Results 1,561-1,580 of 2,156 for speaker:Tom Parlon

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2005)

Tom Parlon: The recommendation proposes a change to the definition of "qualifying hospital" in the tax Acts so as to introduce a new scheme of capital allowances for psychiatric hospitals based on the existing scheme that exists for private hospitals. When the scheme for capital allowances for the construction of private hospitals was introduced in 2001, the question of including psychiatric services...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2005)

Tom Parlon: The review will be out before the next budget. There will be ongoing announcements several weeks prior to that.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2005)

Tom Parlon: I am sure it will leak its way out before the budget. The Senators may know about it before even I do.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2005)

Tom Parlon: Some 167 properties are covered by the scheme. However, I do not know if it has been updated. I will seek to make the booklet available to Senator Mansergh and he will be able to make a judgment on it. Some high profile houses have been withdrawn from the scheme for particular reasons. The relief is contingent on there being reasonable access for the public to the building or garden. To...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2005)

Tom Parlon: This recommendation proposes to insert a new section into the Bill. The purpose of the new section is to provide that tax reliefs will lapse automatically five years after being enacted unless they are renewed. The recommendation also provides that before renewing any relief, the Minister for Finance would produce a report to both Houses that contains the numbers of people who have availed of...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2005)

Tom Parlon: I highlighted that for the year 2001——

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2005)

Tom Parlon: That is reviewed by the Department of Finance and the Government in advance of each budget. Steps have been taken to strengthen the system of costing tax reliefs and to improve the information available, having regard to the need to maintain as much simplicity as is practical in the tax return system. These changes involved legislation in the Finance Acts 2003 and 2004. As the Senator is...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2005)

Tom Parlon: This recommendation relates to section 473 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, which grants relief for rent paid by individuals in private rented accommodation. At present, the level of rent qualifying for relief is dependent on one's marital status and age, either under or over 55 years. The Bill proposes to increase the limits on which rent relief can be claimed as follows — from...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2005)

Tom Parlon: The estimated cost of Senator Phelan's recommendation is €21.6 million.

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (22 Mar 2005)

Tom Parlon: The humanitarian aid scheme approved by the Government following the serious flooding which affected various locations in late October 2004 was for the relief of hardship arising from the flooding of people's homes. The cases to which the Deputy refers are among a small number of outstanding cases which are the subject of ongoing consultation with the Irish Red Cross Society.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (22 Mar 2005)

Tom Parlon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 to 179, inclusive, together. The Commissioners of Public Works act as agent on behalf of the Department of Education and Science in the acquisition of sites for new school facilities. The Department initially requested the Office of Public Works to acquire a site for the above purpose on 23 May 2000. Normally the Commissioners of Public Works advertise...

Written Answers — State Property: State Property (22 Mar 2005)

Tom Parlon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 to 186, inclusive, together. The procedures which must be followed when the Office of Public Works disposes of property are set down in the State Property Act 1954 and also a number of delegated or specific financial sanctions. The State Property Act S10(2) states: "A State authority may, in respect of any State land for the time being vested in that State...

Written Answers — Communications Masts: Communications Masts (22 Mar 2005)

Tom Parlon: In August 2003 the Commissioners of Public Works appointed a telecommunications consultancy company to assess the suitability of the State property portfolio for use in the mobile telecommunications sector and to act in an advisory capacity to the commissioners in their dealings with mobile telecommunications operators. As part of this process, a licence to install equipment on Sarsfield...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Tom Parlon: I thank all the Senators who contributed to the debate today and I will reply to some of the key points made. Listening to Senator John Paul Phelan, it appeared we were living in different countries in terms of the gloomy picture he painted.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Tom Parlon: I hope the Senator has not fallen into an air of doom and gloom following last Sunday's hurling defeat. Senator John Paul Phelan suggested that we are exaggerating the degree to which the Government has decreased the tax burden on the economy, which I reject. As I said already, sections 2 to 5 of the Bill give effect to the various increases in the personal tax reliefs announced in the...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Tom Parlon: That does not stand up. The data indicates that in 2004 Ireland had the lowest average tax rate among EU member states surveyed and the third lowest in the OECD for a single person on the average industrial wage. Furthermore, for the average industrial worker who is married with two children, with a carer in the home, Ireland has the lowest average tax rate in the entire OECD when cash...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Tom Parlon: If Senator Browne wants some direction as to——

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Tom Parlon: If Senator Browne wants to know where he might find an apartment in Dublin for less than €317,500, I would be delighted to offer him some advice. Such second-hand houses are available in the property pages of any newspaper. This provision has been genuinely effective in helping buyers take their first step on the property ladder. The issue of roll-over relief was also raised, particularly...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Tom Parlon: The Senator will not find a tax rate anywhere in Europe lower than 21%. It is logical to tax capital gains where they are realised and this change brings capital gains tax in line with other areas.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Tom Parlon: Reference was also made to the Government doing nothing with regard to capping relief on taxes. A major review of tax schemes was announced in the budget and this review will be completed in time for the inclusion of appropriate proposals in the 2006 budget. The review will evaluate the impact and operation of such schemes, including their economic and social benefits for the different...