Results 14,241-14,260 of 32,960 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Strategy Group (9 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy will be aware that the Tax Strategy Group (TSG) is in place since the early 1990s and chaired by the Department of Finance with membership comprising senior officials and political advisers from a number of Civil Service Departments and Offices. Papers on various options for tax policy changes are prepared annually by officials. The TSG is not a decision-making body and the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (9 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that if tax on roll-your-own tobacco was increased using an annual tax escalator of 10%, it would take approximately four years for the tax rate on roll-your-own tobacco to reach equivalence with cigarettes. That is providing there was no further increase in Tobacco Products Tax on cigarettes during that period.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Rate Application (9 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law, with which Irish VAT law must comply. In accordance with Irish VAT legislation, oral medicines (for human consumption), licensed/authorised by the Health Products Regulatory Authority, are liable to VAT at the zero rate. Ireland’s application of the zero rate of VAT to oral medicines derives from...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Fiscal Policy (9 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I can advise the Deputy that the anticipated transfer of €500 million to the Rainy Day Fund (RDF) will not impact on the indicative nominal budgetary package of €2.8 billion for 2020 set out in the Summer Economic Statement (i.e. the proposed budgetary package is net of this payment) .  It is important to point out that transferring money to the RDF will not be...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Credits (9 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Subsection (8) of section 466A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (TCA) provides that a couple may not receive both the increased standard rate band and the home carer credit in a tax year. Carer’s Benefit is taxable income under section 112 TCA. As a result, a jointly assessed couple where one spouse or civil partner is in receipt of this payment is considered to be a dual...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Official Engagements (9 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As part of my ongoing international engagements, I meet monthly with my EU counterparts at meetings of ECOFIN and Eurogroup, including with my Austrian counterpart, Eduard Muller. I intend to continue my dialogue with him and my other Finance Minister counterparts in the period ahead.  At present, there are no arrangements in place for a bilateral meeting with Minister Muller.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Rate Application (9 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 178 together. I am advised by Revenue that the provisions of the EU Directive are transposed into Irish VAT law, which is interpreted by the Irish Courts based on the principles and purpose of the Directive. Interpretation of this legislation evolves on a continuous basis, as a result of judgements handed down by Irish courts and, ultimately, the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Climate Change Policy (9 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department had already begun eliminating single use plastics prior to the Government Decision earlier this year regarding actions by Departments and Agencies on single use plastics, prevention of waste and green public procurement. While it has not purchased any single use plastics since January 2019, my Department retains an existing inventory of non-single use, re-useable and recyclable...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: NAMA Social Housing Provision (9 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised that NAMA has conducted regular reviews of the assets securing its loan portfolio to establish if vacant residential properties could be utilised for social housing. Up until end-March 2019, NAMA had identified a total of 7,050 residential properties as being potentially suitable for social housing. Of the units identified, demand was confirmed by local authorities for 2,729...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Home Building Finance Ireland Establishment (9 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Since its launch earlier this year HBFI has been actively engaging with small and medium sized builders and developers throughout the country through a range of market awareness raising initiatives. HBFI continues to benefit from a strong pipeline of interest from prospective borrowers as a result of these engagement activities. The drawdown of funds relating to the first...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Loan Books Purchasers (9 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, as Minister for Finance, I cannot stop or reverse loan sales even by the banks in which the State has a shareholding. Decisions in this regard, as well as the criteria used to decide the make-up of loans to be included, are the sole responsibility of the board and management of the banks which must be run on an independent and commercial basis. The...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Exemptions (9 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 183 and 184 together. Irish VAT law does not provide for a VAT rebate for diesel or petrol. The different treatment of VAT as regards petrol and diesel relates to the VAT input deductibility entitlement of VAT registered taxpayers. Businesses who make supplies that are charged to VAT are entitled to claim input VAT on their business expenses. VAT...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (9 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Public Procurement is governed by WTO, EU and National rules and guidelines. The aim of these rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money.   WTO rules and EU Directives on public procurement require that public works, supplies and service contracts above certain thresholds must be advertised on...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Retirements (9 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: By way of background, on 5 December 2017, the Government made the decision to increase the compulsory retirement age to 70, for public servants recruited prior to 1 April 2004. Primary legislation was necessary in order to bring that change into effect. It was made clear at the time that until such legislation was enacted, the compulsory retirement age of 65, which applied to the vast...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Proposed Legislation (9 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to inform the Deputy that my Department was consulted by the Department of Education and Skills on the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018 in the course of a Memorandum to Government on the issue.  The main issue from my Department’s perspective, in relation to the draft Bill, concerned the funding of the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (9 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The following table sets out the amount spent by my Department on digital marketing over the past eight years. Year  Cost Purpose Provider Target Audience Policy initiatives Audience criteria 2017 €46,190 Stakeholder support (Office of Government Procurement) Private Ireland Yes Video material on OGP YouTube channel, catering for Irish SME's and Public Bodies 2017...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (9 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 195 together. The following table sets out the payments to the companies in question from 2015 up to the end of Quarter 1, 2019. Company Purpose 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 KPMG - Technical consultancy on e-invoicing and Government Cloud infrastructure. - Advisory Services on data hosting of Government cloud infrastructure and Build to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Pay Commission (9 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Public Service Pay Commission was tasked under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 to conduct a comprehensive examination of underlying difficulties in recruitment and retention of staff in the public service, including the Defence Forces. The Report by the Pay Commission on Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces has been published and is available on the Public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (9 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has not incurred any costs in relation to tribunals, commissions of investigations or statutory inquiries since it was established in 2011.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Voluntary Sector Remuneration (9 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The issue raised by the Deputy is a matter for the Minister for Health, to whom I understand an identical question has been submitted.