Results 181-200 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

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

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that under the decentralisation programme 50 posts are to be decentralised to Listowel and the decision on timing and sequencing will be made following the recommendations of the Government's decentralisation implementation group. The Office of Public Works is examining a number of proposals in relation to a suitable site in Listowel.

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

Brian Cowen: I would accept that the number of applications to the central applications facility, CAF, from the Civil Service are much better than those from the State agencies. Unlike the State agencies the Civil Service has considerable previous experience of decentralisation and has a long tradition of inter-departmental transfers. The decentralisation implementation group, DIG, asked that all...

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

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the total number of audited settlements made with tax defaulters and published under subsection 2 of section 1068 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 in respect of each of the years 1999 to 2003 and in 2004 to date is as follows: in 1999, 194 cases were published totalling €12.32 million; for 2000, 258 cases were published totalling €19.05...

Written Answers — Special Savings Incentive Scheme: Special Savings Incentive Scheme (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Cowen: The SSIA scheme opened on 1 May 2001 and entry to it closed on 30 April 2002. The accounts are due to mature between May 2006 and April 2007 at the end of the five year period. A total of 1.17 million accounts were opened during the period outlined. The specific goal of the SSIA scheme was to encourage people to save over a period of at least five years. Its effect has been to stimulate such...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Cowen: Recent publicity in relation to endowment mortgages has focused on the possibility that a significant number of holders of such mortgages will have a shortfall of funds when the mortgage reaches the end of its normal term. These products inherently require customers to take some risk; they are exposed to market fluctuations, just like any market-based life assurance investments. The fact that...

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

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the total number of shareholders nominally subject to tax was estimated at 132,000. However, since the circumstances of individual shareholders are not known, for example whether they have other reckonable gains or losses, it is not possible for the Revenue Commissioners to give a reliable estimate of the amount of capital gains tax to be paid by...

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

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that their recent investigations have had, as their initial and principal focus, the recovery of unpaid taxes for the Exchequer. The steps taken by their officers, including applications to the High Court for orders to access information in financial institutions in relation to taxpayers who have made false returns and as a result failed to pay their...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Cowen: My predecessor announced on 19 July last that the Government had decided that, with effect from 1 September 2004, the cost of all legal representation, including that of third parties, at newly-established tribunals or other forms of inquiry will be paid by way of a set fee payable for the entirety of the tribunal. The calculation of daily rates will be based on this fee. These rates are as...

Written Answers — Capital Expenditure: Capital Expenditure (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Cowen: Capital investment under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 is mainly delivered through the economic and social infrastructure operational programme, ESIOP. Total spending to date under the ESIOP is close to target, and the Exchequer contribution is well above target; by mid-2004, the Exchequer had provided €1.8 billion more to the ESIOP than was originally planned. ESIOP investment is...

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

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 220 together. I am satisfied that all my colleagues are aware of the need to confine increases in charges and prices administered by Departments to the minimum consistent with ensuring that fees recover an appropriate contribution to particular services.

Written Answers — Special Savings Incentive Scheme: Special Savings Incentive Scheme (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Cowen: The SSIA scheme opened on 1 May 2001 and entry to it closed on 30 April 2002. The accounts are due to mature between May 2006 and April 2007 at the end of the five year period. A total of 1.17 million accounts were opened during the period outlined; around 400,000 accounts existed at 31 December 2001. As previously advised to the Deputy in a reply to a parliamentary question on 14 October...

Written Answers — Stability and Growth Pact: Stability and Growth Pact (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 136 together. The European Commission presented a formal communication on 3 September 2004 outlining its proposals for strengthening economic governance and clarifying the implementation of the Stability and Growth Pact. The process of discussion of the Commission's proposals is now under way. At the recent ECOFIN Council of 16 November, Ministers had a...

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

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the following table provides information on court prosecutions initiated for tax evasion: Year Number of Convictions Fines imposed Custodial sentence (suspended in brackets) Details of Custodial sentence 1997 1 â'¬635 Nil 1998 6 â'¬42,854 2 (2) (a) 6 months (suspended) 1999 1 â'¬19,046 ...

Written Answers — Public Private Partnerships: Public Private Partnerships (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84, 101 and 149 together. The Government first approved a programme of pilot PPP projects in 1999. Substantial progress has been made since then. We are still learning and continue to keep our processes and procedures under review. PPPs are acknowledged to be complex, involving, as they do, a long-term financial commitment for both the private and public...

Written Answers — National Pensions Reserve Fund: National Pensions Reserve Fund (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Cowen: The 2003 annual report of the National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission shows that at 31 December 2003 the marked to market value of the national pensions reserve 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...

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

Brian Cowen: The Director General of the Central Statistics Office, CSO, has sole responsibility for and is independent in deciding the statistical methodology and professional standards to be used in compiling the consumer price index, CPI. The latest CPI release shows inflation in October was 2.7%. Inflation has averaged just 2.1% in the first ten months of this year, compared to an average of 3.8% in...

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

Brian Cowen: Promotion and recruitment are key elements of the Government's decentralisation programme. In the implementation phase, they are important in supporting the efficient movement of Departments and offices to their new locations. In a decentralised service, acceptance of a post, whether as a result of promotion or open recruitment, will have to be conditional on agreement to work in a particular...

Written Answers — Revenue Powers Group: Revenue Powers Group (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy will know, my predecessor established the Revenue Powers Group, under the chairmanship of Mr. Justice Frank Murphy, to examine Revenue's main statutory powers and report on changes needed. The group's report was published on 4 February 2004 and the Minister indicated at that time that he wished to allow a period for debate and public reflection on the many and varied issues...

Written Answers — Currency Fluctuations: Currency Fluctuations (23 Nov 2004)

Brian Cowen: Any sharp appreciation of the euro vis-À-vis the dollar is always a challenge to the economy. This arises because a strong euro reduces the competitiveness of the exporting sector. Indeed, Ireland is more affected than most within the euro area, given our deeper trade exposure to the US than many of our European partners. In this regard, it is important that businesses take necessary...

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

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that there are two ways in which a taxpayer may have been in breach of the amnesty, first, in making a false declaration or, second, in not making a declaration. I am informed that Revenue does not have figures for the number of detected breaches of the amnesty. Because of the confidentiality conditions built into the 1993 amnesty legislation, such...