Results 14,281-14,300 of 32,960 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: European Central Bank (4 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The primary objective of the European Central Bank (ECB) is to maintain price stability within the euro area by implementing monetary policy which is consistent with an inflation rate of below, but close to, 2 per cent over the medium-term. In this regard, the euro area flash headline inflation rate in June was stable at 1.2 per cent. The ECB projects that inflation will remain below target...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Small and Medium Enterprises Supports (4 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 to 100, inclusive, together. The Key Employee Engagement Programme (KEEP) came into effect on 1 January 2018. The aim of the incentive is to support SMEs in Ireland in competing with larger enterprises to recruit and retain key employees, by way of a targeted share option programme. KEEP provides for an exemption from income tax, USC and PRSI on...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme (4 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and VRT (up to a certain limit) on the purchase of an adapted car for transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities, payment of a Fuel Grant, and an exemption from Motor Tax. To qualify for the Scheme an applicant must be in possession of a Primary Medical...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme (4 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and VRT (up to a certain limit) on the purchase of an adapted car for transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities, payment of a Fuel Grant, and an exemption from Motor Tax. To qualify for the Scheme an applicant must be in possession of a Primary Medical...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Help-To-Buy Scheme Expenditure (4 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Help to Buy incentive (HTB) was announced in Budget 2017 and backdated to apply from 19 Jul 2016. I am advised by Revenue that the total cost of the incentive to 31 May 2019, the most recent month for which data are available, is in the order of €177.5 million. I am also advised by Revenue that the cost of the scheme by each year of its operation is as follows: Year Cost...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: State Banking Sector Regulation (4 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to inform the Deputy that this information is not in the possession of my Department. Furthermore decisions in regards to commercial activities are the sole responsibility of the boards and management of the individual banks which must be run on an independent and commercial basis. The independence of these banks is protected by Relationship Frameworks which are legally binding...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Economic Competitiveness (4 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Under the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2012, the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (IFAC) has been assigned responsibility for examining and reporting on the appropriateness of the fiscal stance in Ireland. This is in line with the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union. One of its functions under the Act involves IFAC providing an independent assessment...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Union Regulation (4 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to inform the Deputy that I have had extensive engagement with the credit union sector to date this year. In February, I held a credit union stakeholder engagement event which was attended by the President of the organisation that the Deputy refers to in his question. I also attended and spoke at that organisation's AGM in April. These events provided me with valuable feedback from the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Real Estate Investment Trusts (4 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 108 together. In relation to the Deputy's question on Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), the rules on REITs in Ireland are set out in Part 25A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 and were introduced by Finance Act 2013. Irish REITs are collective investment vehicles which invest in Irish property. The income and gains from Irish property are not...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Appeals Commission (4 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 110 together. The Tax Appeals Commission was established on 21 March 2016. A party to an appeal which is dissatisfied with a Tax Appeals Commission determination on the grounds that the determination is erroneous on a point of law, may require the Appeal Commissioner to state and sign a “case stated” for the opinion of the High Court. A...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland Data (4 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) is Ireland’s national promotional institution. The purpose of the SBCI is to deliver effective financial supports to Irish SMEs, address gaps and potential failures in the Irish SME finance market, as well as encouraging competition and innovation, and facilitating the efficient and effective use of EU resources and financial...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Proposed Legislation (4 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As I announced recently, I received the agreement of Government on 18th June to begin the process of drafting heads of a Central Bank Amendment Bill. This follows extensive preparatory work by my officials, in consultation with the Central Bank, over the past year. The next step in the process is engagement by my officials with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to begin drafting...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Proposed Legislation (4 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The updating of the Investment Limited Partnership (ILP) Act, 1994 is a priority on the Government's legislative programme. The ILP Act has been in use since 1994 and it is widely acknowledged that it needs to be updated to fit the environment and its intended clientele. There have been significant changes in the financial area in the past 25 years and the revisions contained in the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Brexit Issues (4 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland and the UK are currently partners in two EU-funded cross-border Cooperation Programmes, PEACE and INTERREG, with a total value of €550 million over the period 2014-2020. These programmes are 85% funded by the EU through the European Regional Development Fund under the European Union's Cohesion Policy. The two programmes are important drivers of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Home Loan Scheme (4 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan launched in February 2018 with initial funding of €200m expected to issue over three years. The actual level of demand has been higher than expected, as result of which, the scheme requires a further tranche of funds to be borrowed by the HFA for it to continue. The Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government and I have been in discussions...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Expenditure Programme (4 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and for monitoring monthly expenditure at Departmental level. The responsibility for the management and delivery of the individual investment projects, within the time period 2014 - 2019, rests with the individual sponsoring Department in each case. Under...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Transport (4 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The car used for official duties is a Skoda Superb with a diesel engine.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (4 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 the Official...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Primary Medical Certificates Eligibility (3 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 110 together. The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and VRT (up to a certain limit) on the purchase of an adapted car for transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities, payment of a Fuel Grant, and an exemption from Motor Tax. To qualify for the Scheme an...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (3 Jul 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The issue of aviation taxes is currently the subject of discussions amongst Member States and a matter for consideration by the European Commission in the context of its legislative right of initiative. We understand the context in which such discussions are taking place and Ireland will engage in any EU level discussions on this issue in a constructive manner.