Results 23,101-23,120 of 33,175 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Help-To-Buy Scheme (4 Feb 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The Help to Buy (HTB) incentive is a scheme to assist first-time purchasers with the deposit they need 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 Ireland over the previous four years, subject to limits outlined in the legislation. Section 477C Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 outlines the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs (4 Feb 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that it has already been in direct contact with the person in question regarding her tax relief entitlements in respect of 2016 and 2017. The person is currently completing her tax returns for both years so that her entitlements can be finalised. Revenue has also provided the person with a direct contact telephone number in case she requires any further assistance.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (4 Feb 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 49 together. The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is a social welfare payment for workers who have become unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. PUP payments are classified as income supports and share the characteristics of income from a taxation perspective. This is important from an equity point of view as people unaffected by the pandemic...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (4 Feb 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The Temporary Wage Subsidy (TWSS) was in place for 22 weeks between 26 March and 31 August 2020.  It was introduced as an emergency income support for employees of vulnerable firms whose businesses had been negatively impacted by the restrictions that had to be introduced to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus and whose turnover had reduced by at least 25% during Q2 while the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: World Bank (4 Feb 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I would like to thank the Deputy for his question and the opportunity it affords me to outline the World Bank’s mission and Ireland’s contribution in shaping, influencing and supporting this important work.   At the outset, I think it may be useful for me to provide clarification in respect of the Deputy’s reference to climate and development funds managed by the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Sustainable Development Goals (4 Feb 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 53 together. As the Deputy may be aware, in September 2015, 193 UN Member Countries including Ireland adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which consist of 169 targets around the 17 high level goals. The SDGs are a global blueprint for collective progress to a more prosperous and sustainable world by 2030. The SDGs are applicable to all...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (4 Feb 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54, 55 and 56 together. Firstly, I must point out that the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) is independent in the performance of his statutory functions.  I have no role in the day to day workings of the office or in the decisions which he takes. The FSPO has informed me that it has improved the quality and speed of its...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (4 Feb 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: Firstly, I must point out that the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) is independent in the performance of his statutory functions.  I have no role in the day to day workings of the office or in the decisions which he takes. The Ombudsman has informed me that the manner in which complaints are dealt with and the resources deployed in managing individual complaints...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (4 Feb 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 58, 59, 60 and 61 together. As the Deputy is aware, the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) is independent in the performance of his statutory functions and I have no role in the day to day workings of the office or in the decisions which he takes. The FSPO informs me that:- - The number of complaints received by the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Customs and Excise (4 Feb 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that the position regarding customs tariff duty rates for imports from the UK post-Brexit was not confirmed until the trade deal was agreed between the EU and the UK on 24 December 2020. The advice provided by Revenue prior to this has been consistently on the basis that the actual position as regards the operation of tariffs from 1 January 2021 was subject to the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Customs and Excise (4 Feb 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The UK is no longer part of the European Union and since January 1, following the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020, the UK has been outside the EU Single Market and Customs Union.  This means that imports from the UK (excluding Northern Ireland) may incur additional charges including customs duties and VAT. I am advised by Revenue that VAT is chargeable on all imports...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (4 Feb 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, I have met with representatives from both Ulster Bank and its parent company, NatWest in recent months. My most recent meeting was with the Chair of NatWest on the 17 December where I emphasised that Ulster Bank is an important part of the Irish banking landscape and I reiterated the importance of timely and direct communication...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Framework for Parliamentary Engagement Throughout the Budgetary Cycle: Discussion (9 Feb 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: There will be a summer economic statement, although I will have to consult within Government regarding the format of the SES. Many of the difficulties we had in respect of economic uncertainty will be better than they were a year ago. I still anticipate they will be present in a way that will be unlike many other years. Anyway, there will be an SES, but I will have to agree the format with...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Framework for Parliamentary Engagement Throughout the Budgetary Cycle: Discussion (9 Feb 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy. First, I believe there should be engagement between the relevant Oireachtas committee and myself or the Minister, Deputy McGrath, or both, regarding the submission to the recovery and resilience fund, but I do not believe it should be the subject of a resolution from the Dáil. It is a matter for the Government to decide on what our application is going to be and we...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Framework for Parliamentary Engagement Throughout the Budgetary Cycle: Discussion (9 Feb 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I emphasise and agree with the remarks of the Minister, Deputy McGrath. We are in a public health emergency and have emergency economic measures in place to help our society and, indeed, Europe deal with this pandemic. This week we are directly supporting the income of just over a million of our fellow citizens in terms of those who were on jobseeker’s payments before this crisis and...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Framework for Parliamentary Engagement Throughout the Budgetary Cycle: Discussion (9 Feb 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I will take that question. If by referring to a short sharp movement the Deputy means a very rapid withdrawal of the measures we have in place and trying to move from having a deficit to being in balance in a very short period, that is not what we are envisaging. It will take time for our economy and society to recover. A withdrawal too quickly of the measures we have in place could be...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Framework for Parliamentary Engagement Throughout the Budgetary Cycle: Discussion (9 Feb 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I will just make three points. The Deputy is correct to call out the fairly significant increase in household savings. I understand that the last set of figures that were produced by the Central Statistics Office indicated that the level of household savings in the economy for the quarter in which they measured it had increased by nearly one third. Such a level of increase is a significant...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Framework for Parliamentary Engagement Throughout the Budgetary Cycle: Discussion (9 Feb 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: How the money is used his key.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Framework for Parliamentary Engagement Throughout the Budgetary Cycle: Discussion (9 Feb 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I will come in on that. I agree with the point the Deputy made about the language of how we communicate where we are on economic policy. I was engaged in a one-man campaign in the previous Dáil to banish the terms "gross fiscal space" and "net fiscal space" from any conversation in which I was involved, and the Deputy's words will encourage me to keep at it. We need to challenge...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Framework for Parliamentary Engagement Throughout the Budgetary Cycle: Discussion (9 Feb 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: Hands-free?