Results 22,301-22,320 of 33,049 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Ministerial Advisers Data (7 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to inform the Deputy that I have two Special Advisers who are on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's payroll. Both Special Advisers are compensated on the third point of the Principal Officer PPC Scale at a rate of €88,392. The Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will share the cost of these salaries. Ms Deborah Sweeney was...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Fiscal Policy (7 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The European Central Bank (ECB) announced on October 26th the extension of its QE programme from December 2017 until September 2018 at the earliest, while at the same time announcing a reduction in the rate of monthly purchases from January 2018 to €30 billion, from €60 billion at present. The reinvestment of principal payments on maturing securities purchased under the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Licence Applications (7 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Central Bank utilises a three-stage banking authorisation assessment process, the first two stages being part of a pre-application assessment, followed by submission of a formal application. It should be noted that it is the European Central Bank which determines whether a banking authorisation should be granted under section 9 of the Central Bank Act, 1971 (general banking...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Employment Investment Incentive Scheme (7 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 242 together. I am aware of the current position regarding the delays in processing Employment and Investment Incentive (EII) applications. Revenue has informed me that due to an increase in both the volume of the correspondence received and complexity of the issues involved in relation to applications for relief under EII, there has been an...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Excise Duties (7 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: My decision not to increase the rate of excise duty applying to petrol and diesel in Budget 2018 ensures that the applicable rates have remained unchanged since 2012.   To protect road transport operators from exposure to increases in the price of oil a fuel rebate scheme was introduce in July 2013. This scheme, known as the Diesel Rebate Scheme, provides a...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (7 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: My officials have investigated this matter and have found that Ulster Bank have not reduced service in their Ballyconnell branch. The opening hours have not changed. Ballyconnell customers, in addition to using the branch, can manage their personal and business accounts directly, anytime and anywhere using: - Anytime internet banking - Mobile phone banking - Anytime Telephone banking -...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (7 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Notwithstanding the State’s 14% minority shareholding in Bank of Ireland, I, as Minister, have no direct function in commercial decisions taken by the bank including those which are part of the relationship between the bank and its customers. Decisions of this nature are matters for the board and management of the institution. The Minister has responsibility to ensure that the bank...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tracker Mortgages (7 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The scope of the Central Bank Tracker Mortgage Examination covers all lenders which sold tracker mortgage accounts, including both for the family home and investment properties, up to the end of 2015: - that originated on tracker interest rates; - that had tracker interest rates applied at any stage during the term of the underlying mortgage agreements; and/or - where the underlying mortgage...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Emergency Services Personnel (7 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government acknowledges and appreciates the work undertaken both before and after the storms by a wide range of individuals including the emergency services, road and electricity crews and community and voluntary organisations.  However, the rates at which Income Tax is charged, and the amounts subject to each rate are set out in section 15 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. The...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Interest Rates (7 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: There is a variety of factors which result in a disparity between mortgage interest rates in Ireland and other EU countries. Some of these include differences in national legal and housing systems, cultural preferences, the proximity of lenders to borrowers. More directly, credit and market conditions, mortgage default rates and the funding of mortgage credit will...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Community Employment Schemes Supervisors (7 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that income arising from participation in a Community Employment Scheme is liable to income tax and that such income is, in fact, taxed under the PAYE system. If the Deputy is aware of a situation whereby participants in a Community Employment Scheme are not paying income tax, he should provide relevant details to Revenue who will examine the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Exemptions (7 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Programme for Partnership Government recognises the difficulties faced by community groups in relation to VAT rates on certain products such as defibrillators. This is an EU competency and the Government has committed to  work with our EU counterparts in seeking to reform this area. Defibrillators, other than implantable defibrillators, are liable to VAT at the standard...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Compliance (7 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that the provisions relating to penalties for failing to make a correct tax return where one is required are set out in section 1077E of the Taxes Consolidation Act (TCA) 1997. This section provides that the applicable penalties may be mitigated in specific circumstances where the taxpayer makes a “qualifying disclosure”, that is a full disclosure of all...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Schemes (7 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Section 477C of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides for the Help to Buy (HTB) initiative. A  first-time purchaser is defined as "an individual who ... has not, either individually or jointly with any other person, previously purchased or previously built, directly or indirectly, on his or her own behalf a dwelling".  One of the main policy aims of the Help to...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs Eligibility (7 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme provides relief from VAT and Vehicle Registration Tax, an exemption from motor tax and a grant in respect of fuel expenditure, on the purchase of an adapted car for transport of a permanently and severely disabled person within the terms of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994. The...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Rate Reductions (7 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy will be aware that I announced in the Budget the introduction of a VAT compensation scheme for charities, which will compensate them for the VAT they incur on their services. The scheme will be introduced in respect of VAT incurred in 2018 but will be paid in arrears in 2019. Details of the proposed scheme are available on my Department’s website. Legislation for this...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Compensation Fund (7 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Setanta Insurance was placed into liquidation by the Malta Financial Services Authority on 30 April 2014. As it was a Maltese incorporated company, the liquidation is being carried out under Maltese law. As the Deputy is aware, the Supreme Court delivered its judgment on 25 May 2017 and overturned the previous decisions of the High Court and the Court of Appeal that the Motor...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: NAMA Property Sales (7 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised that NAMA does not own properties. Rather its role is as a secured lender and the properties remain under the control of the debtor, or where enforcement has taken place, the appointed receiver/administrator.  I am advised that the properties concerned are under the control of a receiver who has responsibility for their management and maintenance. In this regard, I am...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Help-To-Buy Scheme Eligibility (7 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that, in the case of a self-build, the main criteria which apply under the Help to Buy scheme are: - the claimant must be a first-time buyer, - the residence must be built directly or indirectly by the first-time buyer, - a loan must be taken out with a qualifying lender in respect of provision of the self-build, where the loan-to-value ratio is a...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Proposed Legislation (7 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, the Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016 is a Private Members Bill which was introduced by Deputy Thomas Pringle in November 2016. It is not a Government Bill. However I can indicate to the Deputy where the Bill currently stands. Following its passage through Second Stage on 19 January 2017, the Bill was referred to the Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public...