Results 18,581-18,600 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Order of Business. (24 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: There will be no problem with having the debate.

Order of Business. (24 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I know the Deputy is in bad form after the by-election, but he should not take it out on me.

Order of Business. (24 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I understand that it is not possible to say when the prison service Bill will be brought to the House. It should be borne in mind that not every piece of land that comes up for sale is suitable for a prison. It is obvious that a number of criteria are involved. I am sure if it had been known that the land was for a prison, the price might have been somewhat different.

Order of Business. (24 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I understand that the simmering will continue for another while.

Order of Business. (24 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I understand that the Bill will be discussed during the course of this year.

Written Answers — National Lottery: National Lottery (23 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: It is not the policy of An Post National Lottery Company to release sales figures for its games at a county or other disaggregated level. However, for most general purposes, it is possible to statistically estimate sales in any county by reference to proportional population in that county. Total national lottery ticket sales in 2003 were €559 million, and in 2004 were €578 million.

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (23 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 172 together. By Government order, SI No. 665 of 19 October 2004, Mr. Gerry Steadman has been appointed as my special adviser. Section 11(2)(a) and (b) of the Public Service Management Act 1997 sets out the roles, functions and accountability of special advisers, which include the provision of advice to me on a range of issues, contributing to the...

Written Answers — EU Cohesion Policy: EU Cohesion Policy (23 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am aware of the declaration of intent by the Dublin-Merseyside regions regarding their desire to establish a programme of mutually beneficial co-operation, and particularly in the context of European Union financing for structural actions during the 2007-13 period. The Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, has already met the Dublin Regional Authority to discuss...

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (23 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: All members of the Government are Ministers having charge of a Department, and are responsible for the performance of functions that are assigned to the Department, pursuant to the Ministers and Secretaries Acts 1924 to 1995. This is confirmed in section 3 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. As I said in a written reply to Parliamentary Question No. 184 on 9 March 2005, there is also a...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (22 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: Generally speaking, the tax system treats members of cohabiting couples as separate and unconnected individuals. Each partner is a separate entity for tax purposes and credits, and bands and reliefs cannot be transferred from one partner to the other. There are no special favourable tax arrangements for cohabiting couples with dependent children. The working group examining the treatment of...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (22 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I have no plans to introduce additional measures at this time. Any such decisions would be a matter for budget time, in any case.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (22 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 159, 160, 162 and 181, together. At a recent meeting of EU Finance Ministers on 17 February, there was a lunchtime discussion about exploring the possibility of introducing a tax on aviation fuel or a levy on airline tickets for the purpose of raising revenue for development aid. Opinions differed on the wisdom of such an approach. Following this discussion,...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (22 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy may be aware, there are a number of tax incentives in place to encourage the use of public transport as follows. A scheme was introduced in the Finance Act 1999 which provides exemptions from benefit-in-kind taxation for employer-provided bus and rail passes. This has since been extended to cover travel on the Luas and, in this year's Finance Bill, I am proposing to extend it to...

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (22 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 172 together. The total payments in 2004 from my Department's Vote in relation to mileage expenses and bus and rail tickets are as follows: payment for car mileage expenses in 2004 was €108,832.62 and the total mileage relating to this amount was 107,721 miles; payment to cover rail and bus ticket expenses in 2004 was €5,877.98.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (22 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: Any body of persons may apply for charitable tax exemption under tax law and this may be granted by the Revenue Commissioners where the applicant body fulfils the criteria in either one or more of the following activities: the relief of poverty; the advancement of religion; the advancement of education; or certain other works of a charitable nature beneficial to the community. In addition,...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (22 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they have repaid VRT and VAT on the vehicle in question and VAT on the adaptations carried out to the vehicle in accordance with the Disabled Drivers and the Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994. The repayment cheque issued on 16 November 2004.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (22 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The position is that fishermen who are registered for VAT are entitled to claim a refund for all VAT charged to them in respect of equipment used for their business. Fishermen who are not registered for VAT are entitled to claim back VAT charged to them as follows: under section 29, remission or repayment of tax on fishing vessels and equipment, of the 1979 VAT regulations; VAT charged on the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The notice under section 13 of the Official Languages Act 2003 by my Department, inviting representations in relation to the preparation of the draft scheme under section 11 of the Act from any interested parties, was placed in three national daily newspapers on 12 November 2004. It was also placed in Lá and Foinse, and put on the Department's website. The cost of placing the notice in the...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (22 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: In my earlier reply to the Deputy on 2 February 2005, as advised by the Revenue Commissioners, I stated that accurate data in relation to the country of origin of imported used vehicles are not available. However, I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the information on country of origin is entered by customers on VRT form 4 at the time of registration on a voluntary basis but may...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (22 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the position in relation to travel tickets is that where an employer provides an employee with an annual or monthly bus or train pass, the cost of such a pass is not taxable. In addition, where an employee foregoes salary, and such salary foregone is used by the employee to purchase an annual or monthly bus or train pass, then the salary...