Results 18,761-18,780 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

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

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the table provided gives information in relation to court prosecutions initiated for tax evasion. Year No. of Cases Fines Imposed Custodial Sentence (suspended in brackets) Details of Custodial Sentence 1997 1 £635 Nil 1998 6 £42,854 2 (2) (a) six months (suspended) 1999 1 £19,046 Nil ...

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

Brian Cowen: The 2003 annual report of the National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission shows that at 31 December 2003 the market to market value of the fund was €9,561 million. This included cash deposits of €1,283 million, net current assets of €36 million, unrealised gains on foreign derivative contracts of €70 million and equities and bonds worth €8,172 million. Of this €8,172 million,...

Written Answers — Public Private Partnerships: Public Private Partnerships (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Government is committed to developing the PPP process as a viable procurement option for appropriate projects within the overall context of public investment in infrastructure and public services. PPPs are one procurement tool to be used alongside traditional approaches. In common with all large capital projects, the value for money achieved in individual projects is determined by a...

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

Brian Cowen: The latest figures from the central applications facility show there is very substantial interest in the programme. New applications for decentralisation continue to be received. Since the period for priority applications finished in September 2004, over 500 new applications have been received. During the period for priority applications up to 7 September 2004, a total of 8,958 staff, made up...

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

Brian Cowen: I announced in my Budget Statement that my Department and the Revenue Commissioners will undertake a detailed review of certain tax incentive schemes and tax exemptions in 2005. This review will evaluate their impact and operation including their economic and social benefits for the different locations and sectors involved and the wider community. In addition, the review will examine the...

Written Answers — Consumer Debt: Consumer Debt (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am aware of the concerns expressed by a number of commentators in relation to the continued strong growth in credit, particularly to the household sector and the possible effects of increasing indebtedness upon borrowers. The growth of credit and the associated increase in indebtedness is a matter for the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland, taking into account its role...

Written Answers — National Debt: National Debt (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: Between 31 December 1997 and 31 December 2004, the national debt fell from €38,966 million to €37,846 million, a reduction of €1,120 million in cash terms. I would suggest that the generally-accepted measure of the debt burden on an economy is the percentage of gross national product, GNP, to which the debt equates. Between 1997 and 2004, the debt-to-GNP ratio has fallen from 66.1% to...

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

Brian Cowen: The budget 2005 spending projections for each Department were updated in the 2005 Revised Estimates for Public Services which were published last week. The REV provided that estimated net voted spending on departmental services will be €36.2 billion. The end-February Exchequer returns showed that net spending by Departments and offices is €0.2 billion below profile — of which about 80%...

Written Answers — Public Private Partnerships: Public Private Partnerships (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 111 together. The multi-annual capital investment framework set out in annex D of budget 2005 sets out targets for the period 2005-2009 for capital investment funded by PPP-National Development Finance Agency, NDFA. The total 2005-2009 PPP-NDFA targets, which would be remunerated by long-term unitary payments from Departments' Votes, is €3.675...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Mar 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 last December. An analysis of the applications registered with the central applications facility by 7 September 2004 has also been published. Each organisation produced a first iteration...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Security: Banking Sector Security (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The recent developments which are currently the subject of a Garda investigation and widespread publicity, must be viewed in perspective. There is no evidence to date that these activities are of a scale or volume that would pose potential security risks in international banking. Similarly, there is no evidence of any significant involvement, whether deliberate or inadvertent, of the national...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Security: Banking Sector Security (3 Mar 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 — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concessions scheme is open to people with disabilities who meet the specified medical criteria. An interdepartmental review group was established to review the disabled drivers' and disabled passengers' tax concessions scheme. The group examined all aspects of the scheme including the qualifying medical criteria. The report was published on my...

Tax Code. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: As I said, since this Government came to office in 1997 child care benefit has increased by nine times the rate of inflation during the period. That is a fair indication of the effort being made. It is always a question of resources. Clearly, child benefit does not defray all family child care costs, nor was it designed to do so. It was, however, recognised as being probably the best...

Tax Code. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The matter is kept under review. It is a challenge to the system to see what way we can do this but every Member accepts that using a tax credit for child care has a significant discriminatory effect against low income couples.

Tax Code. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: One can devise a range of measures but it is a question of targeting resources. We have trebled that resource since coming into office from €531 million to €1.9 billion, which represents a considerable transfer of funds to this area. An extra €1.3 billion is going into the child benefit system. Progress is being made and those who have problems with it have yet to come up with alternatives.

Tax Code. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy should keep an eye on the four seater. He has enough on his own plate rather than worrying about me.

Fiscal Policy. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Supreme Court decision on the Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill has significant expenditure implications. The issue of repaying the money has been referred to a special Cabinet sub-committee comprising the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Attorney General and myself. The Revised Estimates Volume, which I recently published, provides for a 13% increase in estimated health expenditure in 2005....

Fiscal Policy. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am glad to clarify that I never made those comments. The Deputy has referred to an inaccurate interpretation of what I said, which related to questions I was asked prior to the lunch referred to by the Deputy. I stated the blindingly obvious. I was asked who pays for it; the taxpayer pays. I was asked what impact this would have on future spending; I replied that the amount to pay for this...

Fiscal Policy. (3 Mar 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy will be surprised.