Results 17,181-17,200 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Tax Code. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: The tax measures in place for child care are capital allowances on child care facilities, an exemption from a benefit-in-kind charge where employers provide free or subsidised child care facilities for their employees and the home carer tax credit. Child benefit is also exempt from income tax. There is a need to examine pragmatically and practically what can be done to provide child care...

Tax Code. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I appreciate the Deputy asking specific questions, but these matters are under consideration in the context of the upcoming budget. One is much constrained by that. The issue is how we increase options for people and ensure a greater supply of child care places. If we do not look at the supply side of the equation, any efforts on the other side will not have the impact one would like to see....

Tax Code. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am not sure what the Deputy means regarding a time limit for the capital allowance. In 1999, a scheme of capital allowances was introduced in respect of qualifying capital expenditure incurred in the construction, refurbishment or extension of a building or part of a building used as a child care facility, where the requirements of the child care pre-school regulations 1996 have been met....

Official Engagements. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I attended the ECOFIN Council meeting in Brussels on 8 November 2005. This meeting was attended by Ministers of Finance of all 25 EU member states and of Bulgaria and Romania. The Council held a debate on Council conclusions on means of establishing an improved control framework for the EU budget on the basis of work carried out by a group of member state experts convened by the Commission...

Official Engagements. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: We have economic and tax models which have ensured our unemployment rate stands at half the EU average and our growth rate is more than 2.5 times the euro zone average. These models include low taxes on employment and enterprise and different indirect taxation levels. It is a question of how a tax system is structured. The one-stop scheme idea concerns business consumer and Internet type...

Official Engagements. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: Interest rate policy is exclusively a matter for the Governor of the European Central Bank. I do not speculate on such issues, for obvious reasons. The European economy is experiencing a slight recovery, with a possible 1.2% growth this year. While that figure varies significantly from our experience, it is to be expected of the euro area. Unless evidence is found of second round effects with...

Official Engagements. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I do not know what informal discussions may have taken place among others but I did not discuss the matter with anyone at ECOFIN. As the Deputy is aware, the proceedings of the euro group meeting, which took place the preceding night, is confidential.

Official Engagements. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: The matter was not discussed at yesterday's meeting, nor am I aware of its planned discussion under the UK Presidency. The Austrian Presidency will set its own agenda. I have not been advised that the matter is of imminent concern. VRT tax take is an important part of our tax revenues.

Tax Code. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the number of reviews of tax liability sought by PAYE taxpayers in the past three years which resulted in refunds are as follows: as of 23 September 2005, there were 322,361 such reviews and the amount refunded was €282 million; in 2004, there were 350,016 reviews and refunds of €278 million; in 2003, there were 314,298 reviews and refunds...

Tax Code. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I cannot comment on the Deputy's specific points. If he forwards his data to me, I can give him a considered reply. This is an issue that is ongoing and I accept the Deputy's general argument. I can consider his suggestion when he forwards his information which I will ask Revenue to examine.

Tax Code. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Revenue Commissioners are following up these matters and I can get a detailed response from them as to what they are doing to try to deal with the query raised by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Tax Code. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I cannot confirm or deny that at present.

Tax Code. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I understand that.

Tax Code. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I take the Deputy's point on board. I will have the issue checked out in more detail.

Archaeological Sites. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: Is the Deputy not going to ask me to do a detailed cost-benefit analysis?

Archaeological Sites. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: The cost of the analysis would be €200,000.

Archaeological Sites. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: Having stood for so long, suspicions of its imminent demise might be a little exaggerated.

Departmental Appointments. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy will be aware that the Top Level Appointments Committee, TLAC, recommends candidates to Government for the most senior appointments in the Civil Service. Subject to certain exceptions, TLAC deals with all posts at or above assistant secretary level or equivalent across the Civil Service. The Government is the appointing authority for posts at secretary general level and the TLAC...

Departmental Appointments. (9 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I recently said that there is a need to open up opportunities from the private sector to the public sector in many specialised and technical areas. There is also provision in the social partnership programme for open competition in these areas. In fairness, there is much churning within Departments. By the time people get to assistant secretary level, they may have served in two or three...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (8 Nov 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the net VAT receipts collected for 2004 in respect of businesses managed and controlled in the geographical area covering Dublin city centre, the south city, the north city, south county, Fingal and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown was €3,342 million.