Results 17,641-17,660 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business. (1 Jul 2005)

Brian Cowen: There are many other debates that need to be held in this House on the economy and other matters, which I would welcome but which we do not seem to hear as much about from the Opposition as——

Order of Business. (1 Jul 2005)

Brian Cowen: I presume the Deputy believes they are on weaker ground.

Order of Business. (1 Jul 2005)

Brian Cowen: The point I am making to the Deputy is that the lists provided by the Government are formulated on the advice of Departments. This is why we publish them. I hope, for the sake of everybody who participates in the legislative process, both in committee and plenary session, that much more attention is paid to their work and that it receives much more coverage. Thus, more Members will feel they...

Order of Business. (1 Jul 2005)

Brian Cowen: The organisation of the committee's work is a matter for the committee. It has been referred from the House to the committee and it is a matter for the latter to order its own business. While I will certainly pass on the Deputy's comments to the Chairman of the committee concerned, Deputy Ardagh, the fact remains that it is for the committee to arrange its business and take the Bill if that...

Order of Business. (1 Jul 2005)

Brian Cowen: It is proposed to take No. 20, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a decision of the European Parliament and the Council establishing the European return fund for the period 2008 to 2013, back from committee; No. 21, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a decision of the European Parliament and the Council establishing the European refugee fund for the period 2008...

Order of Business. (1 Jul 2005)

Brian Cowen: I will respond to the point that has been made for the information of the House. As has been stated, the need to commence the 2004 Act is the subject of numerous questions and representations. This amendment Bill is to be brought forward because when the 2004 Act was enacted, it was considered that payments of allowances and fees to registrars could be made on an administrative basis....

Order of Business. (1 Jul 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Attorney General confirmed this advice. The failure to make provision for continued payments of allowances and fees to private registrars would have serious consequences for those registrars, for the system of civil registration in the communities served by them and for the Exchequer. This amendment is to enable what was previously regarded an administrative provision——

Order of Business. (1 Jul 2005)

Brian Cowen: What was previously regarded as an administrative provision will now be part of the legislation. People have criticised the fact that the commencement order has not been put into effect. The Government wants to do so and needs this amendment Bill. It is a practical simple measure to which I do not believe any amendment will be required.

Written Answers — Parliamentary Questions: Parliamentary Questions (30 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: The compilation of the information requested, in Parliamentary Question No.157 of 22 June 2005 is nearing completion in my Department. It is expected that the information will be forwarded directly to the Deputy next week.

Written Answers — Special Savings Incentive Scheme: Special Savings Incentive Scheme (30 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that on commencement of an SSIA account, the account holder had to certify that the following conditions would be satisfied for the duration of the scheme: the holder was over 18 years of age and resident in the State at commencement; the holder would operate only one SSIA; subscriptions to the account would only be made by the holder or his-her...

Written Answers — Stamp Duty: Stamp Duty (30 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 249 and 250 together. A stamp duty exemption for first-time buyers of second hand houses under €317,500 was brought in by budget 2005. Previously it had applied only to houses up to €190,500, so the very significant increase in the threshold made this exemption relevant to a much broader range of purchasers. Reduced rates of duty were also made available...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (30 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the amounts of relevant contracts tax, RCT, received in respect of each year from 1997 to date, 28 June 2005, are as follows: RCT Gross Repayments NET â'¬ â'¬ â'¬ 1997 195,067,568.87 112,531,660.63 82,535,908.24 1998 222,700,214.81 120,833,741.65 101,866,473.16 1999 248,549,625.45 216,127,731.69 32,421,893.76 2000...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (30 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: Three Ministers have responsibility for offices decentralising to Drogheda. These are the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Social and Family Affairs. The Ministers for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and Environment, Heritage and Local Government will answer in respect of their own areas of responsibility. I...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (30 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the relevant information available is in respect of income earners on tax records aged 65 years and over. On the basis of income tax returns received for 2002, the latest year for which the relevant data has been compiled, the available information is as follows: total numbers with a tax liability — 56,000; total amount of tax —€403...

Written Answers — Stamp Duty: Stamp Duty (30 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: Stamp duty is a duty on the transfer of title to property. It is paid largely by the better off. It has been in existence since the 1960s and has not hindered persons moving, trading up or settling down. Accordingly, I do not propose to change the stamp duty code along the lines suggested by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (30 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the peak period for receiving PAYE correspondence extends from January to June each year. The volume of contacts from PAYE taxpayers in the Dublin region, in the period January 2005 through June 2005 was as follows: PAYE tax returns and correspondence 320,832 PAYE phone calls answered 404,831 Callers to public offices 161,125 Total...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (30 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I appreciate the concerns of the case in question. However, if there is no income tax liability then it is not possible to reclaim tax on medical expenses incurred.

Written Answers — Credit Unions: Credit Unions (30 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: With the enactment of the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act 2003 responsibility for the statutory supervision of credit unions passed from the Registrar of Friendly Societies, under the aegis of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, to the Registrar of Credit Unions within the Financial Regulator. In accordance with section 33N of that Act, a statement...

Written Answers — Credit Unions: Credit Unions (30 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 258 to 260, inclusive, and 274 together. Credit unions are regulated by the Registrar of Credit Unions within the financial regulator. They are regulated primarily in accordance with the Credit Union Act 1997. The decision to maintain a distinct regulatory structure for credit unions within the financial regulator was a deliberate one, designed to reflect...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (30 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 261 and 263 together. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that home carer tax credit is available in the case of a married couple who are jointly assessed to income tax where one spouse is a home carer. A "home carer" is a person who cares for one or more dependant persons. A dependant person for the purposes of the tax credit must be either a child for...