Results 21-40 of 32,527 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs (7 May 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99, 107, 109, 110, 113 and 118 together. The Deputy should note that my Department and I share concerns that the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme or DDS is no longer fit-for-purpose and believe it should be replaced with a needs-based, grant-led approach for necessary vehicle adaptations that could serve to improve the functional mobility of the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Industry (7 May 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy may be aware, the Government is fully committed in the Programme for Government: Securing Ireland's Future, to further action to drive down insurance costs impacting households, motorists and businesses. A new Action Plan for Insurance Reform is being developed with a focus on encouraging further competition in the market and working with stakeholders to enhance transparency and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Ministerial Responsibilities (7 May 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: On 29 January 2025, the Government, upon nomination of An Taoiseach, formally appointed Ministers of State and assigned their responsibilities. Robert Troy TD was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance. The Delegation of Functions Order was approved by the Government on 6 May.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Housing Schemes (7 May 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: The Help to Buy (HTB) incentive, is a scheme to assist first-time purchasers with the deposit they need to buy or build a new house or apartment. It also has as an aim to encourage additional supply of new houses by supporting demand. HTB provides a refund of Income Tax and Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) paid in Ireland over the previous four years, subject to limits outlined in the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Data (7 May 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 112 together. Sugar Sweetened Drinks Tax (SSDT) is provided for by Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Finance Act 2017. The tax commenced on 1 May 2018 and applies to first supplies in the State of sugar sweetened drinks as defined. The tax applies on a volumetric basis at one of two rates, dependent on the total sugar content of the ready to consume form of the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Cycling Policy (7 May 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104, 105, 115 and 116 together. Section 118(5G) of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (TCA) provides for the Cycle to Work Scheme. This scheme offers an exemption from benefit-in-kind where an employer purchases a bicycle and/or associated safety equipment for one of their employees (or directors) to use, in whole or in part, to travel to work. Associated safety...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Cycling Policy (7 May 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: The Cycle to Work scheme was introduced in 2009 to encourage the use of bicycles for travel to and from work. Section 118(5G) of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (TCA 1997) provides for this scheme. This scheme provides an exemption from benefit-in-kind where an employer purchases a bicycle and associated safety equipment for an employee. Under section 118B TCA 1997, an employer and employee...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Official Engagements (7 May 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: Restrictive measures, or sanctions as they are generally referred to, are a policy intervention utilised by the EU in regard to Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). Ireland implements EU and UN sanctions via EU legislation. As the Deputy is aware, Ireland is represented at the Foreign Affairs Council by An Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. Any decisions regarding...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Data (7 May 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that the breakdown of total amounts collected and the respective percentages of net exchequer receipts for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024 for VAT and Mineral Oil Tax (MOT), non-carbon component (NCC) and carbon component (CC), in respect of petrol, diesel, marked gas oil (MGO) and Kerosene are shown in the following table. Both Kerosene and MGO are used in home heating...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Semi-State Bodies (7 May 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: The relevant State bodies under the aegis of my Department have provided the requested information in the below table. It should be noted that the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council does not have a CEO position. The salaries of the Chief Executives of the bodies listed are published in their Annual Reports. State Body CEO basic annual salary Contract expiry date...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (7 May 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy is aware the current thresholds for the income tax age exemption are €18,000 per annum where an individual is aged 65 years or over, and €36,000 per annum for married couples and civil partners, jointly assessed to tax, where either individual is aged 65 or over. The relevant income thresholds may be increased further if the individual has a qualifying child....

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Credits (7 May 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: The Research and Development (R&D) corporation tax credit allows companies to claim a 30% tax credit in respect of expenditure incurred on qualifying R&D activities. The R&D corporation tax credit is available to all companies within the charge to Irish tax who are undertaking qualifying R&D activities. I am mindful of the need to encourage more SME companies to engage...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Legislative Programme (7 May 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: Drafting of the Finance (Tax Appeals and Fiscal Responsibility) Bill 2024 was approved by Government in June 2024. This Bill will amend the Finance (Tax Appeals Act) 2015 to make changes to how Appeal Commissioners are appointed, to provide for various grades of Appeal Commissioner and to make a number of amendments on foot of the 2021 Supreme Court judgement in respect of the Zalewski v....

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Industry (7 May 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: At the outset, it is important to clarify that the provision of home insurance is a commercial matter for insurance companies, based on an actuarial assessment of the risks they are in a position to accept. Government cannot interfere in the provision or pricing of insurance, or direct as to what cover is provided, as is reinforced by the EU framework for insurance (the Solvency II...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Primary Medical Certificates (7 May 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: The Primary Medical Certificate and applications for same are a matter for the Department of Health. The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme (DDS) provides relief from VRT and VAT on an adapted car, as well as an exemption from motor tax and an annual fuel grant. The Scheme is open to severely and permanently disabled persons as defined, as a driver or as a passenger and also...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (1 May 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: Section 110 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (TCA 1997) sets out a 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 bona-fide securitisation and structured finance purposes. The section 110 regime enables noteholders to invest through one structured vehicle, without giving rise to an...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (1 May 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by the Central Bank that it exchanged a total value of £7.05m (€8.96) in Irish Punt banknotes and coins between 01/01/2015 and 25/04/2025. The table below shows a breakdown by year: Year IEP £ EUR € 2015 £1,002,399 € 1,272,784 2016 £1,022,484 ...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Schemes (1 May 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy should note that my Department and I share concerns that the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme or DDS is no longer fit-for-purpose and believe it should be replaced with a needs-based, grant-led approach for necessary vehicle adaptations that could serve to improve the functional mobility of the individual. However, this is very much a matter for Government as...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Properties (30 Apr 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department does not lease any properties and is provided with accommodation by the OPW.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Revenue Commissioners (30 Apr 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that section 141 of Finance Act 2001 provides that Revenue may seize any goods or vehicles that are liable to forfeiture under the excise legislation. The primary offences that these laws relate to are offences regarding Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) and Marked Mineral Oil (MMO). Vehicles may also be seized where they are used as a conveyance for offences relating to...