Results 16,621-16,640 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Departmental Appointments: Departmental Appointments (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: There are seven vacancies on boards established under the aegis of my Department. Details in respect of these vacancies are set out in the following table. Name of Body No. of Current Vacancies Financial Services Consultative Industrial Panel 1 Financial Services Consultative Consumer Panel 1 Financial Services Ombudsman Council 1 National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission 1 ...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: The following tabular statement lists each of the 53 decentralisation locations proposed in budget 2004; the number of staff earmarked for each location in the budget 2004 statement; the number of staff who applied to move to each location via the central applications facility and categorises each location as either State owned site, site acquired, site agreed, site/property under negotiation...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: I have no plans to introduce stamp duty relief for full-time farmers over 35 years of age on the transfer of a farm from a family member. As the Deputy will be aware, the stamp duty code contains full stamp duty relief for transfers of land to young trained farmers, that is, under 35 years, where land is transferred to them by way of gift or sale, provided they have attained relevant...

Written Answers — Price Reductions: Price Reductions (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: The changes I announced in the budget — a halving of the excise rates for kerosene and LPG — were undertaken in order that consumers would benefit directly from such a move. In addition, I announced in advance that these excise rates will be reduced to zero in next year's budget. There has been some anecdotal evidence from consumers contacting my Department that prices have not fallen in...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: The end December Exchequer returns indicated that, on an Exchequer issues basis, spending in 2005 totalled €35.467 million or €2.920 million more than 2004, an increase of 9%. This was some €705 million less than provided in the Revised Estimates Volume, REV, 2005 and comprised €564 million current and €141 million capital, excluding capital carryover then estimated at €345.7...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am glad to inform the Deputy that the process for Ireland joining the Asian Development Bank, ADB, is already at an advanced stage. Our primary objective in joining the ADB is to assist in economic development of Asia. The Deputy will be aware that the Development Banks Act 2005, which was only enacted on 21 December 2005, provides for Ireland's membership of the Asian Development Bank....

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that there is disagreement between the Revenue Commissioners and the solicitor acting for the taxpayer in respect of the effect of the legal instrument drawn up in this case. Having examined the legal instrument, Revenue took the view that stamp duty was payable on the basis that the effect of the instrument was a transfer of an interest in land and...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: My Department spent €30.5 million in the period from June 1997 to the end of 2005 on consultants, legal expertise and external advice. This figure includes spending in this area by the Euro Changeover Board of Ireland and the NDP-CSF unit of my Department. As regards the number of reports, the Deputy will appreciate that not all such contracts required the production of a report. To take...

Written Answers — Performance Management and Development System: Performance Management and Development System (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: Management and unions agreed to the introduction of the performance management and development system, PMDS, in the Civil Service in General Council Report 1368 May 2000. All staff covered by the scheme have received training and the system has been functioning in my Department since its introduction. PMDS also forms an important part of the annual business planning process in my Department....

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: Section 664 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 exempts from income tax certain income from the leasing of farmland. Broadly speaking, if a farmer aged 40 years or over leases out farm land for a period of at least five years, some or all of the rent received for that land will be exempt from tax. From its inception in 1985, this legislation contained a provision — subsection (4) — that,...

Written Answers — Tourism Revenue: Tourism Revenue (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: The BMW regional assembly, as the managing authority of the BMW regional operational programme, carried out a review in early 2005 of the levels of project approvals and expenditure under the tourism measure. The review was carried out in consultation with my Department, the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and Fáilte Ireland and followed concerns about the low level of expenditure by...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: In responding to the question I will be using data for regional gross value added, GVA, for 2002 published on 23 March 2005 by the Central Statistics Office. I am assuming that this is also the data the Deputy is referring to. Gross value added represents the value of goods and services produced. The average output level in the BMW region, as measured by GVA, stood at just over 69% of the...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: The following table shows the amounts deducted from salaries of staff in my Department and in the Department of the Taoiseach in respect of superannuation and employee contributions to pay related social insurance in the years in question. The proceeds of PRSI deductions are transferred, together with the related employer contributions, to the Revenue Commissioners on a monthly basis along...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Office of the Paymaster General in my Department is responsible for the issue of pension payments to almost 15,000 retired civil servants and their surviving spouses across a range of Departments. The details sought by the Deputy are provided in the following table. The figures quoted represent gross pension payment issue figures for the periods involved. They include payments to retired...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: The bodies and agencies under the aegis of my Department that are subject to freedom of information in respect of certain functions only are the Office of the Information Commissioner, the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Office of the Ombudsman. Under section 46(1)(c)(i) of the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003 the Act does not apply to a record relating to "a...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: I have noted the establishment of a special committee of inquiry by the European Parliament referred to by the Deputy. I understand that the committee will report on its findings within 12 months but will publish an interim report after four months. As the Deputy will be aware, the supervision of a United Kingdom based entity is the exclusive responsibility of the United Kingdom regulator....

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the most recent relevant information available relates to corporation tax returns submitted for accounting periods ending in 2003. An estimated breakdown of the figures for corporation tax returns on a geographical basis is available on the basis of bailiwick, meaning the jurisdiction or boundaries within which Revenue sheriffs, county...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the most recent relevant information relates to figures of corporation tax paid by companies based in Donegal in the calendar years 2002, 2003 and 2004 and which are set out as follows. Companies in Donegal. Calendar Year Corporation Tax Paid â'¬ million 2002 24.1 2003 17.5 2004 25.5 An estimated breakdown of the...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that figures of the net receipt of inheritance tax and gift tax in the years 1997 to 2005, inclusive, are contained in following table: Year Inheritance Tax Gift Tax â'¬ million â'¬ million 1997 81.3 6.4 1998 98.5 7.7 1999 133.7 13.4 2000 154.7 15.4 2001 121.5 13.8 2002 128.1 13.1 2003...

Written Answers — Budget Submissions: Budget Submissions (25 Jan 2006)

Brian Cowen: The normal meetings with lobby groups take place before the budget. I have had no similar meetings since then although I have met individuals, as is the norm for any public representative, on issues arising from the budget on which they have views. The Finance Bill 2006 will be published on 2 February and it is not the practice to comment on it, one way or another, before it is presented to...