principles are enshrined in the Freedom of Information [FOI] Act and have been central to the modernisation programme of the last decade and more. Since April 1998, FOI has been extended from 67 bodies to...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: Exchequer receipts for VAT to end-April 2006 amounted to €4,409 million. This was 11.6 per cent ahead of the same period last year but 2 per cent below the target for end-April published by my Department on 1 February last. Details of the Exchequer VAT receipts to end-April (to the nearest € million) for each of the other years specified by the Deputy are as follows: Year €m ...

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: It may be appropriate for certain commercial State Bodies to advertise as mentioned, having regard to their commercial remit. The same reasons might not generally apply in relation to non-commercial State or Statutory Bodies. However, the activities of such Bodies are a matter for the relevant body itself, taking account of its statutory remit, its governance structure and the Code of Ethics...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: Exchequer returns showed that net capital spending by Departments and Offices at end April 2006 of €941m inclusive of €240m in capital carryover was €103 million or 10% behind profile. The Departments which mainly account for this underspend are: Health Service Executive — an underspend of €43m, Environment — an underspend of €34m, both due to timing factors; OPW — an...

Written Answers — Consumer Credit: Consumer Credit (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: Under the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act 2003 the Financial Regulator exercises important consumer protection powers under the Consumer Credit Act 1995, including the licensing of money lenders. The Act also provides for monitoring by the Regulator of the provision of credit to consumers. The Financial Regulator is committed under its Strategic Plan 2006 to...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Decentralisation Implementation Group was established to drive the Decentralisation Programme forward and to oversee its effective delivery. In 2005 the Group, recognising that it would not be feasible for all organisations to move at the same time, proposed phasing arrangements and revised timeframes out to 2009 for civil service organisations. These arrangements were accepted by...

Written Answers — Special Savings Incentive Scheme: Special Savings Incentive Scheme (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that based on preliminary declarations by all qualifying savings managers, the total number of active accounts at 31 December 2005 was 1,082,265 and the average monthly subscription was €196. This is the latest date for which figures are available. The Revenue Commissioners are currently processing SSIA details supplied by financial institutions in...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the additional revenue likely to accrue to the Exchequer arising from the increase in the price of petrol and other oil products relates to the VAT portion of the increased price since the start of the year. The revenue collected from mineral oil excises does not fluctuate with price changes. The estimated yield of additional VAT over and above...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: Firstly I would like to state the Government's full commitment to the decentralisation programme. There has been a substantial amount of media coverage in recent times in relation to the decentralisation programme. Much of that coverage has been speculative and most of it has been misinformed. This Government is working towards full implementation of the decentralisation programme and I am...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 and 139 together. I attended the Council of Economics and Finance Ministers of the EU, or Ecofin as it is popularly referred to, in Brussels on 5 May 2006. The meeting was attended by representatives of all 25 EU Member States and of Bulgaria and Romania. The Council agreed its comments on the economic aspects of the EU's sustainable development strategy....

Written Answers — Price Inflation: Price Inflation (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Director General of the Central Statistics Office (CSO) has sole responsibility for and is independent in deciding the statistical methodology and professional standards to be used in compiling the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Maintaining a moderate rate of inflation remains a key priority of economic policy because of its importance in restoring competitiveness. The Government is doing...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Government's policy on completion of the programme is unchanged. I have no plans to change the scale or scope of the Decentralisation programme. Over 10,600 civil and public servants have applied to the Central Applications Facility. The figures confirm that this is a popular programme among staff. To date some 1,500 people have been assigned to posts destined for new locations and are...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that preparations for the movement of staff to Listowel are on target. Actual movement to Listowel, however, is dependent on the Office of Public Works (OPW) providing suitable accommodation. The OPW are in negotiations with a developer for a suitable property at this time and it is envisaged that the indicative timescale set out in the...

Written Answers — Price Inflation: Price Inflation (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: I have outlined before the results of economic model simulations which suggest that each sustained $10 per barrel increase in the price of oil reduces growth by between 1⁄4 and 1⁄2 percentage point in a full year in Ireland. However, it is important to bear in mind that these model results are based on historical averages and in common with all model results are subject to uncertainty.

Written Answers — Revenue Investigations: Revenue Investigations (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that their Ansbacher review team has been carrying out detailed investigations since October 1999. The investigation has essentially two elements, Ansbacher-type arrangements and other cases involving offshore funds and deposits. Revenue has advised that the review team has inquired into 289 cases and to date the team have finalised 208 cases. The 289...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 May 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. Section 13 of the Finance Act 2006 introduced the childminding tax exemption. Where the gross annual income from the provision of childcare services does not exceed €10,000, the income is fully exempt from tax. To avail of this...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: In its recent recommendation in a dispute between SIPTU and FÁS concerning Decentralisation and FÁS contracts of employment, the Labour Court recommended that the matter be referred back to the appropriate central body, at which the issues should be teased out with a view to arriving at agreed long-term solutions, in consultation with all the parties involved. In addition, I understand...

Written Answers — Social Partnership: Social Partnership (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: Inflation, as measured by annual changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 3.8% in April. A large part of the recent pick-up in the 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% in 2006. This forecast was calculated using the usual technical assumption...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (23 May 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 four months of 2006 confirm that the public finances remain sound. The Exchequer Returns to end-April showed a surplus of €497 million, compared with a deficit of €1,221 million for...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: Capital allowances for private hospitals were introduced in 2002. The scheme was one of the property based tax incentives schemes reviewed by independent consultants in 2005. The review of this scheme was undertaken in association with an inter-Departmental steering group on which there were representatives of both the Department of Finance and the Department of Health and Children. The...