Results 121-140 of 27,727 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Regulatory Bodies (14 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: The Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) is an independent, impartial, fair and free service that helps resolve complaints against financial service and pension providers from consumers and small businesses. I approved the FSPO'S Workforce Plan in December 2023, which increased the sanctioned staff complement in the FSPO from 90.2 to 128. I have been informed that arising...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Housing Policy (14 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) has a statutory mandate to invest on a commercial basis in a manner designed to support economic activity and employment in Ireland. In line with this mandate, ISIF focusses its efforts on making transformational investments across its impact themes of Housing and Enabling Investments, Climate, Scaling Indigenous Businesses, and Food and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Data (14 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 237, 238, 239, 240 and 241 together. The Tax Debt Warehousing Scheme was introduced in May 2020 to provide a vital liquidity support to businesses impacted by Covid-19 trading restrictions. The scheme allowed businesses to temporarily ‘park’ eligible taxes on an interest-free basis. After the interest-free period, a low interest rate of 3per cent...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Employment Rights (14 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: I am advised by the bodies under the aegis of my Department that they are not aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in their organisations in the timeline specified. Neither are there any cases currently before the Scope section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Data (14 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: I am advised by Revenue that the Mineral Oil Tax (MOT) receipts, broken out by Non-Carbon Component (NCC) and Carbon Component (CC), and estimated VAT receipts collected on Marked Gas Oil (MGO) or green diesel, in each of the past ten years, are shown in the following table. In relation to VAT, I am further advised by Revenue that traders are not required to identify the VAT yield generated...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Exemptions (14 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: The VAT treatment of goods and services is subject to EU VAT law, with which Irish VAT law must comply. In general, the VAT Directive provides that all goods and services are liable to VAT at the standard rate unless they are exempt from VAT or fall within Annex III of the Directive, in which case lower VAT rates may apply subject to certain rules. Currently Ireland has a standard VAT rate of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Primary Medical Certificates (14 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: At the outset, the Deputy should note that my Department and I share concerns that the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme (DDS) is no longer fit-for-purpose. Consequently, my Department had a significant input into the final report of the National Disability & Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) Transport Working Group's review of mobility and transport supports including the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Statutory Instruments (14 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: I would like to inform the Deputy that the correspondence in question has been brought to my attention. I have asked the officials dealing with this matter to meet with the organisation and discuss the matters covered in their correspondence. I have also asked that a report of these discussions be provided to me in due course for my consideration.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Advertising (14 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: The Department of Finance did not place advertising in print media from 2019 to date.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Industry (9 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: At the outset, it is important to note that neither I, nor the Central Bank of Ireland, can direct the pricing or provision of insurance products, as this is a commercial matter which individual companies assess on a case-by-case basis. This position is reinforced by the EU Single Market framework for insurance (the Solvency II Directive). Regarding motor insurance, it is understood that...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Community Development Projects (9 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: Relevant Contracts Tax (RCT) is a withholding tax that is applied to certain payments made by principals to subcontractors in the construction, forestry and meat processing sectors. The tax deducted is a payment on account against the subcontractors final Income Tax or Corporation Tax liability for the year, with the amount of RCT deducted credited against the tax liability for that year. The...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (9 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: The tax treatment of maintenance payments varies depending on: Whether the maintenance arrangement in place is legally enforceable or voluntary, Whether the maintenance payment is made for the benefit of the other party to the relationship or a child, and The basis of assessment applicable to the couple. Where the payment is legally enforceable and is made for the benefit of the other...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Fiscal Data (9 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 158 together. The Housing Finance Agency (HFA) is classified as a non-commercial agency within the general government sector. On this basis, the revenue and expenditure of the HFA are included in the calculation of the general government balance. As the nature of the HFA’s activity is to borrow or raise funds to on-lend to local...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Housing Policy (9 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: The National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) have informed me that the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) has a statutory mandate to invest on a commercial basis in a manner designed to support economic activity and employment in Ireland. In line with this mandate, ISIF focusses its efforts on making transformational investments across its impact themes of Housing and Enabling...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Expenditure (9 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: The Deputy will be aware that the ‘National Public Procurement Policy Framework’ issued by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) sets out the procurement procedures to be followed by government departments and state bodies in accordance with EU rules and national guidelines. In addition, my Department has its own internal policy and guidance documents to assist staff to...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Exchequer Deficit (9 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: The SPU fiscal forecasts incorporate Exchequer borrowing in both 2026 and 2027 when there is a projected Exchequer deficit. However, it should be noted that there is also borrowing included in the projections for 2024 and 2025, when the Exchequer is projected to run a surplus. There is also maturing debt that will require refinancing: for example, based on the current maturity profile of...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Discussion (8 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Chair and colleagues for being here. I am pleased to be here with my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, and our respective officials today to discuss the stability programme update. As members are aware, the document was published in draft form on 23 April this year. In accordance with our legal requirements, the final version of the document was submitted to European...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Discussion (8 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: I thank Deputy Conway-Walsh. The activity of the Housing Finance Agency, HFA, is included in the forecasts published in the SPU. As the nature of the agency's activity is to borrow or raise funds to support housing delivery through on-lending to local authorities, approved housing bodies, AHBs, and so on, the majority of its accounts are financial transactions and do not impact the general...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Discussion (8 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: I will provide the note and whatever background information the Deputy requires about the accounting treatment and classification of activity at the HFA. I know the Deputy has some parliamentary questions in on that issue too. We will provide whatever additional information is needed.