Results 18,321-18,340 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: I appointed Mr. Finbarr Flood, former chairman of the Labour Court, to the chair of the decentralisation implementation group on 20 April 2005.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 124 together. An opinion has been issued by the Advocate General in the case to which the Deputies refer and this is currently being examined. This opinion is, of course, not binding on the European Court of Justice and the court has yet to come forward with a decision. In advance of that judgment, it is not appropriate to speculate on matters that are...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 174 together. The issue of paying family income supplement through the tax system was considered in late 2002 by a working group established under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness to examine the role which refundable tax credits can play in the tax and welfare system. The group was made up of representatives of the social partners and was...

Written Answers — Special Savings Incentive Scheme: Special Savings Incentive Scheme (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that all qualifying savings managers are furnishing their 2004 SSIA annual returns at present. The Revenue Commissioners are analysing these returns and it is expected that final details of this analysis will be available shortly. All qualifying savings managers have, in advance of the annual return, provided a declaration indicating the number of...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: Details of the Government's decentralisation programme were first announced in budget 2004. At that time it was also stated that, with regard to property, the overall objective would be to ensure that property being acquired at regional level is matched as closely as possible, both in time and in cost terms, by disposal of property currently held in the Dublin region, whether held on lease or...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: The EU Finance and Economic Ministers meet on a monthly basis as the ECOFIN Council. Various taxation dossiers feature on the Council's agenda on a regular basis. However, the question of the appropriate level and mix of taxation that is applied in any member state is a matter for each individual member state to decide on, having regard to its particular circumstances.

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: The taxation of motor fuel is made up of two elements, mineral oil excise and VAT. The amount of mineral oil excise collected is based on the volume of motor fuel sold, in this case the number of litres of petrol or diesel sold. The revenue collected from mineral oil excise does not fluctuate with price changes. Therefore, assuming there is no change in the volume sold, the increase in tax...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act 2003 established the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority. The post of consumer director is specifically provided for within the structure of the financial regulator established under that Act. The director exercises important consumer protection powers under legislation. The Central Bank and Financial Services...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 103 together. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that their officers have been, and continue to be, engaged in discussions with the insurance industry through its representative body, the Irish Insurance Federation, and have received support and co-operation from them. In parallel with these discussions, the Revenue Commissioners sought and...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners, with regard to their recent report on effective tax rates of high earners, that for the small number of taxpayers whose income consisted of large sums of deposit interest, DIRT deducted meant that their effective rate of income tax paid was very close to the 20% standard rate — the rate at which DIRT is deducted from deposit interest. This is...

Written Answers — Expenditure Reviews: Expenditure Reviews (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: It is the intention to have a new round of expenditure reviews for the period 2005-07 and my Department has written to all Departments and offices requesting them to propose new topics for the 2005-07 round of expenditure reviews. When the responses of all Departments and offices have been received and assessed for their adequacy in line with the recent report of the expenditure review...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 190 together. At present tax relief at source arrangements exist for medical insurance premia and mortgage interest relief. The arrangements were put in place in the Finance Act 2001 to ease the administrative burden for claimants and for the Revenue Commissioners. The question of the further extension of tax relief at source arrangements is a matter...

Written Answers — Stability and Growth Pact: Stability and Growth Pact (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 106 and 117 together. Agreement on a package of reforms to the Stability and Growth Pact, SGP, was finalised at the ECOFIN Council of 20 March 2005 and endorsed by the spring European Council of 22-23 March 2005. The new measures underline the continued European commitment to fiscal discipline while acknowledging the need for economic realism, for example,...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that there are two ways in which a taxpayer may have been in breach of the amnesty: first, in making a false declaration or, second, in not making a declaration. I am informed that the Revenue Commissioners do not have figures for the number of detected breaches of the amnesty. Due to the confidentiality conditions built into the 1993 amnesty...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: Expenditure on occupational public service pensions relates to the payment of pensions, lump sums and spouses pension to members of the various occupational public service pension schemes. In 2004, the total cost of occupational pensions in the public service was €1.7 billion or 1.4% of GNP. The level of expenditure in future years will depend on a variety of variable factors, including the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: I have no plans to introduce a tax on second homes. If any such proposal were made it would be necessary to consider the possible impact not only on the demand for such houses but also on the supply of new residences and on employment and output in the construction sector generally. The history of taxation intervention in the residential property market over the past ten years has shown that...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: As part of the overall decentralisation programme it is intended that 100 staff of the Valuation Office and 100 staff of the Public Appointments Service will be decentralised to Youghal, County Cork. Planning for the move is ongoing in both offices and in the Office of Public Works, which is dealing with accommodation procurement issues. Both organisations have published outline...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am satisfied that this important measure will assist with affordability for first time buyers and will help some first time buyers to afford a starter home who might not otherwise be able to do so. It will also help to open the second-hand market more to first time buyers who may have been deterred by the impact of stamp duty. The reductions in stamp duty for second-hand houses should...

Written Answers — Public Sector Employment: Public Sector Employment (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: In December 2002, to control public service numbers, the Government decided to cap numbers at the existing authorised level and to reduce numbers by 5,000 across all sectors by the end of 2005. In July 2003, the Government decided on the timing and location of 4,300 of these posts. The position at end December 2004 is as shown in the table. Public Service Corrected Baseline Target end...

Written Answers — International Bodies: International Bodies (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: The executive directors of the World Bank board are charged under the bank's articles of agreement with the selection of the bank's president. On 31 March last, the board met to unanimously endorse the sole nominee in the presidential selection process, Mr. Paul Wolfowitz, who was proposed on behalf of the United States of America. The decision was formalised via a short resolution and there...