Results 15,941-15,960 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (25 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: Investments under the National Development Plan — NDP — 2000-2006 are delivered through a number of operational programmes which are directly managed and implemented by Departments, the regional assemblies or other agencies. Each operational programme has a monitoring committee which meets twice yearly to monitor the ongoing implementation of the programme. The managing authorities and...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (25 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: The widowed parent tax credit, which applies on a sliding scale for the first five years after the year of bereavement, is intended as transitional relief to help such parents cope financially with the change from married to widowed status. It was never intended to apply for an indefinite period. Prior to 1998, the relief, then an allowance, applied for a period of three years after the year...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (25 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that there is no refund due in this case for 2002, 2003 and 2004. PAYE balancing statements for these years will issue in the coming days to the taxpayer. A PAYE balancing statement for 2005 will issue shortly thereafter, following receipt of details of the taxpayer's pay and tax deducted up to the date of cessation of employment from her...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (25 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the Office of Public Works, OPW, has secured a suitable site for the accommodation of 50 Revenue staff due to decentralise to Newcastle West. The OPW has advised that as this is a new building the indicative timeframe for completion is end-2007. The data from the Central Applications Facility, CAF, published in September 2004, indicated that...

Written Answers — Liquor Licensing: Liquor Licensing (25 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the annual licensing year ends on 30 September. I am also informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the number of off-licence premises in each of the Twenty-six Counties and the type of licence in each case, as at 30 September 2005, are as follows: County Spirit, Beer and Wine Retailer "Off" Wine Retailer "Off" Other * Carlow 30 15...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (25 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: Under section 203 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, statutory redundancy payments are free of income tax. Statutory redundancy payments amount to two weeks pay per year of service plus a bonus week subject to a maximum payment of €600 per week. This figure was put in place with effect from 1 January 2005. Previously, a maximum payment of £400, equivalent to €507.90, applied from 1...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: I assume the Deputy is referring to standard costs for the farm waste management and other related schemes. This is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture and Food, who will comment at the appropriate time.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (25 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that a form P45 is required, under PAYE regulations, to be given by an employer to an employee on cessation of employment. This form certifies the employee's pay, tax and PRSI contributions from the start of the tax year to the date of cessation and also certifies that the deductions have been made in accordance with the instructions given by...

Written Answers — Legal Services: Legal Services (25 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: In general, my Department uses the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Chief State Solicitor for legal services. However, my Department has engaged outside legal advisers in circumstances requiring legal advice of a specific and-or specialist nature. The following table shows the amounts paid by my Department in 2004 and 2005 to outside legal advisers. Legal Adviser...

Written Answers — Legal Services: Legal Services (25 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: I have been informed by the bodies concerned that the following is the position as regards the number of legal advisers and other qualified lawyers employed in a professional capacity by State bodies under the aegis of my Department. Name of the body No. of internal legal advisers National Treasury Management Agency 12 — of which one on National Development Finance Agency work, nine...

Written Answers — Legal Services: Legal Services (25 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: My Department does not have a legal adviser of its own. Legal advice to my Department is provided by the Office of the Attorney General and the Chief State Solicitor's office. In the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, the Revenue solicitor predates the foundation of the State and the Revenue Commissioners Order of 1923. Currently, the office has a staff of 14 solicitors, 16 law clerks and...

Written Answers — Partnership Agreements: Partnership Agreements (6 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: The PCW provided for local bargaining on behalf of each public service grade, subject to certain limits and criteria. A deal was concluded under these terms in respect of practically every public service grade some years ago. PCW deals in respect of only a small handful of public servants remain outstanding. My Department has been in touch with the Deputy on this issue and will supply further...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (6 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: In budget 2005, I directed my Department, together with the Revenue Commissioners, to undertake a thorough evaluation of the effect of a range of tax incentive reliefs, including the tax exemption for forestry income. The review, which was published in full along with all of the other reviews on 6 February 2006, concluded that the relief in its present form should be maintained and that...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (6 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: In keeping with the Government's commitment to an extensive consultation process on the next National Development Plan 2007-2013, my Department is undertaking consultations on the plan with the social partners, the regional assemblies, regional authorities and a number of concerned interest groups such as the Heritage Council, Comhar, the Combat Poverty Agency and the Western Development...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (6 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Economic and Social Research Institute, ERSI, has been commissioned to do an ex ante evaluation of the National Development Plan 2007-2013. The evaluation is still at the drafting stage. I expect that it will be submitted for Government consideration over the next couple of months and I envisage that it will be published as soon as possible thereafter.

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (6 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that there is no refund of tax due in this case. PAYE balancing statements for the years 2003, 2004 and 2005 issued to the taxpayer on 4 April 2006. A net underpayment of income tax in the sum of €1,230.30 arose and will be collected by reduction of the taxpayer's tax credits for the years 2007 and 2008.

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (6 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: Under the Investor Compensation Act 1998, the Investor Compensation Company Ltd., ICCL, is required to establish or maintain a fund or funds out of which payments are made in accordance with the Act. The industry is responsible for funding the compensation scheme. The scheme provides that compensation paid to eligible investors is the lesser of €20,000 or 90% of the net losses suffered...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (6 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: I refer the Deputy to my earlier reply to a question from Deputies Higgins and Deenihan on the issue of private sector debt taken on 23 February 2006. 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...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (6 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Financial Regulator is responsible for the prudential supervision of Irish-licensed financial institutions and the Minister for Finance does not get involved in matters of day-to-day supervision. I do, however, welcome the supervisory attention which mortgage lending is receiving from our Financial Regulator. This technical prudential measure reinforces the message consistently conveyed...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (6 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am aware of the costs relating to the National Aquatic Centre and the companies associated with it. However, as I indicated in my reply to a similar question put down for answer by the Deputy last Wednesday, the Revenue Commissioners are precluded for reasons of confidentiality from disclosing any details of the affairs of an individual taxpayer and for this reason it is not possible to...