Results 16,501-16,520 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business. (16 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: We will not withdraw the Bill.

Order of Business. (16 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: For defying the law.

Order of Business. (16 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: What about Deputy Higgins's friends? Who funded him for years? There is silence on the Opposition benches for the first time in years.

Order of Business. (16 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: Another attempt at humour.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (15 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: The application of VAT in these cases is governed by EU law. This requires that private providers of home care services must charge VAT at the appropriate rate of up to 21%. My Department is actively examining, in consultation with the Department of Health and Children, the scope within the relevant EU directives to exempt the provision of such services from VAT in the future.

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (15 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: In so far as the transfer of local authority staff into the Civil Service is concerned, there are as yet no formal arrangements in place. A staff member of a local authority where suitably qualified may, however, apply to compete in all open recruitment competitions for posts in the Civil Service. In the second report of the decentralisation implementation group published in July 2004, it was...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (15 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: As with most other income, interest on savings is subject to tax. With effect from 6 April 1986, DIRT has been deducted at source from interest paid or credited on accounts with licensed banks, building societies and the Post Office Savings Bank. A similar obligation has since been extended in certain circumstances to credit unions. This retention tax was introduced in the 1986 budget as the...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (15 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the following table gives the statistics requested for the period from 1 January 2005 to 10 February 2006. Number of balancing statements issued between 1/1/2005 and 10/02/2006. 1/1/2005-31/12/2005: 530,274 Number of requests that have resulted in a repayment of tax. 1/1/2005-31/12/2005: 386,131 (1)The average amount repaid by...

Written Answers — National Lottery Funding: National Lottery Funding (15 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: Under section 5 of the National Lottery Act 1986, the surplus from the national lottery may be used for sport and other recreation; national culture, including the Irish language; arts, within the meaning of the Arts Act 1951; health of the community; and for such other purposes as the Government may determine. The following additional categories have been so determined: youth, welfare,...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (15 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: To date the taxpayer has not claimed a refund of deposit interest retention tax, DIRT. The Revenue Commissioners have issued the necessary forms, forms 54D, to the taxpayer for completion. On receipt of the completed forms, the refund will be processed without delay.

Written Answers — Motor Vehicle Registration: Motor Vehicle Registration (14 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 337 and 347 together. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that under section 135 of the Finance Act 1992 a vehicle, which is temporarily brought into the State by someone whose normal residence is outside of Ireland, may be exempted from the normal requirement to be registered. Regulation 5(1) of the Temporary Exemption from Registration of Vehicles...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (14 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: The European Regional Development Funds, commitment of €4.36 million for the tourism measure for 2005 was the only reallocation made to the faster spending child care measure within the BMW operational programme. This action was necessary to minimise the risk of loss of these funds by the application of the automatic decommitment rules for Structural Funds set out in Article 31 of...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (14 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: Generally speaking, the tax system treats members of cohabiting couples as separate and unconnected individuals. Each partner is a separate entity for tax purposes, therefore, tax credits, tax bands and tax reliefs cannot be transferred from one partner to the other. There are no special favourable tax arrangements for cohabiting couples with dependent children. The working group examining...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (14 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I have been informed by the Revenue Commissioners that a signed affidavit was issued to the solicitors in this case on 8 February 2006. I have also been informed by the Revenue Commissioners that there are no outstanding issues in this case as far as they are concerned.

Written Answers — Motor Vehicle Registration: Motor Vehicle Registration (14 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy will be aware that responsibility for road tax, car insurance, national car test or driver testing does not lie with my Department. My reply, therefore, is in respect of vehicle registration tax only. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the information available in this regard refers to the number of cars, new and used, imported into Ireland and registered within the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (14 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy is aware, responsibility for road tax and insurance obligations do not lie with my Department. My reply is therefore only in respect of vehicle registration and vehicle registration tax. In order to fully answer the Deputy's question, it is helpful to outline the legislative nature of vehicle registration tax, and the conditions governing its administration and enforcement by...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (14 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 and 349 together. In 2004 my Department requested each Secretary General or head of office to discuss the question of decentralisation with his or her senior officers at assistant secretary level. In total, up to 60 posts at this level are due to relocate under the decentralisation programme. The decentralisation implementation group reported in September...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (14 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: Up to 70 posts at Secretary General, assistant secretary and equivalent levels are due to be decentralised under the Government's decentralisation programme, including nine posts at Secretary General level. Since the announcement of the programme, vacancies at this level, including those at Secretary General level, are being filled by the top level appointments committee, TLAC, on the basis...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (14 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 351 and 352 together. The Deputy is referring to the system of pension "integration" or "co-ordination" for public servants. This is an arrangement under which the pension entitlements of public servants on full PRSI are limited to take account of the fact that these public servants have both a social welfare pension and an occupational pension from a public...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (14 Feb 2006)

Brian Cowen: I understand PRSI relief is only available for employees who pay pension contributions to occupational pension schemes, retirement annuity contracts, or personal retirement savings accounts. Relief is not available to the self-employed. PRSI is first and foremost a matter for the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs.