Results 17,421-17,440 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Budget Submissions: Budget Submissions (11 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: As Deputies are aware it is a long-standing practice of the Minister for Finance not to comment in advance of the budget on possible budget decisions.

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (6 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: The medical eligibility criteria for the purposes of the tax concession under this scheme are set out in the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994. In order to qualify under the scheme, a person must be "severely and permanently disabled" and satisfy one of the following criteria: "a) persons who are wholly or almost wholly without the use of both legs;...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (6 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: The taxpayer's application in respect of bin charges, dental work and union subscriptions has been processed and there is no rebate due. The following is the position. Bin charges are allowable in the year following the year to which they relate and only if they are paid on time and in full. The bin charges paid by the person in 2005 were made up of €590.26 arrears and €40 for 2005. Only...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (6 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: The financial regulator is responsible for monitoring the provision of financial services to consumers. In providing consumer protection, the financial regulator can impose and enforce rules on financial services firms regarding how they deal with consumers, including how they sell financial products. The financial regulator has informed my Department that the financial regulator is only...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (6 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that they are not in a position to provide the information required in relation to the seaside resort scheme. This is because the normal self-assessment tax return forms do not distinguish between capital allowances claimed in respect of seaside resort schemes from those claimed in respect of other buildings entitled to capital allowances. As part of...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (6 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Office of Public Works is responsible for both property procurement and disposal. The overall objective is to ensure that property being acquired at a regional level is matched as closely as possible, both in time and in cost terms, by the disposal of property currently held in the Dublin region, whether held on lease or otherwise. No decisions have been made yet on the disposal,...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: Public procurement of computer systems operates within a policy defined by European and domestic procurement law. Up to date guidelines for public procurement, including information technology solutions, were issued to Departments and offices by my Department in 2004. I am satisfied that the procurement systems in place are robust and as a general rule operate in a satisfactory manner....

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy is aware, I announced in my Budget Statement that my Department and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners are undertaking a detailed review of certain tax incentive schemes and tax exemptions in 2005. Two external consultancy firms have been examining the area-based and sectoral property tax incentive schemes. The review also involves the examination by my Department and the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: The stallion stud fee exemption was introduced in the Finance Act 1969 and amended in 1985. The stallion relief was included as part of annual reports on aid granted in Ireland to the agriculture sector sent by the Department of Agriculture to the Commission in 1982 and on a number of subsequent occasions. The Commission wrote to the Irish authorities on 24 June 2003 stating that a complaint...

Written Answers — Revenue Commissioners Audits: Revenue Commissioners Audits (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the matter of random audits, including the purpose and methodology, has been the subject of discussion at the Committee of Public Accounts committee following examination of this issue by the Comptroller and Auditor General. As a consequence, in December 2003, the Revenue Commissioners gave a commitment to the Committee of Public Accounts that...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: VAT receipts paid to the Exchequer in the year to end-September 2005 amounted to €9,578 million. This compares to a figure of €8,504 million in the same period last year, a year-on-year increase of 12.6%. This increase has been driven by strong growth in the domestic economy and, in particular, in personal consumption expenditure.

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy will be aware that in July last year, the Government approved, on the initiative of the then Minister for Finance, reduced fees for all legal representation including that of third parties at tribunals or inquiries established from September 2004, and to existing tribunals and inquiries with effect from various dates set in the light of consultations between the Attorney General...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: From the outset both the Government and I have made it clear that participation in the decentralisation programme is voluntary. Those public and civil servants who do not wish to relocate outside Dublin will be offered alternative posts in Dublin. Regular consultations are taking place with unions representing civil and public servants. These consultations are seeking to address the full...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: The National Development Finance Agency, NDFA, was established under the National Development Finance Agency Act 2002. Section 3 of the Act sets out its functions in regard to advising State authorities on the optimum means of funding public investment projects in order to achieve value for money, including by means of public private partnership arrangements, PPP. Under the Act, it is a...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: Section 50 of Finance Act 2004 provided for the introduction of a limited scheme for excise tax relief for biofuels. The purpose of the provision was to allow qualified and conditional relief from excise of biofuel used in approved pilot projects for either the production of biofuel or the testing of the technical viability of biofuel for use as a motor fuel. As the Deputy may be aware, it...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: I have asked the chairman of the Revenue Commissioners to monitor the application of the current non-resident rules, through examination of cases handled in the Revenue large cases division, and to provide me with a report once this examination is complete. The chairman has confirmed to me that this work is under way and that he will report to me as soon as possible. I am informed by the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Government decision on carbon tax was made in September 2004 following a thorough examination of the issues involved, including how a carbon tax would be implemented and the associated environmental, economic and social impacts. In addition, my Department carried out an extensive consultation process in which 117 written submissions were received. Following this examination, the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: The central applications facility received over 9,000 applications for decentralisation up to the closing date for priority applications which was 7 September 2004. Since that date a steady stream of new applications have been received. At the start of the summer the figure for post 7 September 2004 new applicants was 750. This figure has risen to almost 1,300 over the last three months...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 102 together. The Government announced last August that it has agreed to the preparation of a successor to the current national development plan which runs to the end of 2006. The new national development plan will cover the seven year period from 2007 to 2013. The preparation of the new plan will be co-ordinated by the Department of Finance....

Written Answers — Special Savings Incentive Scheme: Special Savings Incentive Scheme (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: The SSIA scheme opened on 1 May 2001 and entry to it closed on 30 April 2002. The accounts are due to mature between May 2006 and April 2007. A total of 1.17 million accounts were opened during the period outlined. The impact of maturing SSIA funds on the economy in 2006 and 2007 is subject to ongoing consideration within my Department. The impact on consumer demand is difficult to estimate...