Results 18,381-18,400 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

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

Brian Cowen: I have no plans to introduce a development land tax. There is already provision in the capital gains tax code to tax gains on the sale of development land. I have no estimate of the revenue yield from a specific land tax as this depends on the rate of tax applied and the value of the assets concerned.

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

Brian Cowen: There is no estimate available on a costing for a change such as this. There are a number of factors that would need to be considered in making any estimate, including how the reduction in hours worked by existing public service employees would be covered, for example, by employing extra personnel or increased reliance on overtime. No analysis has been carried out of the cost of such a...

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

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 172 together. It is assumed that the threshold for the proposed new top rates of income tax mentioned by the Deputy would not alter the existing standard rate band structure applying to single and widowed persons, to lone parents and married couples and would also provide for the insertion of a new band at 42% up to €100,000 for all individual...

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

Brian Cowen: Tax relief on individual pension contributions is allowed at the taxpayer's marginal tax rate, that is, at the standard or higher rate as appropriate in each case. It is assumed that the change mentioned by the Deputy is to provide tax relief at the top rate of tax for all pension contributions by individuals, including those currently relieved at the standard rate. It is not possible to...

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

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the cost to the Exchequer of tax relief allowed for insurance against expenses of illness in the calendar year 2004 was €218 million.

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

Brian Cowen: Overall tax revenues to end March 2005, at €9,024 million, were €221 million or 2.5% ahead of the Department's tax profile target published in January last. Of the main individual tax heads, income taxes were €12 million, 0.5%, below target. VAT receipts were €139 million, 4%, above target. Other taxes to perform ahead of expectations were stamp duties, + €39 million or 7.3%;...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: The budget 2005 spending projections for each Government Department were updated in the 2005 Revised Estimates for Public Services, REV, which were published in February. The REV provided that net voted spending on departmental services will be €36.2 billion. The end March Exchequer returns showed that net issues to Departments and offices were €438 million below the published expenditure...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services 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 Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act 2004 complemented the 2003 Act, further enhanced the financial regulator's powers and strengthened the regulatory environment. This Act conferred new powers on the financial regulator to impose...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: There is strong co-ordination of measures to deter money laundering and criminality in the banking sector at EU level. A third money laundering directive is under consideration within the EU. It received political agreement from Finance Ministers last December and is currently before the European Parliament. I understand that the Luxembourg Presidency hopes to have final agreement on the...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: Credit card fraud is primarily a criminal justice matter and, as such, combating credit card fraud does not fall within the remit of my Department. The detection and prevention of credit card fraud is treated very seriously by the financial services industry and by the Garda Síochána. I understand that regular meetings are held between the industry and the Garda to exchange information and...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 182 and 183 together. First, it should be noted that the vehicle registration tax, VRT, structure incentivises the purchase of cars with smaller engines, which generally have lower fuel consumption. As regards specific measures, there is the recent introduction of a pilot scheme for excise relief for biofuels, as provided for by section 50, Finance Act 2004,...

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

Brian Cowen: The two reports of the decentralisation implementation group, DIG, dated 31 March 2004 and 30 July 2004, provide detailed accounts of the progress made in implementing the decentralisation programme announced in December 2003. An analysis of the applications registered with the central applications facility by 7 September 2004 has also been published. I also refer the Deputy to the...

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

Brian Cowen: The decentralisation implementation group was appointed to drive forward the overall implementation of the decentralisation programme. The two reports of the implementation group, dated 31 March 2004 and 30 July 2004, provided detailed accounts of the progress made in implementing the programme. In addition, the implementation group prepared two further reports in November 2004 which were...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: The disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concessions scheme is open to people with disabilities who meet the specified criteria and have obtained a primary medical certificate to that effect from the local health service executive. Where the issue of the required certificate is refused, this can be appealed to the disabled drivers medical board of appeal, an independent body, whose...

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

Brian Cowen: I have been informed by the Revenue Commissioners that a letter issued to the taxpayer on 25 April 2005 outlining details of the refund due to him. A cheque is issuing on 28 April 2005.

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

Brian Cowen: The SSIA legislation contained in part 36A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, as inserted by section 33 of the Finance Act 2001, requires inter alia that, in order for a saver to get full benefits from his or her SSIA account, he or she must be resident in the State for tax purposes when the SSIA is commenced and, at all times during the term of the SSIA, is either resident or ordinarily...

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

Brian Cowen: The Government's taxation policy is designed to maximise the employment and economic benefits of industrial development by creating an attractive climate for investment. In this respect, Ireland offers one of the most beneficial corporate tax environments in the EU with a corporation tax rate of 12.5% applying since 1 January 2003. This is a general measure which applies across the board to...

Decentralisation Programme. (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: As I outlined in answers to similar questions on 3 March 2005, promotion and recruitment are key elements of the Government's decentralisation programme and I refer Deputies to my earlier reply which set out the general position on this matter. In keeping with the recommendations of the decentralisation implementation group, recruitment and promotion practices and procedures must be revised....

Decentralisation Programme. (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: I outlined the position in my first reply. We are committed to implementing the decentralisation programme but recognise the range of concerns among staff members affected by the programme, namely, those who have already chosen to spend their careers working in provincial locations, those who wish to do so in the future and those who wish to remain in Dublin. We are working to reach an...

Decentralisation Programme. (27 Apr 2005)

Brian Cowen: That is not what I am saying and I have given two replies to the contrary.