Results 19,641-19,660 of 32,999 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Inflation Rate (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Inflation in Ireland has been subdued for several years. For example, on a Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) basis, 2017 was the fifth consecutive year of inflation below 1 per cent. This phenomenon is not restricted to Ireland. Low inflation has been a feature of advanced economies in recent years. However, in 2017, inflation on a HICP basis across the euro area accelerated to...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Economic Growth (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Recent economic indicators have generally been positive, indicating that the recovery is continuing in a sustainable manner. Preliminary real GDP growth of 7.8 per cent was recorded for 2017, but this is heavily distorted by activity in the multinational sector. Modified domestic demand, which adjusts for distortions in the Irish economy, is up 4.0 per cent in 2017. Growth is broad based...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Inflation Rate (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department continues to monitor developments in the wider property market, including trends in property prices, on an ongoing basis. According to the Central Statistics Office's Residential Property Price Index, national property prices increased by 0.7 per cent between February and March, and by 12.7 per cent on an annual basis. At the regional level, residential property prices in the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services Regulation (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Ensuring that the interests of consumers of financial services are protected is a key priority for the Government and the Central Bank. A key element of the Central Bank’s role is ensuring that the consumer protection regulatory framework is fit for purpose and ensures that consumers best interests are protected. Within the remit of the Central Bank’s responsibilities for...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Budget Targets (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The recently published Stability Programme Update 2018 included an update of the fiscal outlook for 2019. The projected general government balance remains unchanged from Budget 2018 at 0.3 per cent of GDP. Regarding the performance of taxation receipts, I would first caution that it is still too early in the tax collection calendar to discern any firm trends, which in turn underpins the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Book Sales (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 86 together. Government policy has been that the sale of a loan book should not result in a loss of protections for borrowers. The Consumer Protection (Regulation of Credit Servicing Firms) Act 2015 restored protections to borrowers by making credit servicing a regulated activity and requiring firms which undertook credit servicing to be authorised...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Brexit Supports (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department has been to the fore in producing and funding a number of Brexit-related studies, both before and since the UK's referendum decision, to assess and prepare for the impact of a UK exit from the European Union. All of these Brexit-related studies are available on my Department's website. In addition, regular updates of my Department’s Macro-Economic forecasts take account...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector Regulation (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Part IIIC of the Central Bank Act 1942, as amended, provides the Central Bank of Ireland with the power to administer sanctions in respect of the commission of prescribed contravention(s) by Regulated Financial Service Providers (RFSP) regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland, and by persons presently or formerly concerned in the management of RFSPs who have participated in the prescribed...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Availability (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The European economy continues to grow at a solid pace, with the euro area having grown at its fastest rate in ten years in 2017. The recovery in growth has been accompanied by improved credit conditions and a rise in lending. The provision of credit is an important driver of economic growth as credit is used to fund consumption and investment, while it is also a key transmission...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Economic Data (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: According to EUROSTAT, the statistical office of the European Union, Ireland was the fastest growing economy in the EU in 2017. First estimates show that real GDP growth in Ireland was 7.8 per cent in 2017 compared with real GDP growth in both the EU and euro area of 2.4 per cent. While headline GDP figures can be exaggerated in an Irish context, other indicators such as consumer spending,...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Interest Rates (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The Central Bank of Ireland has informed me that the most recently available statistics on interest rates charged on new mortgage business in the euro area are detailed in the table. These statistics are harmonised across the euro area, and relate to euro-denominated lending to euro area residents, broken by broad interest rate type; variable and fixed. There is no breakdown available for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Retirements (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy is aware, on 5 December 2017, the Government agreed that the compulsory retirement age of most public servants recruited before 1 April 2004 should be increased to age 70. Primary legislation is required for this change to be implemented. The Attorney General’s Office has been requested to prioritise the drafting of the necessary legislation so that the new compulsory...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Caiteachas Ranna (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Níorbh fhéidir an PQ a fhreagairt i nGaeilge sa tréimhse ama toisc srianta ama. Tá an freagra 9ú Bealtaine aistrithe go Gaeilge anois thíos: “Ba é ceann de na cuspóirí ar bhain le Ceadúnas don Chrannchur Naisiúnta do thréimshe 20 bliain a dhíol ná fáltais láithreach a ghiniúint don Stát....

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme (15 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that the person in question should make a new application for relief under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers scheme, in respect of the purchase and adaptation of the second hand vehicle. Once the application is processed, the benefits on the previous car will cease and become available in respect of the newly acquired vehicle. To advance matters the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: State Claims Agency (15 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The NTMA (Amendment) Act 2000, which established the SCA, provides for the SCA to deal directly with the bodies which are delegated to it for claims management on behalf of the relevant Minister. The relevant Minister’s role and responsibilities must be respected while claims which arise are being managed. As my Department does not have a role in the day-to-day handling of medical...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Contracts Data (15 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The value of contracts for goods and services incurred by my department in relation to HP Inc; HP Enterprise; and DXC Technology are set out in the table below. In 2010 my department paid €11,516.15 to Hewlett-Packard Enterprises to provide hardware and software support services of a backup and recovery solution for the Department's files and systems. All remaining payments are made in...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs Availability (15 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I assume that the deputy is referring to the Special Assignee Relief Programme (SARP), which is provided for in section 825C Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. SARP allows income tax relief on a portion of income earned by an employee who is assigned by his or her employer to work in the State for that employer or for an associated employer. The relief can generally be claimed for a maximum...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (15 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I assume the Deputy is referring to Tax and Duty Manual 42.4.65 which Revenue issued on 17 April 2018. I am advised by Revenue that its recent updating of guidance on the tax position of foreign assignees followed extensive consultation by Revenue with practitioner representatives. This included detailed discussions in early March on draft text which had been circulated for comment to the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector Investigations (15 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: It is a matter for the Central Bank to oversee the operation of regulated financial service providers in Ireland. That said, in an effort to assist the Deputy, I have contacted Ulster Bank about its complaints process in relation to Global Restructuring Group. Ulster Bank have confirmed that following on from the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) appointment of a Skilled Person...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: State Claims Agency (15 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: It was not possible for the State Claims Agency to provide the information sought in the time available and, therefore, I will make arrangements to provide the information in line with Standing Orders.