Results 8,161-8,180 of 32,643 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (13 Jul 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that where a couple is cohabiting, rather than married or in a civil partnership, each partner is treated for the purposes of income tax as a single person. This means that each partner is chargeable to tax on her/his own income and is entitled to the basic annual personal tax credit of €1,650. Neither partner will be entitled to the increased standard rate...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Industry (13 Jul 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: At the outset, it is important to note that neither the Minister for Finance, nor the Central Bank of Ireland, has any influence over the pricing or provision of insurance products, as this is a commercial matter assessed on a case-by-case basis.  This position is reinforced by the EU legislative framework for insurance (the Solvency II Directive). On a general level, my...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services (13 Jul 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: Lifetime loans are regarded as a niche product usually provided to those aged 60 years and over. The Central Bank has advised that in addition to the requirements of the consumer protection framework that apply to the provision of mortgages generally, the Consumer Protection Code 2012 (the Code) also sets out a number of specific requirements relating to lifetime mortgages and home reversion...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Economic Data (13 Jul 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 275 and 276 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) is responsible for classifying all entities in the State into the appropriate sector of the economy. The Register of Public Sector Bodies in Ireland is compiled by the CSO and as of the last publication, April 2021, there are approximately just over 250 publicly controlled...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Real Estate Investment Trusts (13 Jul 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that due to the small number (less than 10) of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) that operate in Ireland and Revenue’s obligation to maintain the confidentiality of taxpayer information, specific quantitative information in relation to these entities cannot be provided.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (13 Jul 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 278 and 279 together. Section 10A of the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 (as amended) provides for an exemption from the charge to local property tax (LPT) in respect of certain residential properties that have a significant level of pyrite damage. The LPT Act does not restrict the exemption to any particular geographical area so that the exemption...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Universal Social Charge (13 Jul 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I would note that Ireland has one of the most progressive personal income tax systems in the world, which plays a crucial role in the process of income redistribution. Our redistributive tax system has been acknowledged by the IMF, the OECD and the ESRI. It is my view that a broad-based, progressive income tax system, where the majority of income earners make some contribution but according...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Primary Medical Certificates (13 Jul 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: Hearings of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal are held on average twice a month at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire, which has the appropriate facilities to cater for people with mobility impairing disabilities of the kind provided for under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme. A Supreme Court decision of 18thJune 2020 found in favour of two...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Legal Cases (13 Jul 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The Minister for Finance is named as a party to a large number of cases. In many instances, these cases are dealt with by the Chief State Solicitor's Office or the State Claims agency without requiring direct input from this Department, particularly where another Department is the relevant lead Department. Details of the total number of cases to which the Minister is a party are not...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services (13 Jul 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The term “Exchange Traded Fund” or “ETF” is a general investment industry term that refers to a wide range of investments. ETF investments can take many different legal and regulatory forms even where they are established within the same jurisdiction. An ETF is an investment fund that is traded on a regulated stock exchange. A typical ETF can be compared to a...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (13 Jul 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: Section 28B of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 provides for the operation of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), which is an economy-wide enterprise support for eligible businesses in respect of eligible employees. It provides a flat-rate subsidy to qualifying employers based on the numbers of paid and eligible employees on the employer’s...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Defective Building Materials (8 Jul 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank Deputy Crowe. Some of the very important issues he raised are outside the remit of the answer I have been able to give him. I know the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, will be well aware of the issues raised by the Deputy on behalf of his constituents. I will engage with the Minister, as the Deputy has been doing. The Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021, which will be in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Defective Building Materials (8 Jul 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for raising what I know is a very serious matter. I have experience of this issue from working with colleagues in trying to respond to the huge stress and anxiety that I know has been caused to many homeowners in Deputy Crowe's county and in counties Donegal and Mayo because of the damage that was done to their homes due to the presence of pyrite. The case at the...

Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Motion (8 Jul 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I move: That initiation of the Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021 may proceed pursuant to Standing Order 174 notwithstanding that pre-legislative consideration of the Bill pursuant to Standing Order 173 has not been completed.

Business of Dáil: Motion (8 Jul 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I move: That, notwithstanding the Order of Business of Tuesday, No. 9a, motion regarding the Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021, shall be taken now and that any division demanded thereon shall be taken immediately.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic (8 Jul 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that the VAT rating 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 fall within categories of goods and services specified in the Directive in respect of which Member States may apply a lower rate or exempt from...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Housing Policy (8 Jul 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: Housing policy is a matter in the first instance for my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O'Brien. My Department does not, currently, have any measure in place which seeks to address the issue raised by the Deputy. As the Deputy will be aware, work is advancing on the development of a comprehensive Housing for All Strategy. This work is being led by...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Schemes (8 Jul 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I do not currently have plans to reinstate the Home Renovation Incentive. The Home Renovation Incentive (HRI) provided tax relief by way of an income tax credit on repair, renovation or improvement works on principal private residences or rental properties carried out by tax compliant contractors. It was introduced in 2014 at a time when there was considerable loss of employment within...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Schemes (8 Jul 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The Business Resumption Support Scheme is a new scheme for vulnerable but viable businesses, particularly in sectors that were significantly impacted throughout the pandemic, even during periods when restrictions were eased. The BRSS and its eligibility criteria are provided for in section 5 of the Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021 currently before the Oireachtas. The...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services (8 Jul 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me or for the Central Bank to comment on the Bank's engagement with individual firms. By way of providing context, however, I would say that the authorisation or “gatekeeper” process is an important part of how the Central Bank regulates financial services providers and works to protect consumers and...