Results 16,121-16,140 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business. (30 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: I do not think it would be correct for the Government to resile from its treaty obligations under the EURATOM Treaty or any other treaty which has been incorporated into our basic law by successive referendums. The contribution we make to the EURATOM Treaty is not only as has been suggested by the Deputy, because the European Union has also been involved in making nuclear plants safer in...

Order of Business. (30 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: ——to plants which have required further re-investment and where this had not been done. That is one of the issues that has been dealt with under the EURATOM Treaty. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has spoken to three different Commissioners on the focus that will apply to the EURATOM Treaty in terms of trying to ensure that member states use its provisions...

Order of Business. (30 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy is aware, some countries within the European Union have historically been wedded to that technology as the source of their energy supply for many years. The matter is one on which there is a unanimous view in the House. It is open to the House at any time to decide what way it wishes to demonstrate that unanimity. Such debates have taken place and positions have been established...

Order of Business. (30 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: Regarding the first issue, on reading media reports this morning it would appear that a significant judgment was handed down by the High Court yesterday. As in the normal course of events, the significance of that judgment will be assessed based on advice from the Attorney General who will advise the Government and the responsible Minister what the policy implications will be for the future....

Order of Business. (30 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: I confirm to the Deputy that there the similarities end.

Order of Business. (30 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: Obviously I cannot anticipate the final outcome of continuing Government discussions on this matter but as soon as the Government makes a decision, we will bring it to the Deputy's attention in great detail. The only things that have been gathering dust in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform are all the asylum files that were not handled during the Deputy's party's term in office.

Order of Business. (30 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: I will have to come back to the Deputy on when the section of the Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill will be commenced. I do not have the timing available to me this morning. The carbon fuel Bill was a budget announcement and I understand the legislation underpinning that initiative will come forward later this year.

Written Answers — Civil Service Recruitment: Civil Service Recruitment (29 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: As Minister for Finance, I am responsible for Government policy on the employment of people with disabilities in the Civil Service. The Deputy may wish to note that, as part of a review of that policy, the Department of Finance commissioned independent research into the operation of the 3% employment target. A survey carried out as part of that research, which was published in 2002 as...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (29 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that income derived from pyramid schemes may be identified by taxpayers on some individual tax return forms in comment form. However, such comments are not captured on the Revenue computer system in a way that provides a basis for compiling the information sought by the Deputy. Accordingly, the specific information requested is not available.

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (29 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: 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, obtain a licence from a vendor to build on land owned...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (29 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that they 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 give a detailed reply to the Deputy's question. However, I am also informed that the general position for tax purposes is that capital allowances in respect of plant or machinery are...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (29 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: The scheme which provides that qualifying sportspersons, whether in a professional or semi professional capacity, are entitled, on retirement, to income tax relief was introduced in Finance Act 2002. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the information available in regard to the numbers of individuals availing of the relief relates to individuals who are liable to income tax on a...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (29 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: The reason the fee referred to by the Deputy was charged by the Office of the Information Commissioner is because it was determined to be a requirement under the relevant legislation, specifically section 47(6A) of the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003 and SI 264 of 2003, Freedom of Information (Fees) Regulations 2003. SI 264 of 2003 provides inter alia for a standard fee of €150 to...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (29 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: I have no plans at this time to increase tax relief on fees paid to third level colleges. As the Deputy will be aware, I increased the maximum level at which this tax relief is allowed from €3,175 to €5,000 in budget 2005. Any further increases would be a matter for consideration in the context of future budgets. The Government has allocated €228 million to student support for 2006, an...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (29 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the issue of approximately 2.2 million individual tax credit certificates to PAYE customers, reflecting the budget changes, was completed at the end of February. Since the changeover to a calendar tax year in 2002, it has not been possible, in the context of a December budget, to issue all tax credit certificates in early January. The timescale...

Leaders' Questions. (29 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: Deputy Noonan negotiated them in the Opposition's time in power.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2006 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (29 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: This recommendation concerns the home carer's tax credit of €770 which under section 466A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 is granted to married couples where one spouse works at home to care for children, the aged and incapacitated. The recommendation proposes that the amount of the home carer's credit should be the same as the maximum of the employee tax credit commonly known as the...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2006 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (29 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: As I recall, the biggest opponents of individualisation came from the back benches in Senator McDowell's party, or indeed from the Front Bench.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2006 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (29 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: This was despite the Labour Party claiming it is very much in favour of women participating in the workforce, which is what individualisation is trying to achieve. Quite apart from the logical analysis one can ascribe to individualisation as a feature of the tax system, other societal values must be recognised. In my two budgets so far, in view of other priorities I have identified,...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2006 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (29 Mar 2006)

Brian Cowen: A Seanad parliamentary party.