Results 21,981-22,000 of 33,049 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Availability (14 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 123 together. In the answer to an earlier Parliamentary Question from the Deputy (Ref: 27576/20), Central Bank data on the number and value of outstanding Personal Contract Plan (PCP) agreements for car purchases was provided. However, the Central Bank has advised that this data is not available on a county by county basis. Regarding the regulation of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Coverage (14 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: At the outset, while I have an appreciation of the specific issue the Deputy raises, neither I, nor the Central Bank of Ireland, can direct the pricing of insurance products, as this is a commercial matter, nor can we compel any insurer operating in the Irish market to provide cover. This position is reinforced by the EU Single Market framework for insurance (the Solvency II Directive) which...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Exemptions (14 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: As I outlined yesterday in my Budget speech, I have increased the rate of carbon tax from €26 euro per tonne of Carbon Dioxide emission to €33.50 per tonne. This applied to auto fuels from midnight last night. I have delayed the increase on all other fuels, including green diesel, to 1st May 2021. As the Deputy will be aware, those who are eligible to purchase green...

Seanad: Budget 2021: Statements (14 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I am pleased to have the opportunity to appear before the Seanad today to contribute to the debate on budget 2021. As I informed the Dáil yesterday, this year's budget has been prepared in circumstances that are without precedent. The outbreak of the coronavirus has hugely impacted individuals, communities, societies and economies throughout the world, and our country is part of this....

Seanad: Budget 2021: Statements (14 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and thank Senators for their contributions. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, will be in the House for the afternoon to respond to other points Senators will raise in that debate. I am going to respond to a point made by each Senator and thank them all for their contributions. While I will deal with individual points, it...

Seanad: Budget 2021: Statements (14 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I will wrap up now.

Seanad: Budget 2021: Statements (14 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The three party leaders are focused on trying to make the right decisions for our country. Senator Chambers made the point about the increase in carbon tax and how we are looking to do that. We want to do it gradually with all of the gains from that change in carbon tax being used to deal with the issues to which she referred. On Senator McGahon's contribution, there was indeed a wide...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Value Added Tax (15 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, the VAT rate applied to Tourism and Hospitality related goods and services has been temporarily reduced from 13.5% to 9%, from 1 November 2020 to 31 December 2021, in recognition of the unprecedented challenges facing the sector.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Primary Medical Certificates (15 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119, 121 and 122, inclusive, together. The Disabled Drivers & Disabled Passengers Scheme provides relief from VRT and VAT on the purchase and use of an adapted car, as well as an exemption from motor tax and an annual fuel grant. The cost of the scheme in 2019, excluding motor tax, was €72m. The Scheme is open to severely and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Remote Working (15 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The 2020 Programme for Government: Our Shared Futurecontains several commitments related to working from home, including an examination of the “feasibility and merits of changing tax arrangements to encourage more people to work remotely”, the responsibility for which falls to my Department. There is also a commitment to the development of a ”national remote working...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Treaties (15 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: Decisions on tax issues at the EU require the unanimous approval of all Member States. This important principle, which is enshrined in the EU Treaties, ensures that all countries have an equal role in agreeing tax proposals regardless of size or geographical location. Nonetheless, it has proven possible to reach significant agreements on tax at European level in recent years....

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: At the outset, while I have an appreciation of the difficulties individuals may find themselves in as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, neither I, as the Minister for Finance, nor the Central Bank of Ireland can interfere in the provision or pricing of insurance products or have the power to direct insurance companies to provide cover to specific individuals or businesses. This position is...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: On 18 March last, the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland (BPFI) announced a coordinated approach by banks and other lenders to help their customers who were economically impacted by the Covid-19 crisis. The measures included flexible loan repayment arrangements where needed, including loan payment breaks initially for a period up to three months and then subsequently extended for up...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) was legislated for under the recently enacted Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Act 2020. The EWSS provides a flat-rate subsidy to qualifying employers, based on the number of qualifying employees on the payroll. The eligibility period to be reviewed for comparative purposes relates to the trade or business, rather than the operating entity....

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Registration of Title (15 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that while the land in question was initially transferred in 1986, the relevant deed was not presented for stamping at that time. The documentation referred to by the Deputy was received by Revenue in June 2020. However, to finalise the Stamp Duty return and issue the appropriate stamp certificate, further information was recently requested from the solicitor acting...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Consumer Protection (15 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: As part of his review of the regulation of Personal Contracts Plans (PCPs), Mr Michael Tutty considered the contents and recommendations of an earlier CCPC study on 'Personal Contract Plans: the Irish Market' and also a separate Central Bank of Ireland study 'An Overview of the Irish PCP Market'. Following his consideration of these reports and his other considerations, Mr Tutty produced his...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Contracts (15 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The bank concerned has not been awarded any contracts by the Department of Finance for the period 1 January 2016 to date. My Department also has 17 Bodies under the Aegis and none of these bodies have awarded State contracts to the detailed bank in the years of 2016 to date. However, the detailed bank is one of the financial institutions that, on foot of an open call, offers the Future...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (15 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I am aware that NatWest is engaged in a strategic review of its operations, including those of its subsidiary, Ulster Bank, thanks to media reports published last month. Following these report, officials from my Department contacted Ulster Bank and NatWest. Both Ulster Bank and NatWest highlighted that work on the review is ongoing and no decisions have yet been made. Furthermore,...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Bank Codes of Conduct (15 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 132 together. I have no statutory role in relation decisions about bank branch closures. Banks in Ireland are independent commercial entities and it is a commercial decision for the management team and board of each institution as to where they locate their branches. Banks are required to notify the Central Bank immediately once a decision to...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Regional Aid (15 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I can advise the Deputy that neither my Department nor any of the Bodies under the Aegis of my Department has granted regional aid under the regional aid guidelines in any of the past seven years.