Results 19,101-19,120 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Flood Relief. (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: That is a serious issue for residents in the area. This must be addressed in a manner to satisfy the insurance companies to re-insure those houses. It would be helped if, as a result of the meetings between Dublin City Council and the Office of Public Works, some works will be agreed. I will take these matters up with both parties. I do not have a detailed knowledge of the issues raised by...

Proposed Legislation. (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am aware of the difficulties the Revenue Commissioners experience when attempting to prosecute persons who collude in or facilitate tax evasion. This has been raised at the Committee of Public Accounts and in the media. I have considered this matter in the context of the Finance Bill, which will be published later this week. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further in advance...

Proposed Legislation. (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: The question of revenue law assisting the Revenue Commissioners is under consideration in my Department on foot of representations by the Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners. I have sought the advice of the Attorney General's office and I will make an announcement on this matter when the Finance Bill is published on Thursday.

Proposed Legislation. (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: The current legislative provision covers the offence of assisting someone in making an incorrect return. This narrowly defined offence is specific. To address this difficulty a new offence of facilitating tax evasion, along similar lines to the recently enacted criminal justice legislation and the UK model would have to be considered. These are matters on which I have taken advice and I will...

Proposed Legislation. (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: The legislative base is rather narrow and restrictive. The creation of an offence regarding aiding and abetting of tax evasion is a matter on which I have taken advice. I cannot comment further on the matter until Thursday.

Proposed Legislation. (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners made representations.

Proposed Legislation. (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: I have not seen any.

Financial Services Regulation. (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: While I do not have a statutory function in this matter, I am aware there are bank drafts which have remained uncashed for various periods. The overall regulation of the banking system is a matter for the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority. I have not been made aware by that body or any other organisation that there is any particular dissatisfaction with the way banks issue drafts...

Financial Services Regulation. (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: The bank has no way of knowing where the bank draft is if no one presents it. The person to receives it does not have to have a bank account, which creates difficulties. The point is made in terms of investigating the matter to determine the extent of uncashed bank drafts, what are the ownership issues, what advice can be obtained from the Attorney General and what should be the period of...

Budgetary Process. (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am currently examining a number of options for change which could be implemented in the short and medium term. Any changes to current practices would need to meet best practice, improve both the quality of debate and the data available to the House on the budget, meet our obligations to the EU and be capable of being delivered within the existing budget timetable. I will discuss shortly the...

Budgetary Process. (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: Given the documents which I have read, these issues are certainly on the Deputy's mind. As I said, I am prepared to consider how we might be able to improve the budgetary process. I have not reached a decision on how this might be done. I am consulting with my officials and preparing some ideas for consideration by Government. The reason I am not being very specific at the moment is because I...

Budgetary Process. (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: The pilot project is still ongoing and an appraisal of it should be forthcoming. I will get the details for the Deputy. I read a fair amount of the supplementary information provided and it appeared the pilot project was underway. Given the multi-annual funding and the envelope system which has been applied to capital projects, and which in some respects was applied in last year's budget to...

Tax Code. (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy will be aware, in budget 2005 I announced that my Department, in conjunction with the Revenue Commissioners, would undertake this year a detailed review of certain tax incentive schemes and tax exemptions. There are a number of elements to the review which is already underway. It will evaluate the impact and operation of certain incentive schemes and exemptions including their...

Tax Code. (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: I set out in my Budget Statement the reason I decided to take a comprehensive approach, and I stand by that judgment. It is important to examine how we can systemically deal with the idea of high income earners being able to eliminate completely their tax burden. A number of approaches could be considered, not just putting a cap on the relief one could claim. Whatever methodology is decided...

Tax Code. (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: That is my honest intention. Rather than considering this matter piecemeal and reacting to whatever issue is more fashionable in any given week or day I intend to consider the entire issue. It would be helpful for the ordinary taxpayer to see what role these schemes play and to see their wider benefits. Successive governments devised these schemes. They were changed and modified and they...

Tax Code. (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: The democratic accountability is very clear. Matters are voted on in this House, the Finance Bill is enacted in this House and changes brought forward are decided in this House.

Tax Code. (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: That does not bring into question the validity of democratic accountability within the law. One can bureaucratise this democracy out of existence if one wants, and get someone else to do our job. We must take the decisions and make the judgments. We do not have to wait for unanimity or total agreement. One must make a decision and one does so. Democratic debate is about putting forward...

Decentralisation Programme. (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: In November 2004 the decentralisation implementation group submitted to me a report identifying those locations and organisations which, in the group's opinion, should be the first to relocate. All the recommendations in that report were accepted by the Government and subsequently published. The full contents are available at www.finance.gov.ie. In the November 2004 report, the implementation...

Decentralisation Programme. (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: I do not accept the Deputy's contention. We have taken the decision to introduce a very ambitious programme of decentralisation to change how the Government works. As part of that process, the Government and its agencies will be moved to diverse locations. That decision has been taken and we stand by it since we believe that it was right. We are not washing our hands of the implementation...

Decentralisation Programme. (1 Feb 2005)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy takes both sides of the argument, depending on how he sees it progressing. There are some locations where one can see immediate movement possible, with the construction or identification of premises and people ready to relocate. There is also the question of skill sets and getting people with the necessary qualifications. That is a large and very complicated task. Some of the main...