Results 15,961-15,980 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

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

Brian Cowen: Following the announcement by Revenue clarifying the stamp duty treatment on purchases of shares underpinning the contracts for differences, CFDs, my Department received strong representations that there would be severe consequences for the liquidity of the Irish stock market and thus, on the ability of Irish firms to raise capital and potentially on the viability of stockbroking here. I...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (6 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Department of Finance has currently over 600 staff members. In order to ascertain the level of expertise in Irish among staff, a survey was carried out asking staff to rate their ability to write, read and speak Irish and to indicate if they were willing to have their names included in a contact list for the Department. Based on this survey 33 people or some 5.5% of staff are willing to...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: There are no specific tax incentives for tourist related industries in a RAPID area. Tourist industries in a RAPID area may avail of the range of incentives available to businesses, including start up businesses. These may include, for example, various capital allowances, as well as the tax incentives available for investment in certain tourist-traffic undertakings, under the business...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (4 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: The position is that the calculation of the farmers' flat rate is governed by EU VAT law and is based on the relevant macroeconomic data for the farming sector for the preceding three years. The purpose of the flat rate addition is to compensate unregistered farmers for VAT which they incur on their business inputs. The flat rate addition is not a mechanism for providing income support to...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (4 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: In accordance with the EU sixth VAT directive and Irish VAT law, most education and training establishments, including primary and secondary level schools, are exempt from VAT. This means that they do not charge VAT on the services they supply but cannot recover VAT on the goods and services that they purchase. Essentially, only VAT registered businesses which charge VAT are able to recover...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (4 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: The legal position in respect of VAT on tolls was clarified by the European Court of Justice in September 2000 in a series of rulings concerning the VAT treatment of tolls in Ireland, France, the United Kingdom and Greece. The position is that, in principle, the activity of providing access to roads on payment of a toll is a supply of services subject to VAT under the conditions of the sixth...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (4 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 255 together. The standard rate band for a married single earner couple was substantially increased in value in budget 2006 by €2,600 per annum from €38,400 to €41,000. The standard band for a single person was also increased by €2,600 per annum from €29,400 to €32,000. As a result of the changes, a single earner may earn up to €32,000 in...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (4 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) 2004/39/EC was adopted on 21 April 2004 and published in the EC's Official Journal on 20 April 2004. The original deadline set for its transposition was two years after its publication, ie 30 April 2006. However, this was subsequently revised, owing to the very technical nature of the directive and the resources which would be required to...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (4 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 243, 244 and 246 together. Both the Government and I have made it clear that participation in the decentralisation programme is voluntary. From the outset, guarantees have been provided at Government level that all those employees not wishing to transfer out of Dublin will be facilitated with an alternative public service post in Dublin. This position has not...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (4 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: The position is that tax relief is available in respect of qualifying fees paid by an individual to an approved college in respect of certain full-time or part-time undergraduate courses and postgraduate courses. The current maximum amount of relief per course per academic year in respect of third level fees is €5,000 at the standard rate of tax. Tax relief is also available in respect of...

Written Answers — Motor Vehicle Registration: Motor Vehicle Registration (4 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that where a new motorcycle is deemed to be a new means of transport for VAT purposes in accordance with EU law, that is, the motorcycle was supplied six months or less after the date of first entry into service and has travelled less than 6,000 km, VAT is chargeable at the rate of 21% of the invoice price and is normally payable at the time of...

Written Answers — Pension Entitlements: Pension Entitlements (4 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: By virtue of the Pensions (Abatement) Act 1965, any civil servant or prison officer who is re-employed in the Civil Service is liable to pension abatement in situations where his or her post retirement income from the Civil Service exceeds the current income for their job prior to retirement. The statutory abatement provisions are not a discouraging factor to post retirement re-employment. In...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (4 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they have no record of correspondence relating to refunds of income tax from the individual whose name and PPS number was supplied by the Deputy and are, therefore, unaware of the issue raised by the Deputy. For this reason, the Revenue Commissioners are unable to give any information concerning the back payment of income tax. If the Deputy would...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (4 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: While the promotion of biofuels and other renewable energy is primarily a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that in the Finance Act 2006, which has recently completed its passage through the Dáil and Seanad, I provided for significant tax measures to promote biofuels in Ireland. The new large-scale scheme...

Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (4 Apr 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 into the operation of the 3%...

Written Answers — Motor Vehicle Imports: Motor Vehicle Imports (4 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that vehicle registration tax, VRT, may be payable on the importation of a vehicle from Great Britain and Northern Ireland into the State. As a general rule, all vehicles imported permanently into the State from Great Britain and Northern Ireland or elsewhere must register for VRT purposes within one working day of their arrival in the State. However,...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (4 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: The climate change strategy says that, from 2002 onwards, taxes will begin to take into account the amounts of greenhouse gases produced in any activity. It is Government policy to take greenhouse gas emission into account when formulating or developing tax policy in any particular area. In September 2004, the Government decided not to introduce a specific carbon tax, following a thorough...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (4 Apr 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Finance Act 2001 introduced a new scheme of tax relief on donations made by either individuals or corporate bodies to eligible charities and other approved bodies, including first and second level schools and third level institutions, including universities. The minimum qualifying donation for relief purposes to an eligible charity or approved body is €250 per annum. Amending the scheme...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (30 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: Section 126 of the Finance Bill seeks to ensure that attempting to avoid tax, using means that would not succeed if challenged by reference to the general anti-avoidance section, section 811 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, will no longer be a risk-free activity. Taxpayers considering the use of artificial arrangements to avoid tax will now have to take account of the risk of having to...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (30 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 67 together. Stamp Duty is a charge on documents, which are mostly legal documents, used in the transfer of property. Where a property is purchased, stamp duty is charged on the conveyance or transfer effecting change of legal ownership of the property concerned. If there is no conveyance, there is no stamp duty. A builder or developer can, therefore,...