Results 23,321-23,340 of 33,086 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Discussion. (20 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: My point still stands.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Discussion. (20 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: To use the phrase yet again, if the Deputy wants it to be paid for out of general taxation, as most of it will be, and funded directly by the State, which will now happen as a result of the decision made by the Oireachtas, the consequences to which I referred will now happen. We have to make choices about how we are going to do this. I am going to stay within the resolution passed by the...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Discussion. (20 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The recommendation made by the Low Pay Commission on the minimum wage was both fair and correct. Last year the commission took into account the impact of Brexit on particular Border counties and this was one the factors that led to its recommendation. The Government accepts the recommendation, which strikes a balance in terms of trying to rebuild the living standards of people whose wages...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Discussion. (20 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: We have stated this is an objective that we want to fulfil. Deputy Boyd Barrett asked about the VAT rate, and my response was that I could not answer the question now because I have to make the announcement on budget day. The same applies to what we will do about the earned income tax credit. What the then Minister, Deputy Noonan, said was that over time he wanted to rebuild it so that it...

Court Funds Administration Bill 2017: First Stage (13 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: No.

Summer Economic Statement 2017: Statements (13 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I thought the Acting Chairman was going to make particular reference to Deputies from his own constituency for a moment there, given his generosity earlier. I also thank all colleagues who have contributed to this debate and who have offered their thoughts on the summer economic statement. I will respond to different points that were offered, but I will start by making the point that a...

Summer Economic Statement 2017: Statements (13 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: It is important that the fruits of economic recovery are spread as evenly as possible and while the short-term economic prospects are positive, a continuation of robust growth can never be taken for granted. We must not lose sight of both our risks and opportunities and the budgetary framework I have outlined aims to strike that balance.

Summer Economic Statement 2017: Statements (13 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government published its annual summer economic statement yesterday. It outlines the broad parameters that will underpin discussions on our economic and fiscal policy over the medium term and the main pillars of this approach. It revolves around six key principles: ensuring sound and sustainable public finances; managing public expenditure carefully; targeted increases in investment; a...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: NAMA Portfolio (13 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 197 together. I currently have no plans to wind down the Agency prior to, or beyond, its current expected time frame. It is too early to speculate whether NAMA will have made sufficient progress on its three primary business lines - ongoing deleveraging; Dublin Docklands SDZ programme; residential...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: National Pensions Reserve Fund Investments (13 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 to 115, inclusive, together. The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) has advised me that the €450 million BlueBay SME Credit Fund has completed 27 loan transactions totalling approximately €369 million as at 31 March 2017. The €292 million Carlyle Cardinal Ireland (CCI) SME Equity Fund, has completed 7 transactions as...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tobacco Control Measures (13 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I am informed by Revenue that the current price of the cheapest 30g pack of roll your own tobacco product is €14.50 and the current price of the cheapest pack of 20 cigarettes available on the retail market is €9.00. The European Union (Manufacture, Presentation and Sale of Tobacco and Related Products) Regulations 2016, made by my colleague the Minister for Health, require...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Exemptions (13 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 118 together. I am advised by Revenue that the exemption from capital gains tax referred to by the Deputy applies to land and buildings acquired in the period commencing on 7 December 2011 and ending on 31 December 2014 which are held for a minimum period of seven years. Accordingly, the earliest date that properties acquired in the relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (13 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I presume the Deputy is referring to married couples where either one or both spouses are non resident and only one of the spouses has income chargeable to tax in this State. I am advised by Revenue that Section 461 of the Taxes Consolidated Act 1997 (the Act) provides that the married person’s tax credit is granted to an individual who is assessable to tax on the combined income...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: State Aid Investigations (13 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: In late 2015, a complaint was submitted to the Competition Directorate of the European Commission (DG Comp) by a small number of property developers - including some former NAMA debtors - alleging that there may be state aid implications to NAMA's providing financing for the development of commercially viable residential projects by some of NAMA's debtors and receivers. NAMA and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs Availability (13 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Section 114 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides for a tax deduction in respect of travel expenses which an employee or office-holder is necessarily obliged to incur in the performance of the duties of the office or employment.  However, in this regard, return travel from home to work is not an allowable expense. I am aware that the matter has been raised previously in relation...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Ireland Strategic Investment Fund Investments (13 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The National Treasury Management Agency inform me that Activate Capital (Activate) is a €500 million joint venture established by the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) and global investment firm KKR, and financed through a €325 million senior loan note from ISIF and a €175 million junior loan note from KKR.  Activate advances up to 90% of the project funding...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs Data (13 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that the number of mortgage holders in receipt of tax relief at source in respect of mortgage interest for the year 2016, the latest year for which data are available, is in the order of 419,400 claimants. The provisional cost to the Exchequer in 2016 for claimants is just over €184 million. A forecast for 2017 is not available. At present, Section 244 of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Data (13 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: At the outset, the Deputy should note that as Minister for Finance, I am not responsible for the operation of the Declined Cases Agreement and therefore I do not have direct access to the data that is being requested.  However, in order to be as helpful as I can, my officials contacted Insurance Ireland about your information request.  In response they have...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Exemptions (13 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Charities and non-profit groups engaged in non-commercial activity are exempt from VAT under the EU VAT Directive, with which Irish VAT law must comply.  This means they do not charge VAT on the services they provide and cannot recover VAT incurred on goods and services that they purchase. Following representations made by the Irish Charities Tax Reform Group (ICTR) over a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Costs (13 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 to 128, inclusive, together. The Cost of Insurance Working Group has met 21 times to date.  It met for the first time on 20 July 2016 and held its most recent meeting on 5 July 2017. The Cost of Motor Insurance was the focus of its twelve meetings in 2016.  The nine meetings which have taken place since the beginning of this year have...