Results 15,441-15,460 of 32,961 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Operations (17 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy will be aware that a reduction in the level of non performing loans (NPLs) across European banks is a major priority for the European banking regulator, the SSM. Given this position, banking regulators have tasked each bank with developing and implementing strategies with the expectation that their ratios will be reduced towards the European average. Despite the significant number...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: House Prices (17 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Department of Finance continues to monitor all aspects of the housing market, including the impact of venture capital companies and other institutional investors. In fact, in February of this year my Department published a paper tilted ‘Institutional Investment in the Housing Market’. The paper describes how ownership of rental properties by large scale landlords -...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Home Repossessions Rate (17 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 93 together. I have been advised by the Central Bank of Ireland that their quarterly mortgage arrears, restructures and repossession statistics provides data on the number of property repossessions in a given quarter across all institutions. The reporting template is collected on an aggregate basis and the following tables summarises the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Availability (17 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 102 together. As the Minister for Finance I have no function in the commercial decisions of banks, however it is Government policy to ensure there is an adequate supply of credit, including working capital, to all viable SMEs and Farms. The Central Bank of Ireland collects data on bank lending by NACE sector, and collects gross new lending...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Brexit Preparations (17 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government welcomed the decision of the recent European Council to an extension of the Article 50 process until 31 October 2019. The extension includes giving the UK flexibility to leave before that date should the Withdrawal Agreement be ratified.  The European Council decision made clear that the Withdrawal Agreement, including the backstop, cannot be re-negotiated and that any...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Corporation Tax Regime (17 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Ireland’s corporation tax regime is a core part of our economic policy mix and is a longstanding anchor of our offering on foreign direct investment (‘FDI’). At 12.5%, Ireland has one of the most competitive headline corporate tax rates in the OECD. This rate is applied to a broad base with limited deductions – a policy which is endorsed by the likes of the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Economic Policy (17 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As published in the Stability Programme Update for 2019, my Department provides a discussion of the risks to economy over the coming years. These are numerous and primarily external in nature. First and foremost is the ongoing uncertainty around Brexit. Joint research by the ESRI and my Department has shown the impact that a disorderly Brexit could have for the economy....

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Costs (17 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am very conscious of the difficulties that increased insurance costs generally are having on many consumers, voluntary organisation and small businesses in this country.  That is why the completion of the Cost of Insurance Working Group’s (CIWG)  work remains very important in order to fully achieve its objectives of delivering fairer premiums for consumers and businesses,...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Costs (17 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: At the outset, I recognise that insurance costs are important in the context of ensuring the competitiveness of the economy and I am very conscious of the difficulties being faced by certain small businesses in obtaining insurance and that a number of such businesses have had to close or are facing closure if they are unable to get cover.  The Deputy will be aware that neither I, as...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Economic Data (17 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Irish economy continues to grow at a robust pace, with annual GDP growth of 6.7 per cent in 2018. However, over the last number of months uncertainty in the external environment has increased substantially.  The pace of growth has slowed in Ireland's key export markets, with a loss of momentum particularly evident in both the euro area and the UK. Accordingly the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Websites (17 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department has developed the gov.ie website which is a key tenant of the Public Service ICT strategy under Digital First. The objective of gov.ie is the creation of a shared website for all Departments, presenting content in an accessible manner for ease of online interaction for citizens and businesses. It will provide easy-to-find information about government services and will improve on...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (17 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 109 together. I refer the Deputy to my reply to PQ 6225 of 7 February 2019. The position remains unchanged. The process of dismantling the Financial Emergency legislation commenced under the Lansdowne Road Agreement 2016-2018 and will be completed under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 (PSSA). The PSSA, which was negotiated in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Garda Communications (17 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The current contract for the provision of radio services to An Garda Síochána and other emergency services is due to expire on 16 June 2019. This contract covers the provision of national narrowband secure digital radios network services as a managed service and as such no concession agreement was included in the contract. Officials of my Department are engaged in a in a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (17 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Officials of my Department are engaged in an OJEU procurement exercise to establish a new replacement framework for the delivery of a nation-wide, narrowband, secure, managed digital radio service for voice and data purposes and for the supply of associated services. It advertised its intention to procure replacement services in January 2017 and is currently in the process of a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Garda Communications (17 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Officials of my Department are engaged in a procurement exercise to establish a new replacement framework for the delivery of a nation-wide, narrowband, secure, managed digital radio service for voice and data purposes and for the supply of associated services. My officials solicited the views and requirements of all agencies currently using, and those who may use this network in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Community Employment Schemes Supervisors (17 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: This issue relates to a claim by community employment supervisors and assistant supervisors who have been seeking, through their union representatives, the allocation of Exchequer funding to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme. The matter was the subject of extensive discussion at the Community Sector High Level Forum...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Station Closures (17 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I have been advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that two former Garda Station buildings in County Cavan have been sold.  These are Finea and Tullyvin. No former Garda stations in County Monaghan have been sold. The former Garda station at Shantonagh, Co. Monaghan was a leased property and this lease was surrendered following the closure of the station. The following table sets...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Industry (16 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The negative effects of climate change on insurers globally, in the form of more frequent and severe storms, floods and droughts, is well documented both in terms of increased payouts and the impact on insurers investment portfolios. In a recent presentation in relation to Climate Change and the Irish Financial System, the Central Bank of Ireland has noted that there has been a tripling of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs Availability (16 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Supporting young farmers and generational renewal continues to be a priority for both the Government and the EU, and will form an important part of the CAP post-2020.  I understand that my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and his Department, are actively engaging with other Member States and the EU Commission on these issues during the current...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Revenue Commissioners Data (16 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that it is an integrated tax and customs administration. Revenue had a total of 1,851 staff assigned to confronting non-compliance at end March 2019. This comprises of staff assigned to anti-smuggling, anti-avoidance, audit and other interventions, investigations and prosecutions.  In addition, Revenue had over 530 staff assigned to debt management at end...