Results 10,261-10,280 of 32,864 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Unions (26 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The Central Bank have informed me that credit unions may participate in Death Benefit Insurance schemes whereby a payment, intended to assist with funeral expenses, is made following the death of a member. The Death Benefit Insurance is provided by insurance undertakings. Some credit unions discharge some or all of the cost of the insurance on behalf of their members, while other credit...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs (26 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 146 together. Although there are currently no measures in Irish VAT or Excise legislation that relate to reliefs for armed forces from another state, there are provisions in EU VAT and Excise legislation that are applicable notwithstanding that the measures have not been transposed into Irish legislation. In respect of VAT, the provision in...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Economic Policy (26 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: With Government backing since 2012, Ireland has long recognised the importance of sustainable finance for increasing economic activity, employment creation and ensuring that the necessary environmental safeguards area developed and implemented in Ireland and globally. As a result, we have been strongly supportive of sustainable finance initiatives at EU and wider international levels....

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Motor Insurance (26 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: At the outset, it is important to note that neither I, nor the Central Bank of Ireland, can direct the pricing of insurance products, as this is a commercial matter, nor can we compel any insurer operating in the Irish market to provide cover. This position is reinforced by the EU Single Market framework for insurance (the Solvency II Directive), which expressly prohibits Member States from...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs (26 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83, 137 and 201 together. I am aware of the matter raised by the Deputies and can advise that my officials have been in touch with their counterparts in Northern Ireland on the matter and that I have exchanged correspondence with the Cross-Border Workers Coalition. In the case of a person who lives in Ireland but who works in another jurisdiction, the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (26 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84, 106, 111, 133, 134, 145, 196, 206, 207 and 208 together. The Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) was announced in the Budget on 13 October 2020. The details are set out in Finance Bill 2020 and guidelines on the operation of the scheme, including the eligibility criteria, are available on the Revenue website: (). The support is available to...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (26 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: As a signatory of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Ireland is required to submit regular reports on measures taken to give effect to the Convention. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth holds primary responsible for reporting back to the UN Committee, in coordination with Government Departments and other civil society stakeholders....

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (26 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 86, 89, 100 to 102, inclusive, 114, 119, 127, 128, 140, 150 and 152 together. The Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) was announced in the Budget on 13 October 2020. The details are set out in Finance Bill 2020 and guidelines on the operation of the scheme, including the eligibility criteria, are available on the Revenue website at: . The registration...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: State Aid (26 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 192 together. On the basis of the Deputy’s engagement with my officials in my Department, I understand that the Deputy’s query relates specifically to the issue of Just Transition, the Just Transition Fund and recommendations made by the Just Transition Commissioner. In relation to the issue of Just Transition, I would outline to...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Legislative Measures (26 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy is aware, the Department of Finance undertook a public consultation in 2019 seeking views on capping the cost of licensed moneylenders and other regulatory matters in relation to moneylending. The submissions received, proposed a number of policy changes in relation to the moneylending industry and are broadly in favour of introducing an interest rate restriction. A number...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Value Added Tax (26 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90, 98, 105 and 113 together. The Retail Export Scheme enables visitors that are resident outside the EU benefit from VAT relief on goods purchased in Ireland and subsequently taken outside of the EU. Under existing rules, when the UK becomes a third country, visitors from Britain will be able to avail of the scheme. No minimum threshold currently applies...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (26 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy will be aware that responsibility for the administration of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), which itself operates on a self-assessment basis, rests with the Revenue Commissioners. I am advised by Revenue that it takes a multifaceted approach to ensuring compliance by employers with the terms of the scheme. Revenue undertakes a risk focused real-time examination of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Economic Growth Rate (26 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The suspension of all ‘non-essential’ economic activity during the second quarter of the year resulted in the Irish economy suffering the largest contraction on record, with a contraction in GDP of over 6 per cent relative to the previous quarter. Modified domestic demand, perhaps the best indicator of domestic economic activity, declined by 16 per cent while the unemployment...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Value Added Tax (26 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The VAT rates applying in Ireland are subject to the requirements of EU VAT law with which Irish VAT law must comply. In order for a zero rate of VAT to be applied to a good or service, that good or service must have applied at the zero rate on 1 January 1991 and have continued to apply at that rate since. No new items may be charged at the zero rate, where they had not been subject to the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Economic Competitiveness (26 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: From 1 January 2021, many aspects of our relationship with the UK will change fundamentally as we will no longer share EU membership. While the Government remains committed to protecting and strengthening the Ireland-UK relationship following the end of the transition period, I can advise the Deputy that the net impact of Brexit on the policy areas within my remit is anticipated to be...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services Regulation (26 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I am aware of the letter issued by the Central Bank on 17 November setting out expectations for action by regulated firms to address their legal obligations under the Fitness and Probity (F&P) regime. This letter was issued by the Bank in the performance of its regulatory functions under current legislation. That letter was preceded by a letter issued by the Bank in 2019 on F&P issues...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic (26 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: Since the emergence of COVID-19, the Government has been guided by the need to strike a balance between jobs, income and enterprise on one hand and keeping our people healthy and safe on the other. The Government has been clear that a “zero covid” policy is not available to Ireland due to the border with Northern Ireland and the Common Travel Area. Our proximity to Europe and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Incentives (26 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The 2019 Climate Action Plan charts an ambitious pathway to reduced carbon emissions by 2030 which includes a series of measures to phase out fossil fuel usage across all sectors while the Programme for Government augments the Climate Action Plan by committing to reduce emissions by an average of 7 per cent per annum throughout the next 10 years. As set out in the Programme for Government,...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs (26 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The rent relief tax credit was abolished in Budget 2011 and is no longer available to those that commenced renting for the first time from 8 December 2010. This followed a recommendation in the 2009 report by the Commission on Taxation that rent relief should be discontinued. The view of this independent commission was that, in the same manner in which mortgage interest relief increases the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (26 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: On 18 March last the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland (BPFI) announced a coordinated approach by banks and other lenders to help their customers who were economically impacted by the Covid-19 crisis. The measures included flexible loan repayment arrangements where needed, including loan payment breaks initially for a period up to three months and then subsequently extended for up...