Results 17,561-17,580 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (4 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the increase in VAT revenue arising during 2004 due to movement in national average retail prices for petrol is estimated at €22.9 million. If it is assumed that current end of September 2005 prices will prevail until the end of 2005 and throughout 2006, then the amount of additional VAT revenue that will be received is estimated to be €43.7...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (4 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the increase in VAT revenue arising during 2004 due to movement in national average retail prices for auto diesel is estimated at €2.9 million. If it is assumed that current end of September 2005 prices will prevail until the end of 2005 and throughout 2006, then the amount of additional VAT revenue that will be received is estimated to be...

Report of Comptroller and Auditor General: Motion. (4 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: I move amendment No. 1: "To delete all words after "Dail Éireann" and substitute the following: —notes the annual report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the 2004 Appropriation Accounts in the context of a gross expenditure by central Government of more than €41 billion in 2004 and that in line with normal procedure it will now be passed for scrutiny to the Committee of Public...

Report of Comptroller and Auditor General: Motion. (4 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: I did not interrupt what I am sure was a very positive contribution from Deputy Burton.

Report of Comptroller and Auditor General: Motion. (4 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: At a general level the Revenue Commissioners——

Report of Comptroller and Auditor General: Motion. (4 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: It makes more sense when it is read out.

Report of Comptroller and Auditor General: Motion. (4 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: If it is okay, a Cheann Comhairle, I will make a contribution. At a general level the Revenue Commissioners recognise the tax compliance risks which arise in the construction industry and they have carried out an extensive programme of checks, audits and investigations in the industry in 2005. Revenue has reorganised itself along regional lines, with each Revenue region containing a special...

Report of Comptroller and Auditor General: Motion. (4 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: Dublin also has a Revenue district specifically dedicated to dealing with high-risk construction industry cases.

Report of Comptroller and Auditor General: Motion. (4 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: That district alone completed 80 audits so far this year with a yield of €4.5 million in tax, interest and penalties. This activity is being replicated in Revenue's other regions.

Report of Comptroller and Auditor General: Motion. (4 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: Revenue is now planning how to build on these activities in 2006. I am informed that the construction industry will form a major part of Revenue's compliance and audit work in 2006. In recent years, 12 instances of relevant contract tax fraud were investigated by Revenue. Because of the particular circumstances of two instances, it was considered appropriate to refer these to the Garda for...

Report of Comptroller and Auditor General: Motion. (4 Oct 2005)

Brian Cowen: Revenue has made significant investments in regard to its computer systems by integrating relevant contracts tax into its main computer systems. This allows for the better monitoring of compliance behaviour of principal contractors and for Revenue to more effectively police the operation of the C2 certificate of authorisation system. Turning to the issue of better management of public...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (29 Sep 2005)

Brian Cowen: Customs services, both nationally and internationally, are acutely conscious of the importance of coastal surveillance and it is considered regularly at national and international fora. The Customs and Excise service of the Revenue Commissioners has primary responsibility for the prevention, detection, interception and seizure of controlled drugs at importation in Ireland and is well aware of...

Written Answers — Vehicle Registration: Vehicle Registration (29 Sep 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that new online service has greatly reduced the demand for personal service at their vehicle registration offices. An increasing number of motor dealers now register new vehicles online themselves — currently approximately 80% of such registrations nationally are online — in preference to using the facilities at vehicle registration offices. In...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (29 Sep 2005)

Brian Cowen: A repayment was approved for the person concerned on 21 September 2005 and a cheque for the amount due issued on 23 September 2005.

Seanad: Tax Code. (29 Sep 2005)

Brian Cowen: It is important to set out the facts for the record. It is necessary at the outset to remind the House that the need for a definition of residency arises from the need for clarity as regards which sovereign jurisdiction has the taxing rights in relation to particular taxpayers. If such rules were not formulated and applied there would be potential confusion and conflict, and unfairness to the...

Seanad: Tax Code. (29 Sep 2005)

Brian Cowen: There is no evidence to that effect. The residency rules are long-standing and were subject to review in 1994. I have explained in detail how the regime works. As I outlined, the belief that non-residency, by definition, involves non-payment of taxes is incorrect. The Revenue Commissioners monitor the situation on an ongoing basis and are satisfied with the operation of the rules. Should the...

Seanad: Telecommunications Services. (29 Sep 2005)

Brian Cowen: I want to explain that the VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law with which Irish VAT law must comply. The supply of telecommunications services is subject to the standard rate of VAT which in Ireland is set at 21%. The EU sixth VAT directive requires that such services are subject to the standard rate. Under Irish law the charging of VAT on mobile...

Seanad: Telecommunications Services. (29 Sep 2005)

Brian Cowen: I do not know if, in the contract between the service providers, they are allowed to include VAT as a charge for the service, but I can check that and come back to the Senator with that clarification. I am not aware whether they would only charge a call rate and that subsequently VAT is paid to the Irish provider. I expect that the purpose of these EU directives or double taxation treaties is...

Written Answers — Motor Fuels: Motor Fuels (28 Sep 2005)

Brian Cowen: Fuel prices are driven by a range of factors including the price of oil on international markets, exchange rates, production costs and refining costs. The rise in oil prices over the last year also reflects additional factors such as geopolitical uncertainty, supply disruptions and strong economic growth in "catch-up" countries such as China. Mineral oil taxes are, of course, also a factor...

Written Answers — Information Society Initiative: Information Society Initiative (28 Sep 2005)

Brian Cowen: Overall Government policy on the information society was initially set out in the report Implementing the Information Society in Ireland: An Action Plan published by the Department of the Taoiseach in January 1999. A new action plan entitled New Connections was approved by Government in March 2002 covering the next three-year period 2003-05. In response to the first action plan, my Department...