Results 23,621-23,640 of 33,118 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: ECOFIN Meeting: Minister for Finance (6 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I am happy to have that. The Chairman will know the concerns we have about the Bill are genuine. It is not clear to us how this entity would be funded. It appears it would need to issue some form of bond to pay for the financial commitment. We do not understand how that would happen. Furthermore, we are not at all clear how such a unit would be kept off the balance sheet of the country....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: ECOFIN Meeting: Minister for Finance (6 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The bank-related part is between one fifth and one quarter. The rest is the accumulated cost of running deficits. This is why, when Senator Horkan asked me about this point, I said the best way we can begin to get our debt soon is related to what we do in terms of our need to borrow every year. The level of debt in the economy is between €200 billion and €205 billion, which...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services Regulation (6 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I have been advised by the Central Bank that regulated entities providing financial services in Ireland are required to comply with the Consumer Protection Code 2012 (the Code).  The Code applies to financial services providers authorised, registered or licensed by the Central Bank; and financial services providers authorised, registered or licensed in another EU or EEA Member State...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Compliance (6 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Section 110 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 sets out the Irish regime for the taxation of special purpose companies set up to securitise assets.  The tax provisions are intended to create a tax neutral regime for securitisation and structured finance purposes.  If the loan origination company is a qualifying company (within the meaning of section 110 TCA 1997) then...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Sale of State Assets (6 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Any proceeds from a sale of shares held in a bank by the State would not result in a beneficial impact to the General Government Balance (GGB) under the European System of Accounts 2010 (ESA 2010) framework. This is due to the fact that it such transactions are classified as a 'financial transaction' whereby it is essentially the exchange of one form of asset (shares, equities,...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Irish Strategic Investment Fund (6 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The NTMA has advised me that a fundamental aspect of the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund’s (the “Fund”) mandate is, as a commercial investor on behalf of the State, to act as a catalyst for co-investment in the Irish economy from private sector capital.  Accordingly the Fund structures its investments in a commercial manner and it is essential that it do so if it...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Universal Social Charge Yield (6 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The position is that officials from my Department and the Revenue Commissioners have been reviewing the USC performance. As part of the review, my Department and Revenue have re-examined the Budget 2017 USC costings, and are satisfied that the costings are as accurate as possible given the complexities involved in forecasting. Furthermore, as part of the continuous efforts to improve...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tracker Mortgages Examination Data (6 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Revenue administers mortgage interest relief in accordance with Section 244 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. The level of relief applied by lenders to each case is based on the applicable ceiling, the rate of relief allowable and the percentage of the loan that qualifies for the relief. The information required by the lenders to ensure that the correct level of relief is applied is...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services Sector (6 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Contingency planning for Brexit has been ongoing at all levels of Government well in advance of the UK EU referendum in June 2016. Ireland has a successful track record of competing for, and winning, global foreign direct investment. One of the key pillars of that success is the growth of the International Financial Services (IFS) sector, in particular over the past 30 years. Ireland is now...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Yield (6 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 75 together. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the VAT rating of goods and services is subject to EU VAT law, with which Irish VAT law must comply. Under the EU VAT Directive 2006/112/EC it is not possible to introduce a zero rate of VAT on any good or service that had not already applied at the zero rate of VAT on and from 1 January...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Corporation Tax Regime (6 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: In September last year, the Government decided to arrange for a review of Ireland’s corporation tax code by an independent expert, Mr Seamus Coffey. The decision was taken with a view to ensuring that Ireland’s corporation tax code meets the new international tax standards while remaining competitive in a growing economy. On 30 June 2017, Mr Coffey submitted...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Motor Insurance Costs (6 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: There is a commitment within the Report on the Cost of Motor Insurancethat the Working Group will prepare quarterly updates on the progress of the implementation of the recommendations and the first such update was published in early May. That update provides details on how the implementation of the recommendations is progressing, with a particular focus on the ten action points which were...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Strategy Group (6 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Preparatory work in relation to the Tax Strategy Group for 2017 is close to completion. A number of topics have been advanced and the agenda will be finalised shortly. It is envisaged however, that the following Papers will be included: Income Tax and USC, General Excises, PRSI, Social Protection Package, Capital Taxes/Exit Tax/DIRT, Corporation Tax, VAT and Climate and Environmental Taxes....

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Revenue Commissioners Resources (6 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a Ready Reckoner is currently published on the Revenue website (). This Ready Reckoner is prepared on a post-Budget 2017 basis. I am informed that Revenue expect to publish a pre-Budget 2018 basis Ready Reckoner later in July, which would be around a month earlier than in 2016.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Summer Economic Statement (6 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Summer Economic Statement (SES) is a key element of the reformed budgetary process which complements the Stability Programme Update. While the macroeconomic outlook will be as set out in the Stability Programme Update, the SES will provide an updated assessment of the fiscal space available for 2018. It will also outline the key elements of the Government’s economic strategy. ...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Help-To-Buy Scheme (6 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, during the Committee Stage debate on Finance Bill 2016, my predecessor agreed to commission an independent impact assessment on the effects of the Help to Buy incentive for completion prior to Budget 2018. Following a competitive tender process, Indecon Economic Consultants were appointed in April to undertake this assessment. This purpose of the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Industry Regulation (6 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I am aware of the issue raised by the Deputy. I note that An Garda Síochána this week advised the public on how to avoid such fraudulent insurance brokers, discouraging motorists, for example, from buying insurance policies from unusual sources such as social networks, or in bars or restaurants or public places. A valid certificate of motor insurance can be obtained either...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Property Tax Collection (6 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that the outstanding Local Property Tax (LPT) liabilities in respect of the property in question have been paid in recent days. The payments covered the tax element only and did not include interest liabilities that accrued at 4% per annum on foot of LPT deferrals for the years 2015, 2016 and 2017. Revenue has confirmed that it will make direct contact with the liable...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Compliance (6 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Revenue’s primary goal is to ensure that all taxpayers and businesses meet their tax obligations in a timely fashion. Any delay in the collection of tax revenue impacts on the level and timeliness of the financial resources available to the Exchequer and adds to Government borrowing and public debt interest. Accordingly, Revenue has a strong focus on making sure that everyone...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (6 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) established a framework contract for the provision of taxi services in the Greater Dublin Area in April 2015. This contract is renewable annually up to a maximum duration of four years. While the OGP established this framework contract, the OGP is not the Contracting Authority on any other taxi contracts. Prior to establishing this framework...