Results 18,001-18,020 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Tax Code. (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy did not say that but neither did he suggest that any benefit was to be derived from these schemes. I will cite some benefits, for example. There is a financial services centre in Dublin, with 20,000 of the best paid jobs in the country. There also happens to be an annual revenue take for the Exchequer of €700 million. I suggest to the Deputy that a more balanced reaction to all...

Tax Code. (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: He certainly did.

Tax Code. (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: It did.

Tax Code. (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I will answer it now.

Tax Code. (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: My apologies. I will certainly wait.

Tax Code. (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I will tell the Deputy why. As Minister for Finance, I am entitled to introduce a budget and the Finance Bill, which, if enacted by the Oireachtas, becomes law. It is called a democratic mandate. The Deputy may have a different opinion on certain issues. When he has a sufficient mandate he can come over to the Government benches and I will challenge him from the Opposition side. It is called...

Tax Code. (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy majored on the second part of his question. As regards the Deputy's original question, I have just explained that I decide what tax reliefs we will review. I have explained to the Deputy what ones we will review. There are reliefs that are not being reviewed because they were reviewed recently, while others are not subject to formal review in this structured proposal. In budgetary...

Tax Code. (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: No. It is nonsense to suggest that there is any uisce faoi thalamh. There are issues of confidentiality, systems and a budgetary process which I have a mandate to utilise and protect. I am entitled to do so.

Tax Code. (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I do not have to tell the Deputy my budget in the month of June.

Public Capital Investment. (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: Provision for public capital investment is set out in the five-year rolling multi-annual capital envelope introduced in budget 2004. This multi-annual commitment of resources, which maintains investment at or close to 5% of GNP or around twice the EU average, underlines the Government's priority to capital investment. The relative priority at programme level is set out in the various...

Public Capital Investment. (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: It has been decided not to proceed as yet with another national development plan — the current plan runs to the end of 2006. The shape the next plan may take is an issue to be considered by Government in due course. Regarding the figures regularly mentioned, it is pointed out in the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and the report of the Committee of Public Accounts that the...

Public Capital Investment. (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I do not accept that my reply was timid. I regard it as a reply necessary in the interests of providing some accuracy regarding the assertions made on these matters by the political opposition in recent weeks, and in the interests of bringing some perspective and balance to the debate. The new cost appraisal guidelines I have introduced since becoming Minister for Finance are being discussed...

Public Capital Investment. (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: Clarity is sometimes lost in attempting to set out the complexities of the issues for the public to consider in an accurate manner. It is not appropriate to apply project concept costs relating to mid-1990 figures to work done in 2002, 2003 or 2004. Clearly, the outturn costs on the projects involved would be different. Those in households know that in terms of capital works they undertook,...

Tax Code. (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: Under the current scheme of capital allowances available with regard to private hospitals the hospital must have the capacity to afford medical or surgical services all year round, provide a minimum of 70 inpatient beds, outpatient services, operating theatres and on-site diagnostic and therapeutic services and have facilities to provide at least five specialist services, ranging from...

Tax Code. (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: It is not true that investment is going into the private sector while the public health sector gets nothing. There is historically unprecedented capital investment going into the public health sector since 1997. Whatever people may suggest about the past, this Administration has arranged for the largest amount of public capital and current investment into the health sector in the history of...

Tax Code. (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I would like to speak about the private assessment of where we stand. The amount of money invested in the public capital investment programme is the amount of capital that the Government believes to be available in the context of its various budgetary requirements, such as the need to maintain growth in competitiveness, job creation and revenue. The Government decides on its priorities across...

Tax Code. (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: The word "crisis" is probably the most overused word in political debate. I do not suggest that I am unaware of some of the problems which remain. The Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children has provided increased resources because she is anxious to deal with further issues that need to be addressed. There have been significant improvements in capacity and personnel. I refer to...

Tax Code. (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I have been informed by the Revenue Commissioners that no more than four companies have opted to participate in the tonnage tax scheme and, accordingly, paid tax in that manner. The total tax paid under the scheme in 2003 was €100,000. There does not appear to be cause for concern about the appropriateness of tonnage tax to the circumstances of any of the companies in question. The tonnage...

Tax Code. (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I do not think it has been envisaged that the tonnage tax system will be included in the review. I have no problem with ensuring that the system is examined in the context of the preparations for the 2006 budget, given the recent interest that people have shown in it. I do not think it was originally included in the review, but I can arrange for someone to examine it as part of the review....

Tax Code. (1 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I do not have that information. I will try to provide it for the Deputy, but it is not included in the supplementary reply. A company is not entitled to capital allowances in respect of ships that qualify for tonnage tax. The effect of this is that a company is not entitled to capital allowances in respect of capital expenditure on assets such as ships and other plant and machinery which are...