Results 19,361-19,380 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (12 Oct 2004)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 118 together. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that they estimate there were 92,100 claimants of the home carer's tax credit in respect of 2003 in the PAYE sector. The corresponding information in respect of claimants who are self-employed taxpayers will not be available until the appropriate data from self-assessment tax returns are...

Estimates for Public Services 2004: Leave to Introduce. (12 Oct 2004)

Brian Cowen: I move: That leave be given by the Dáil to introduce the following Supplementary and Additional Estimates for the service of the year ending on 31 December 2004: Vote No. 16 (Public Appointments Service) (Supplementary Estimate) Vote No. 39 (Office of the Commission for Public Service Appointments) (Additional Estimate).

Estimates for Public Services 2004: Referral to Select Committee. (12 Oct 2004)

Brian Cowen: I move: That, subject to leave being given to introduce the following Supplementary and Additional Estimates for the service of the year ending on 31 December 2004, the Supplementary and Additional Estimates be referred to the Select Committee on Finance and the Public Service pursuant to Standing Order 152(3) and paragraph (1)(a)(ii) of that committee's Orders of Reference which shall report...

Membership of Committees: Motion. (12 Oct 2004)

Brian Cowen: I move: That Deputy Mary Hanafin, Minister for Education and Science, be discharged from the Committee on Procedure and Privileges and Deputy Tom Kitt, Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, be appointed in substitution for her; that Deputy Mary Hanafin, Minister for Education and Science, be discharged from the Joint Committee on Broadcasting and Parliamentary Information and...

Seanad: Public Transport. (7 Oct 2004)

Brian Cowen: I thank Senator Morrissey for raising this matter and I am pleased to have the opportunity to address the House. In the context of budget 1999, an exemption from taxation as a benefit-in-kind was provided for certain commuter travel passes given to employees by employers. This allowed employers to incur the expense of providing an employee with a monthly or annual bus or rail pass without the...

Seanad: Schools Building Programme. (7 Oct 2004)

Brian Cowen: I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science who apologises for her inability to attend personally. I thank the Senator for affording me the opportunity of addressing the House regarding the accommodation needs of Glór na Mara national school in Tramore, County Waterford, on behalf of the Department of Education and Science. Glór na Mara national school emerged from the...

Seanad: Disabled Drivers. (7 Oct 2004)

Brian Cowen: I thank the Senator for raising this matter and I apologise for the Minister of Transport's inability to attend the House. Section 35 of the Road Traffic Act 1994 provides that the Minister for Transport may make regulations for the general control of traffic and pedestrians. Traffic and parking regulations made under that section in 1997, together with subsequent amendment regulations,...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (5 Oct 2004)

Brian Cowen: Like all public servants, non-nursing staff in the Southern Health Board have the potential to benefit on retirement from some of the recent changes with regard to public service pensions. Any new rates which might apply would depend on the circumstances of the individual. The information set out as follows provides information on the changes announced in September 2004, to which I assume the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Oct 2004)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that a claim for repayment was made by the company on 6 August 2004. The Revenue Commissioners requested clarification of the claim and amounts involved from the company's accountants. Final details to enable the claim to be dealt with were received on 23 September and I understand that amended assessments for the years concerned and repayments will...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Oct 2004)

Brian Cowen: I assume the Deputy is referring to excise duty on diesel. Diesel is liable to mineral oil tax, MOT, at a rate of €368.05 per 1,000 litres when used for combustion in the engine of a motor vehicle and at a rate of €31.74 per 1,000 litres in other cases. For MOT purposes, under section 94(1) of the Finance Act 1999 the term "motor vehicle" excludes agricultural tractors, road rollers,...

Written Answers — Departmental Websites: Departmental Websites (5 Oct 2004)

Brian Cowen: My Department's website is updated on an ongoing basis. The Department endeavours to have the information on its website as accurate and up to date as possible. All press releases issued from the Department are posted to the website on the date of release.

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (5 Oct 2004)

Brian Cowen: The provisions of the Freedom of Information Act have been extended gradually over the years. The number of bodies, organisations and groups to which the Act applies has increased from 67 when the Act came into operation in April 1998 to almost 400 today. Proposals for further extensions of the Freedom of Information Act 1997 are being developed at official level at present. The question of...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Oct 2004)

Brian Cowen: All owner-occupiers are generally exempt from stamp duty on new houses where the property is 125 square metres or less. First time buyers are also exempt from stamp duty on second hand houses up to the value of €190,500 and benefit, thereafter, from reduced rates on second hand properties up to €381,000 when compared to other purchasers. The stamp duty code does not provide exemptions...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Oct 2004)

Brian Cowen: Capital gains tax, CGT, is a tax on a capital gain arising on the disposal of assets. A 20% rate of CGT now applies on the gains arising on the disposal of assets, including land which is the subject of a compulsory purchase order, CPO. It was announced in the 2003 budget that no rollover relief would be allowed for any purpose on gains arising from disposals on or after 4 December 2002. This...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (5 Oct 2004)

Brian Cowen: Details of the changes published in September 2004 are as follows: The cost-neutral early retirement facility will allow public servants to retire early with actuarially reduced superannuation benefits. Workers whose current minimum pension age is 60 will be able to avail of the facility from age 50 upwards, while those whose minimum pension age is 65 will be eligible from age 55 upwards....

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (5 Oct 2004)

Brian Cowen: It is assumed that what the Deputy requires is the number of all income earners in each category on the tax record. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the information requested by the Deputy is as follows: Distribution of income earners by tax rate, 1998-99, 2003 and 2004 Tax Year Exempt Marginal relief Standard rate Higher rate Total 1998/1999 397,900 73,700...

Decentralisation Programme. (5 Oct 2004)

Brian Cowen: Shoddy work.

Decentralisation Programme. (5 Oct 2004)

Brian Cowen: And a smelter could not be located in Navan.

Decentralisation Programme. (5 Oct 2004)

Brian Cowen: The Taoiseach did not use that description.

Decentralisation Programme. (5 Oct 2004)

Brian Cowen: He did not say that.