Results 20,741-20,760 of 33,049 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Covid-19 (Finance): Statements (20 May 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: In regard to the first part of the Deputy's question, Project Ireland 2040 currently has a budget and an implementation board that is chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Secretary General of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. They are considering, insofar as they can, what are the consequences of Covid-19 for...

Covid-19 (Finance): Statements (20 May 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for those questions. I will deal with the maternity leave issue. I explained earlier that I am considering options to see whether we can resolve this matter because the legislation as drafted was absolutely seeking to treat everybody equally in a time of great need. In all of the different issues now being raised regarding the operation of the scheme, please let us also...

Covid-19 (Finance): Statements (20 May 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy. I will speak about the role of the State in respect of an issue such as this. I also want to appreciate the huge amount of stress that has been caused to all who worked in Debenhams by the decision that has been made and how understandably angry and upset those workers will be at the very sudden loss of their jobs. It is, however, the case that we cannot intervene...

Covid-19 (Finance): Statements (20 May 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I am saying that over time, we will not be able to continue the level of borrowing that we have. What the Deputy will therefore want is for taxes to be increased by that amount and I would contend that such a tax increase will have other effects in our economy that I think it is in our interest to avoid.

Covid-19 (Finance): Statements (20 May 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank Deputy Naughten for raising those points. The Deputy has acknowledged the work under way on the maternity leave issue that has arisen due to the implementation of the wage subsidy scheme. I am examining if we can resolve that. As I said to Deputy Catherine Murphy, my preference is to address this through the administration of tax law rather than having to look at other policies...

Covid-19 (Finance): Statements (20 May 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I have had two meetings in recent weeks with representatives and leaders of the different credit union movements. I found these very helpful and I plan to have another meeting in the coming week or two. I heard from them some of the concerns raised by Deputy Naughten. The Deputy will appreciate that some of the issues they refer to are regulatory matters on which I am not the decision...

Covid-19 (Finance): Statements (20 May 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: Respectfully, I am not in a position to give the commitment the Deputy wants to changing primary legislation. I will have to see what he is looking for first and I am sure he will share that with me. I believe that the legislation we have in place regarding how our credit union sector is regulated is very proportionate and fair. On the comment he made about the culture of the Central...

Covid-19 (Finance): Statements (20 May 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I thought it might be something different.

Covid-19 (Finance): Statements (20 May 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy raised issues around the banks with me a number of weeks ago and I met the CEOs of the banks again, along with the Taoiseach, a number of days ago. I want to re-emphasise to the Deputy that it is critical that a number of things happen during this period. First, if breaks are being entered into, as they are for over 40,000 loan owners, everybody must be clear on what that break...

Covid-19 (Finance): Statements (20 May 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I will have to write back to the Deputy on many of the points he raised because we have run out of time. I will, however, comment on the one matter he said might be outside my responsibility, Skellig Michael. I had the opportunity to visit it at the end of last year so I know how amazing the location is. As somebody who just about got to the top, I can see, in fairness, why the OPW made...

Covid-19 (Finance): Statements (20 May 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: It is about to be discovered.

Covid-19 (Finance): Statements (20 May 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I can understand why the Deputy is raising this issue on behalf of his constituents. As I understand it, he wants me to reply with answers to those questions. Is that right?

Covid-19 (Finance): Statements (20 May 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I understand. Some of those matters were raised with us by the Alliance for Insurance Reform, and I dealt with those issues with the alliance. Subsequently, I wrote to the insurance sector asking for a response to particular issues that were raised with me, some of which were touched on in the communications the Deputy has just mentioned. If he gives those communications to me, I will see...

Covid-19 (Finance): Statements (20 May 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will know, decisions on the taxation of aviation fuel are made at an international and a European level; they are not a competence we have here in Ireland. I would, however, be cautious about this. Looking at where we are at the moment, when it is possible on public health grounds to allow aviation - business travel and then tourism travel - to happen, and we will be guided by...

Covid-19 (Finance): Statements (20 May 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I hear what Deputy Harkin stated regarding the maternity leave and, in particular, the second point she made. The reason I was careful not to commit to a review of maternity leave as a way of dealing with the issue the Deputy raised is because I am aware of the first point she made. This is an urgent issue and I know it is more likely that we will find a resolution of it within the tax code...

Covid-19 (Finance): Statements (20 May 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: Considerable protections are in place and have played a role in over 80,000 mortgages being restructured. They have played a role in over 80% of those who are involved in those restructured mortgages and who are meeting new loan terms. For those whose loans have been sold, the protections they have now are unaffected. That said, if we are at the point where a property is being sold, then...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (20 May 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45, 64, 97, 120 and 129 together. The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) is a temporary emergency measure to deal with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy, intended to maximise staff retention and firm viability by maintaining the link between the employer and employee insofar as is possible through this truly exceptional period. In that...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (20 May 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government’s priority in so far as the Temporary Wages Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) is concerned was and is to ensure that all employers experiencing significant negative economic disruption from COVID-19 can register for and start to receive payment quickly. The purpose of the scheme is to ensure that the relationship between employers and employees is maintained to the greatest extent...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Help-To-Buy Scheme (20 May 2020)

Paschal Donohoe:  The legislation governing HTB is set out in section 477C of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. The Help to Buy scheme (HTB) is an income tax incentive designed to assist first-time purchasers with a deposit to buy or build a new house or apartment. The incentive gives a refund of Income Tax and Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) paid in the State over the previous...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Rate Application (20 May 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government is fully aware of the unprecedented impact that the coronavirus is having on business and people’s livelihoods. In this regard a range of measures have been introduced to provide income support to those who need it while also giving confidence to employers to retain the link with employees so that when this crisis passes - and it will pass – our people can get...