Results 23,521-23,540 of 33,175 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Contracts (24 Mar 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I can advise the Deputy that no pro-bono work was undertaken by accountancy firms within the Department of Finance for the period 2016 to date.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Revenue Commissioners (24 Mar 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I have answered this question with the assumption that it refers to consultancy payments paid by the Revenue Commissioners to law and accountancy firms. I am advised by Revenue that €35.37m was paid to providers of legal and accountancy services from January 2018 to February 2021, inclusive. A breakdown of these payments is set out in the table below. SSHA

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Brexit Issues (24 Mar 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that importers of cars from the UK into Ireland can claim a preferential tariff rate under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) where they can provide proof that the goods they are importing are of UK preferential origin as required by the Rules of Origin in the Agreement. The proof requirements are provided for under EU Customs legislation including the TCA...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Motor Insurance (24 Mar 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: Working to protect insurance policyholders during and after the COVID-19 crisis is a priority issue for Government. As such, it is included within the Programme for Government and the Action Plan for Insurance Reform, launched in December. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, I have consistently called on insurers to treat their customers honestly, fairly and professionally. I can...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Help-To-Buy Scheme (24 Mar 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The Help to Buy (HTB) incentive was introduced in 2017.  The measure is currently scheduled to expire on 31 December 2021. HTB 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.  An increase in the supply of new housing remains a priority aim of Government policy. The...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Collection (24 Mar 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that the persons’ tax credits and rate band allocations have been reduced in 2021 to collect the tax due on their Department of Social Protection (DSP) Pandemic Unemployment Payments and Carer’s Income supports. The mechanism to tax the PUP for 2021, in common with other DSP payments, including Carer’s Income and Jobseekers’ Benefit, is...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Expenditure (24 Mar 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: In 2020, my Department had a total Covid-19 related expenditure of €480,102.44. This spend is broken down by line item in the table below. Purpose of Expenditure Total Spend (incl VAT) Cleaning €11,317.61 Courier €15,667.56 Equipment €72,140.57 Personal...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Administrative Arrangements (24 Mar 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that it provides a wide range of online payment facilities to support taxpayers in meeting their tax payment obligations. These payment options are available through the Revenue On-Line Service (ROS) and the MyAccount service on a 24/7 basis and are fully secure. The available on-line options include ROS Debit Instruction (RDI), Single Debit Instruction (SDI),...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Vehicle Registration Tax (24 Mar 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 508 and 509 together. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that where an individual purchases a new vehicle in the State, the motor dealer will register it at the point of sale.  The dealer will pay the relevant Vehicle Registration Tax and Value Added Tax to Revenue and the vehicle will be supplied with registration plates. In all other cases where...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Coverage (24 Mar 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I am conscious of the difficulties that the absence or withdrawal of flood insurance cover can cause to homeowners and businesses.  However, you should be aware that the provision of insurance is a commercial matter for insurance companies, which is based on an assessment of the risks they are willing to accept. Consequently, neither I nor the Central Bank can interfere in the provision...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Value Added Tax (24 Mar 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, I did not extend the temporary reduction in the standard rate of VAT from 23% to 21% beyond the 28th of February. Future tax changes are generally taken in the context of the Budget. Deputies will be aware that my officials prepare a series of papers containing tax options for the Tax Strategy Group to be considered in the context of the budgetary process,...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (24 Mar 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, on 18 March 2020, the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland (BPFI) announced a coordinated approach by banks and other lenders to help their customers, including those in the hospitality sector, who were economically impacted by the Covid-19 crisis.  The measures included flexible loan repayment arrangements where needed, including loan...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (24 Mar 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 513 and 514 together. I appreciate that the Covid-19 restrictions are still impacting many mortgage borrowers.  However, borrowers have a suite of regulatory protections, such as the Central Bank's Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears and the Consumer Protection Code, and lenders have specific obligations to support and work with borrowers...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Industry (25 Mar 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I am aware that concerns have been expressed about how the insurance industry is responding to the needs of its business policyholders in these difficult times, particularly those like, variety clubs, dance and stage schools who are unable to use their premises and have to teach online.  However, it is important to alert the Deputy to the fact that neither I, nor the Central Bank,...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (25 Mar 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: 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 in legislation as income supports and are subject to income tax. The taxation arrangements for the PUP were legislated for in Finance Act 2020 which reflects the standard approach to taxation of social welfare type payments, which...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Communications (25 Mar 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: Members of the Oireachtas can contact my Department by emailing minister@finance.gov.ie. There are 17 bodies under the aegis of my Department; Circular 25/2016 applies to 14 of these bodies. It does not apply to the Credit Union Advisory Committee (CUAC), the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal (DDMBA) and the Credit Union Restructuring Board (ReBo). CUAC is a committee set up to advise...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Protected Disclosures (25 Mar 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 43 together. Section 22 of the Protected Disclosures Act requires the publication of a report in respect of protected disclosures received in the preceding year setting out certain information in respect of protected disclosures received. For the purposes of complying with section 22, the Department publishes information regarding Protected Disclosures...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Lending (25 Mar 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy is aware, as Minister for Finance I have no role in the day to day operations of any bank operating within the State including banks in which the State has a shareholding. I'm precluded from intervening on behalf of any individual customer in any particular bank. Decisions in relation to commercial matters are the sole responsibility of the board and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Lending (25 Mar 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: Under section 126 of the Consumer Credit Act 1995 a mortgage lender is obliged to make sure that a mortgage applicant has mortgage protection insurance in place before granting a housing loan.  However, the Act also provides for a number of limited exemptions to this statutory obligation where:  1. the house in respect of which the loan is made is, in the mortgage lender's...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Policy Functions (25 Mar 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: Primary responsibility for this matter and the National Disability Inclusion Strategy, rests with my colleague Anne Rabbitte, Minister of State for Disability in the Department of Children, Disability, Equality and Integration.