Results 16,381-16,400 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: As outlined to the Dáil on 1 June 2005, I asked the chairman of the Revenue Commissioners to monitor the application of the current non-resident rules through examination of cases handled in the Revenue's large cases division and to provide me with a report once this examination was complete. The chairman has recently advised me that the Revenue's large cases division has finalised its...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (28 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the 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, 201 of these cases have been finalised....

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (28 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am satisfied that good progress continues to be made on this ambitious programme. I am particularly pleased with the continuing popularity of the programme among public servants. There are about 10,600 applications on the central applications facility to date and new applications are being received each week. I refer the Deputy to the decentralisation implementation group's July 2005 report...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (28 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: The national pensions reserve fund commission is independent of Government in the exercise of its functions. Under the National Pensions Reserve Fund Act 2000, it controls and manages the fund with discretionary authority to determine and implement the fund's investment strategy. This investment strategy is based on a commercial investment mandate with the objective of securing the optimal...

Written Answers — Budgetary Process: Budgetary Process (28 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I announced the Government's proposals for budgetary reform in my Budget Statement in December 2005. I have written to the Opposition finance spokespersons to invite them to a briefing on these proposals for reform, as I said I would on budget day. I have received a number of replies to my invitations and I am considering how best to advance this matter taking account of those replies.

Written Answers — Financial Services: Financial Services (28 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: Lack of financial knowledge, particularly on initiating the transaction, and the need to provide suitable identification documents in order to open an account are frequently identified as the main obstacles faced by those on lower incomes when attempting to access financial services. Financial institutions are obliged under the Criminal Justice Act, 1994 to take reasonable measures to...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (28 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: When the decentralisation programme was announced by my predecessor he appointed a decentralisation implementation group to drive the process forward. The group's terms of reference include the examination of how decentralisation might enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the public service. The implementation group asked that all organisations participating in the programme prepare...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (28 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I have no plans to change the scale or scope of the decentralisation programme. In line with the timeframes set out by the decentralisation implementation group in its June report I expect that up to 1,000 people will have decentralised to 11 locations by end 2006 or early 2007. I do not accept the Deputy's view that there has been a poor response to the programme. On the contrary, the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the amount of tax either repaid or credited against other tax liabilities of the taxpayer, in respect of the main taxes, for each of the years 2002 to 2005 is as follows: Year PAYE Income Tax (employees) PAYE Income Tax (employers) Non-PAYE Income Tax Corporation Tax VAT â'¬million â'¬million â'¬million ...

Written Answers — Civil Service Code of Standards: Civil Service Code of Standards (28 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Civil Service code of standards and behaviour was drawn up and promulgated in September 2004 pursuant to section 10(11) of the Standards in Public Office Act 2001. It applies only to civil servants and forms part of their terms of employment. Before the promulgation of this code the Civil Service was governed by a set of principles and standards known as the personnel code. The personnel...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (28 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: As the details of any compensation package have not yet been finalised for those farmers who have grown beet in the past, in respect of the cessation of this activity it is not possible at this stage to give a definitive view of the matter. This position is being kept under ongoing review and, as soon as the matter is finalised, Revenue will issue a statement about the tax treatment of any...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (28 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners the number of income earners expected to be on the income tax records in 2006 with gross incomes in excess of €200,000 is projected at 17,800. It is assumed the Deputy wishes to ascertain the amount of income tax directly attributable to the top rate of income tax, which is currently set at 42%. As the application of the tax rates in a tax...

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (28 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: The amount spent on advertising by my Department in national newspapers in each of the last five years is shown in tabular form. Year Cost of Advertising in National Newspapers â'¬ 2001 1,904,500 2002 1,070,500 2003 82,200 2004 301,900 2005 93,700 The national newspapers in which this advertising was placed include the Evening Herald, the Irish Examiner, the Irish...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners they became aware in 2005 that VAT was being inconsistently applied in the private waste management sector. Indeed, compliant members of the trade wanted the Revenue Commissioners to ensure consistency of treatment across the industry. There was a lack of clarity on the part of some private operators about the application of VAT to the landfill levy....

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (28 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Office of Public Works is responsible for both property procurement and disposal. The overall objective is to ensure property being acquired at a regional level is matched as closely as possible both in time and in cost terms by the disposal of property currently held in the Dublin region, whether held on lease or otherwise. No decisions have been made yet on the disposal, retention or...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (28 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Revenue Commissioners have advised that forms P21 will issue shortly in respect of the years 2003 and 2004 on the basis of income and tax credit details on their computer record. In relation to 2005, as Revenue's computer record does not yet have details for this year it is necessary for the persons concerned to submit their forms P60 to the Revenue Commissioners in order to facilitate...

Written Answers — INTERREG Funding: INTERREG Funding (28 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: There have been two PEACE programmes, PEACE I from 1994-99 and PEACE II from 2000-06. The value of the PEACE I programme to the Border region was €100 million. Of this, 3% or €3 million, was spent on technical assistance — monitoring and evaluation — of the programme. A total of 75% of funds allocated to technical assistance came from the EU while the remaining 25% was funded from the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (28 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: The locations and Civil Service organisations that are oversubscribed are: Location Killarney Department of Arts Sport and Tourism Clonakilty Department of Communications Marine and Natural Resources Knock Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Newbridge Department of Defence Kilkenny Department of Environment Heritage and Local Government Drogheda ...

Written Answers — Bookmakers' Licences: Bookmakers' Licences (28 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: Firms that offer spread-betting services, whether in respect of sports events or financial services, are required to possess a bookmaker's licence, which is issued by the Revenue Commissioners. To obtain a bookmaker's licence a person must publish a notice in the press of his or her intention to carry on the business of bookmaking at a particular premises and apply to the local superintendent...

Written Answers — Special Savings Incentive Scheme: Special Savings Incentive Scheme (28 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: In order to be eligible to avail of the incentive, an SSIA holder must satisfy the following income conditions. The SSIA holder's gross income before all deductions in the year preceding the year of maturity of the SSIA cannot exceed €50,000 and none of that income can be chargeable to tax at the higher rate of 42%. A social welfare recipient, therefore, may qualify assuming that his or her...