Results 16,481-16,500 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (21 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I take it that the Deputy is referring to the action taken in respect of contracts within my Department arising from particular aspects of my address to the Dublin Chamber of Commerce on 20 October 2005 on value for money and the peer review process for ICT projects over €5 million announced by the Government on 11 October 2005. I also assume that the particular aspects of my address to...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the college for which tuition fees the taxpayer is claiming relief has not been approved by the Minister for Education and Science for the purposes of the relief.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 303 and 304 together. I wrote to my ministerial colleagues on 20 October 2005 enclosing a copy of my address of the same date to the Dublin Chamber of Commerce and requesting them to ensure that their Departments take all necessary steps to implement measures set out in my address. My Department issued a circular letter to all Departments on 25 January...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (21 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I presume the Deputy is referring to the disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concessions scheme that provides relief from VAT and VRT on the purchase of a car adapted for the transport of a person with certain disabilities, as well as relief from excise on the fuel used in the car up to a certain limit. The disability criteria for eligibility for the tax concessions under this scheme...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (21 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: My Department has been informed by the Registrar of Credit Unions that he is continuing his review of the appropriate investment framework for credit unions, in consultation with the representative bodies for credit unions. Once submitted to my Department, the registrar's recommendations on a revised investment framework for credit unions will be examined by the Credit Union Advisory...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the refund has been approved in this case and will issue shortly. A further repayment has also been approved in respect of an additional claim for medical expenses and will issue shortly. The Revenue Commissioners regret the delay in issuing these refunds which was due to increased end of year volumes.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (21 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the Office of Public Works has identified a suitable property solution for the accommodation of 50 Revenue staff due to decentralise to Listowel. The indicative timeframe for the provision of the building is the last quarter of 2006. The movement of staff to Listowel will be commenced by the Revenue Commissioners as soon as the building is available.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (21 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: To date, there are 22 locations where the total number of applicants on the central applications facility exceeds the number of posts on offer. I draw the Deputy's attention to the fact that the position is not static as applicants may opt to change preferences at any stage during the transition phase. He will be aware also that there may not be a precise grade match in each case between...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (21 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: It is not my Department's normal practice to make statements on current or former members of staff of the Department. However, my Department was engaged in extended personal correspondence over the period 1988 to 1997 with the person referred to and, on occasion, by her legal advisers. There have also been a number of parliamentary questions in recent years concerning this person and 20...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (21 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: The details of the number of posts decentralising under the programme of decentralisation announced by the Government in December 2003 are published on the central application facility at www.publicjobs.ie. For my Department and bodies under its aegis, the locations, number of posts decentralising, the number of staff within the decentralising business units who have chosen to decentralise...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (21 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: The decentralisation implementation group met on 22 occasions during 2005 and to date in 2006. The dates of its meetings are set out in the following table. 2005 February 3, 17 March 24 April 12, 21 28 May 4, 10, 20 June 2 July 7, 28 October 7, 13, 19, 28 November 10, 29 December 6 2006 January 17 February 2, 15.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (16 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I have no plans to introduce an income disregard for income tax purposes as proposed by the Deputy. The €100 disregard referred to by the Deputy does not relate to taxation. It is a general principle in the tax code that, as far as possible, income from all sources should be subject to taxation. In line with this principle, the majority of social welfare payments, including contributory and...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (16 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that, in the case referred to by the Deputy, stamp duty has been refunded and a cheque for the amount due issued on 13 January 2006, in favour of the person's solicitors.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (16 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners on their decentralisation to Kilrush, County Clare, that the Office of Public Works has identified a suitable property solution in Kilrush to facilitate the accommodation of 50 staff due to decentralise to that location. To date, 43 staff have confirmed acceptances to decentralise to Kilrush. The Revenue Commissioners are continuing to use the central...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (16 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that it appears the person in this case was employed by a sub-contractor. However, he was not registered as an employee of that sub-contractor under PAYE. Nor has the person been issued with a C2 form which would allow payments to be made to him without deduction of relevant contracts tax. In the circumstances it seems that he should have...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (16 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I refer the Deputy to my answer to Parliamentary Question No. 367 of 14 February 2006. There are a number of tax reliefs currently available for the construction of certain health facilities, which include capital allowances for private hospitals, convalescent homes, private nursing homes and residential units attached to nursing homes. Various conditions have to be met for these reliefs to...

Written Answers — Alternative Fuels: Alternative Fuels (16 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: A relief from mineral oil tax was introduced in the Finance Act 2004 for biofuels produced or used in certain pilot projects. The pilot projects could be for the production of biofuel or for testing the technical viability of biofuel as a motor fuel. The relief was confined to pilot projects approved by the Minister for Finance. Following an invitation to tender from the Department of...

Order of Business. (16 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: Deputy O'Keeffe has knowledge of the role of Brutus. Or was that Cassius?

Order of Business. (16 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: If I was Deputy O'Keeffe, I would keep quiet about conspiracies.

Order of Business. (16 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy played the role of Brutus himself a couple of times but it did not work for him.