Results 19,261-19,280 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the most recent relevant information available on the exemption of certain earnings of writers, composers and artists relates to the short income tax year 2001, in respect of which some 1,323 claims for exemption were allowed at an estimated cost to the Exchequer of €23.5 million. It should be noted that as PAYE taxpayers were charged to tax...

Written Answers — Budget Submissions: Budget Submissions (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Cowen: A pre-budget submission from the persons in question has been received. This submission, as with all other pre-budget submissions, is being considered in the context of preparations for the forthcoming budget and Finance Bill.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Cowen: In my reply to Question No. 214 on 17 November 2004 I set out the range of factors that were taken into account and measured against each other in selecting locations for all the new decentralised offices. The then Minister for Finance first announced the Government's intention to embark on a new decentralisation programme in the 2000 budget. Following that announcement, the Department of...

Written Answers — Price Inflation: Price Inflation (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Cowen: I am conscious of the need to maintain and improve Ireland's competitive position to ensure the continuation of strong output and employment growth in the future. Ireland is a highly open economy, and we must remain competitive to continue to attract investment and to allow continued export growth. On an EU harmonised basis, Irish inflation fell below the euro area average earlier this year...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Cowen: The national development plan consists of seven operational programmes, three national economic and social infrastructure operational programmes, productive sector operational programmes, and the employment and human resource development operational programmes, two regional operational programmes, a joint programme with Northern Ireland, PEACE II operational programme and a technical...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Cowen: In the report of the interdepartmental review group, established to examine the operation of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concessions scheme, reference was made to a move away from qualification for the scheme being determined by specified medical criteria in favour of an approach addressing mobility difficulties. However, the report also stated that on the basis of...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Cowen: Stamp duty is a significant contributor to the Exchequer which helps to fund Government spending on public services such as health and education. Stamp duty receipts also allow for a broader tax base than would otherwise be possible. All owner-occupiers are generally exempt from stamp duty on new houses where the property is 125 sq. m. or less. First-time buyers are also exempt from stamp...

Written Answers — Price Inflation: Price Inflation (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Cowen: The director general of the Central Statistics Office has sole responsibility for and is independent in deciding the statistical methodology and professional standards to be used in compiling the consumer price index. The latest consumer price index release shows that the annual rate of inflation in October was 2.7%. As a result, inflation has averaged just 2.1% in the first ten months of...

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Cowen: The extent to which the annual income of the social insurance fund is not required to meet benefit payments and administration costs in that year represents the annual surplus of the fund. The annual income and expenditure on the social insurance fund in the period from 2001 to 2003 is set out in the following table. SIF Income — M % Increase on previous year SIF...

Fiscal Policy. (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Cowen: The Government has more than doubled total spending on public services between 1997 and 2004 to over €41 billion. As provided for in the Abridged Estimates Volume published last week, the Government will add a further €2.5 billion to this in 2005 on a pre-budget basis to fund day-to-day spending on public services. Priority has been given to expenditure on social welfare, health,...

Fiscal Policy. (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Cowen: I do not accept the continuous contention of the Opposition that there has been no improvement in the health service in the past seven years. That is patently absurd.

Fiscal Policy. (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Cowen: That is patently absurd. It suggests that 35,000 extra employees are going to work every day and doing nothing which is also patently absurd. I can give a simple example of the improvements in the health service. When I became Minister for Health and Children in June 1997, the Government of which the Deputy was a member left a situation where the intellectual disability provision was €1...

Fiscal Policy. (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Cowen: In regard to the future, it is not simply a question of more resources, although they are important because this is a people-centred service. It is also about getting better value and implementing the required reforms which are a major challenge to the system. They have been devised as a result of the widest consultative process that has ever taken place in the health service.

Fiscal Policy. (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Cowen: Some 6,500 nurses and 8,500 people in medical, dental and health and social care professional grades, such as physiotherapists or social workers dealing with community care problems, are frontline staff. I do not know what the Comptroller and Auditor General calls them but I know they are frontline staff.

Fiscal Policy. (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy's problem is that he wants to answer his own questions.

Fiscal Policy. (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Cowen: I am giving my opinion which happens to differ from that of the Deputy. I am sorry if I have a different opinion.

Fiscal Policy. (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Cowen: The truth born out of experience is not of any relevance to the Deputy. To suggest that 90% of the increase of 35,000 are down to paper pushers in the health service——

Fiscal Policy. (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Cowen: I am not. The Deputy is trying to give a false impression——

Fiscal Policy. (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy has been trying to give a false impression for months.

Tax Yield. (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Cowen: The recent figures to which Deputy Burton refers were made known to her in my reply to her parliamentary question last month on this matter. There are many reasons a person would have a nil liability. This can arise from the cumulation of tax relief for pension contributions, trading losses carried forward, capital allowances and various tax incentives. It must be accepted that, of their...