Results 18,701-18,720 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (8 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that assessments have been made on the basis of the returns submitted through the Revenue online service and that the record does not indicate that tax has been overpaid.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (8 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The date for submission to me of their next report is a matter for the decentralisation implementation group. When I receive the report I will bring it to Government for consideration. Subject to approval by the Government, the report will subsequently be published.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (8 Mar 2005)

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

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (8 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy will be aware, the budget announced a special, one-off stamp duty relief relating to an exchange of farm land between two farmers for the purposes of consolidating each farmer's holding. The new relief will mean that no stamp duty will be charged on an exchange of such lands where the lands are of equal value. In a case where the lands exchanged are not of equal value, stamp...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The staffing of my private office and constituency office is set out as follows: Minister's Private Office Grade Number Salary Range Administrative Officer 1 €27,981-€49,529 Executive Officer 2 €25,704-€40,669 Staff Officer 2 €29,391-€39,118 Clerical Officer 3 €20,520- €33,274 Minister's Constituency Office. ...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (8 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: Where employers offer pension benefits to employees, these are known as occupational pension schemes. However, even in employments where there is a pension scheme, this may not provide to all employees — whether because of the terms of the scheme or the service history of the employees — the maximum pension benefits allowed by the Revenue Commissioners, that is, a pension of two thirds of...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 14 together. The Government established the National Development Finance Agency, NDFA, on 1 January 2003. The NDFA has, inter alia, the function of advising State authorities on the optimum means of financing public investment projects, whether procured through a PPP approach or through traditional procurement. The NDFA does not have a project approval...

Written Answers — Special Savings Incentive Scheme: Special Savings Incentive Scheme (3 Mar 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 will shortly begin analysing these returns and it is expected that final details of this analysis will be available at the end of April 2005. All qualifying savings managers have, in advance of the annual return, provided a...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy may be aware, I have made a number of changes to the capital gains tax code in the 2005 Finance Bill, as initiated. These include provisions relating to the 15% deduction from the consideration on the disposal of certain assets, to the updating of the titles of certain bodies which are exempt from capital gains tax and to an exemption for foreign pension bodies doing pensions...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Government's decentralisation programme involves some 10,500 civil and public service jobs in more than 56 locations. As I have said on a number of occasions the Government is committed to the full implementation of the programme. My office has been tasked with procurement of development sites in the designated locations and the procurement of accommodation solutions to the office and...

Written Answers — Stability and Growth Pact: Stability and Growth Pact (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The European Commission presented a formal communication on 3 September 2004, outlining a range of proposals for strengthening economic governance in the European Union and clarifying the implementation of the Stability and Growth Pact. Since then, the issues involved have been the subject of detailed and wide-ranging discussions. The most recent discussions took place at the ECOFIN Council...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: As a result of the budget, the standard rate bands for this and subsequent years are €29,400 for a single person, €38,400 for a married one-earner couple and €58,800 for a married two-earner couple of which €38,400 is transferable. Lone and widowed persons have a standard rate band of €33,400. Taxable income above these levels is subject to the higher rate of tax of 42%. The major...

Written Answers — Expenditure Review Initiative: Expenditure Review Initiative (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: As I stated in a reply to a previous parliamentary question on 1 February this year, I would like to see greater progress being made in improving the arrangements for carrying out expenditure reviews and in completing reviews. I am committed to ensuring that we get better value for money from public expenditure. I have therefore accepted the recommendations in the first formal report from the...

Written Answers — Termination of Employment: Termination of Employment (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I refer the Deputy to my previous replies of 14 October 2004, 23 November 2004 and 1 February 2005. The previous Minister, as shareholder, indicated his consent to arrangements, outlined to him by the chairman of Aer Rianta on 24 September last, concerning the package the board proposed to make to the deputy chief executive who was leaving the company. I understand that the proposed package...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: All financial service providers that provide loans secured on a person's principal private residence are subject to the provisions of Part 9 of the Consumer Credit Act. This is as a result of an amendment to the Act made last year, following consideration of a recommendation of the 1999 McDowell report. The Consumer Credit Act is the principal source of protection to personal borrowers. The...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: As I stated in my earlier reply it is not possible at present to examine the take up of tax relief for all pension contributions across different income categories. This is because the relevant information is not available to the Revenue Commissioners, because the tax relief for pension contributions for employees is normally given at source, that is, the taxable income is the income net of...

Written Answers — Tax Compliance: Tax Compliance (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that precise figures are not available as to the number of letters which issued from the financial institutions. It is understood to be in excess of 100,000. It is not known how many accounts or individuals this represents because some individuals had accounts in different banks or in different branches of the same bank. In other instances there was...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 24 and 49 together. 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. The senior area medical officer attached to the local Health Service Executive is responsible for both the medical assessment and the...

Written Answers — National Pensions Reserve Fund: National Pensions Reserve Fund (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 46 together. I was pleased to note that the commission reported a return of 9.3% in 2004 or an appreciation of €951 million in fund value, excluding the 2004 Exchequer contribution of €1,177 million. As with its investment strategy, the fund's benchmarks are determined by the commission and I have no role in relation to them. I note from the review...

Written Answers — Revenue Disclosures: Revenue Disclosures (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that substantial progress has been made in relation to this inquiry. Arising from a voluntary disclosure programme 254 individuals came forward and made voluntary disclosures. To date this programme has recovered in excess of €105 million for the Exchequer. The Revenue Commissioners indicated previously that those individuals who fail to make...