Results 16,981-17,000 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Seanad: Estimates for Public Services 2006: Statements. (24 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I welcome this opportunity to address Seanad Éireann on the Government's pre-budget Estimates for 2006. Before I proceed to outline the Government's spending plans for next year, I would like to review the economic and budgetary outlook and the background to the 2006 Estimates. In framing the Estimates, the Government has continued its policy of prudent management of the economy and public...

Seanad: Estimates for Public Services 2006: Statements. (24 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: Every one of them.

Seanad: Estimates for Public Services 2006: Statements. (24 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: It was reconstructed.

Written Answers — Vehicle Registration Tax: Vehicle Registration Tax (23 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that as a general rule all vehicles imported for an indefinite period into the State must register for vehicle registration tax purposes within 24 hours of arrival. This rule applies equally to vehicles imported by EU and non-EU persons. However, section 135(a) of the Finance Act 1992 permits a European or other foreign registered vehicle, which is...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: The position is that the VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law with which Irish VAT law must comply. Under the Sixth VAT Directive, member states may retain the zero rates on goods and services which were in place on 1 January 1991, but cannot extend the zero rate to other goods and services. As the supply of home alarm systems was not subject to the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (23 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: As part of the decentralisation programme, it is intended that 210 posts of Ordnance Survey Ireland will decentralise to Dungarvan, County Waterford. Initial data from the central applications facility indicate that while 15 staff of Ordnance Survey Ireland have applied to decentralise to Dungarvan, there are a further 47 expressions of interest in decentralising to Dungarvan, Ordnance Survey...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (22 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I refer the Deputy to the long-standing practice of Ministers for Finance not to comment on what may or may not be contained in upcoming budgets. I do not intend to depart from that approach.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (22 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: The position is that the VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU law with which Irish VAT law must comply. The VAT rate that applies to a particular good or service is determined by a number of criteria. Member states have the option of retaining the zero VAT rates which were in force on 1 January 1991, but no new zero VAT rates can be introduced. As a...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (22 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: The staffing of my private office and constituency office is set out in the following tables. To date in 2005, overtime, salary-related allowances and allowance payments amount to €50,804. The amount paid in expenses, foreign and domestic travel, official entertainment and miscellaneous for the same period amounts to €48,079. Additional to the staff listed are four clerical officers, two...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (22 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: A person who holds a credit card account with a credit card provider pays stamp duty on that credit card account once for each 12-month period ending on 1 April each year. Where a person cancels a credit card account within a 12-month period he or she pays the charge at the time of cancellation. This means that, in respect of any credit card account, an individual will only pay once for the...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (22 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 346 to 348, inclusive, together. The Health Service Executive requested sanction from my Department in April 2005 for the acquisition of a patient management software package. In considering this request my Department examined the proposal and was satisfied that it was sound from an ICT architectural perspective. My Department raised some minor issues...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (22 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: When the Government's decentralisation programme was first announced, it was stated that the overall objective would be to ensure that property acquired at a regional level is matched as closely as possible, both in time and in cost terms, by the disposal of property held in the Dublin region, whether held on lease or otherwise. In November 2004 the implementation group prepared a report,...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (22 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that an exemption from stamp duty is provided for in the stamp duty code in respect of a conveyance, transfer or lease of land made for charitable purposes to a body of persons established for charitable purposes only. This exemption is confined to bodies of persons which are recognised under law as having been established for charitable purposes...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: The carry-over of unspent capital from 2004 into 2005 by Departments and offices was €237 million and the current estimate for capital carry-over into 2006 from 2005, as set out in the recently published Abridged Estimates Volume, AEV, is €286 million. The total capital underspend in 2003 and 2004 was €165 million and €365 million, equivalent to 3% and 6.6% of total capital allocation...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: Concerning reviews on hand in 2005, I am informed by Departments that 54 reviews have either been completed or are under way in 2005. I will be bringing proposals to Government shortly for approval of topics for review in 2006-08. This will include provision for handling any carry-over reviews from 2005. I will also be setting out in my proposals to Government my plans for improving the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (22 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Government's decentralisation programme announced in budget 2004 provides for the transfer of 10,300 civil service and public sector posts from Dublin to other locations. Almost all Departments are involved, either wholly or partly. A number of semi-State organisations are also involved in the programme. The programme is voluntary, that is, staff may opt to decentralise with their post or...

Estimates for Public Services 2006: Motion. (22 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I move: That Dáil Éireann commends the 2006 Estimates for Public Services (Abridged) published by the Minister for Finance on 17 November 2005. The 2006 pre-budget Estimates provide for gross expenditure of approximately €48.5 billion. Of this approximately €42.2 billion is current and approximately €6.3 billion is capital. It represents an increase of almost €3 billion over 2005 or...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (17 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: It is not the practice to comment in the lead-up to the annual budget and Finance Bill on the intention or otherwise to make changes in taxation.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (17 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 63 together. It is not the practice to comment in the lead-up to the annual budget and Finance Bill on the intention or otherwise to make changes in taxation.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (17 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 65 together. It is not the practice to comment in the lead-up to the annual budget and Finance Bill on the intention or otherwise to make changes in taxation.