Results 24,001-24,020 of 33,175 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (11 May 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) was legislated for under the Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Act 2020. The EWSS is an economy-wide enterprise support for eligible businesses in respect of eligible employees. It provides a flat-rate subsidy to qualifying employers based on the numbers of paid and eligible employees on the employer’s payroll and charges a reduced rate...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Housing Schemes (12 May 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The Central Bank of Ireland, as part of its independent mandate to preserve and protect financial stability in Ireland, has statutory responsibility for the regulation of mortgage lending by banks and other regulated entities. In line with the Central Bank’s mandate, the Central Bank introduced macroprudential measures for residential mortgage lending by such institutions in...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Schemes (12 May 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 as their home. The incentive provides 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. As part of the Government’s July 2020 Jobs...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Schemes (12 May 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) is an economy-wide scheme that is open to all sectors. It focuses primarily on business eligibility, delivering a per-head subsidy on a flat rate basis to the employer. The objective of the EWSS is to support businesses, encourage employment and help to maintain the link between employers and employees. The EWSS has been a key component of the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Schemes (12 May 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: Firstly, it should be noted that this proposed joint venture is subject to approval by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) and as such it is not appropriate for me to comment on this proposed joint venture in more detail. I understand the CCPC will complete a detailed and robust examination and subsequently either approve, approve subject to commitments or block the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Expenditure (12 May 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I can advise the Deputy that the Department of Finance has no record of any spend on advertising in relation to Covid-19 awareness raising initiatives from 1st March 2020 to date.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Schemes (12 May 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: Ireland has traditionally been a strong supporter of sustainable finance initiatives, and the Irish Government has long recognised the need for action on these initiatives both to take advantage of the associated opportunities and to address the need for transition from unsustainable practices. Reflecting this, sustainable finance is a specific horizontal priority within the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Fuel Prices (13 May 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The final retail price of fuel is determined by a number of factors which include the costs of production, distribution, global market factors, international exchange rates, taxation, wholesale market contracts as well as individual retail pricing policies. 2020 saw historic lows in oil markets in light of the fall off in demand caused by Covid-19 lockdown measures. According to energy market...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Primary Medical Certificates (13 May 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: Following approval of the Finance Act 2020, which provides for the medical criteria for the Disabled Drivers Scheme in primary legislation, a comprehensive review of the scheme, to include a broader review of mobility supports for persons with disabilities and the criteria for qualification for the Scheme, will be conducted this year. On foot of that review new proposals will be brought...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (13 May 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The objective of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) is to support all employment and maintain the link between the employer and employee insofar as is possible. The EWSS has been a key component of the Government’s response to the continued Covid-19 crisis to support viable firms and encourage employment in the midst of these very challenging times. To date, payments of over...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (13 May 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The CRSS is a targeted support for businesses significantly impacted by restrictions introduced by the Government under public health regulations to combat the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The support is available to companies, self-employed individuals and partnerships who carry on a trade or trading activities, the profits from which are chargeable to tax under Case I of Schedule D,...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (13 May 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) has informed me that matters related to Activate Capital are commercial matters and therefore it is not appropriate for me to comment on them as Minister for Finance. However, the ISIF has a current commitment of €400m to Activate Capital, a senior lending platform which funds residential development projects in Ireland. Since inception to...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Renewable Energy Generation (13 May 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: Section 664 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (‘relief for certain income from leasing of farm land’) provides for the exemption of certain income from tax in connection with the leasing of farm land, where the land is let under a qualifying lease. This particular relief was designed to encourage longer term leases of farm land, with the targeted policy objective of assisting...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Environmental Schemes (13 May 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: Officials from my Department have considered the introduction of a car-scrappage scheme for fossil fuel cars to facilitate the uptake of electric vehicles, and it is the Department’s view that a VRT based car-scrappage scheme is unlikely to work well. Typically, a scrappage scheme works via the mechanism that older cars are traded into dealerships for scrappage, in exchange for a...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Environmental Policy (13 May 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I can assure the Deputy that my Department is fully supportive of the reporting obligations and commitments to promote the use of environmental considerations in its procurement of goods and services, as set out in Action No.148 of the Climate Action Plan 2019 and Circular 20/2019. The following Green Public Procurement reporting requirements apply to all Departments: a) Each Department...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Flood Risk Management (13 May 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: As Minister for Finance, I am responsible for the development of the legal framework governing financial services regulation, including for the insurance sector. It is important at the outset to state that the provision of cover is a commercial matter for insurance companies. This is based on an assessment of the risks they are willing to accept. Consequently, neither I nor the Central Bank...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Real Estate Investment Trusts (18 May 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 284 to 286, inclusive, together. I am advised by Revenue that due to the small number (less than 10) of REITs that operate in Ireland and Revenue’s obligation to maintain the confidentiality of taxpayer information, specific quantitative information in relation to these entities cannot be provided. However, in relation to PQ 25712/21, I am...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Grant Payments (18 May 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: 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 Scheme is open to severely and permanently disabled persons as a driver or as a passenger and also to certain organisations. In order to qualify for relief an organisation must be entered in...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Farm Safety (18 May 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: At Report stage of the 2020 Finance Bill I introduced a new section to make provision for a Farm Safety and Disabilities Adaptation Equipment Accelerated Capital Allowances (ACA) scheme. Currently, capital allowances are available at 12.5% p.a. over eight years for agricultural equipment generally.  The scheme will provide for ACAs at 50% p.a. over two years for eligible specified farm...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (18 May 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, in Budget 2021 I announced that the 9% rate of value-added tax would apply from 1 November 2020 to 31 December 2021 to the supply of restaurant and catering services, guest and holiday accommodation and entertainment services such as admissions to cinemas, theatres, museums, fairgrounds, and amusement parks.  Future tax changes are generally taken in the...