Results 24,761-24,780 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Housing Provision (30 Mar 2023)

Michael McGrath: The Irish funding landscape has undergone significant change since the Global Financial Crisis in 2008. In order to address the current imbalance between supply and demand of housing across all tenure types, the Government's Housing for All plan aims to significantly increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This is an ambitious plan which will...

Finance Bill 2023: Financial Resolution (18 Apr 2023)

Michael McGrath: I move: (1) THAT the rate of value-added tax chargeable on the supply and installation of solar panels on or adjacent to immovable goods, being private dwellings, at present chargeable at the rate of 13.5 per cent, be reduced to zero per cent with effect on and from 1 May 2023, and that accordingly — (a) Schedule 2 to the Value-Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010 (No. 31 of 2010),...

Finance Bill 2023: Financial Resolution (18 Apr 2023)

Michael McGrath: I thank all Deputies for their contributions and overall support for this measure. I will seek to address a number of the questions that have been raised. One question related to the reason the installation of solar panels is now permitted to attract a zero rate. That is a specific change that was made as a result of the 2022 VAT directive. One of the options that directive provides for...

Finance Bill 2023: Financial Resolution (18 Apr 2023)

Michael McGrath: It is not supply only so someone can go in and-----

Finance Bill 2023: Financial Resolution (18 Apr 2023)

Michael McGrath: Someone can go into a shop and purchase a solar panel, and the VAT will be zero on that.

Finance Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Apr 2023)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputies from the Rural Independent Group for proposing these amendments. I also thank all the Deputies who contributed to the discussion. We had a detailed discussion on this issue on Committee Stage but I welcome the opportunity to go through the issue again and address the thrust of the amendments proposed by the Rural Independent Group. The amendments seek to extend...

Finance Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Apr 2023)

Michael McGrath: The debate has morphed into whether you are for or against EVs. That is not the thrust of the issue we are discussing tonight.

Finance Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Apr 2023)

Michael McGrath: That is not the issue at hand. The question is whether you agree that the BIK regime should apply differently depending on whether you have a 3 l diesel vehicle or a much more environmentally friendly vehicle, which does not have to be an EV. That is what the table provides for. We have categories A to E and the more you move towards categories C, D and E, the higher the rate of BIK is....

Finance Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Apr 2023)

Michael McGrath: This debate is not about EVs and the amendment brought forward on Committee Stage is not about EVs.

Finance Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Apr 2023)

Michael McGrath: The Deputies have made the debate all about whether somebody is for or completely against EVs and that is not the purpose of the issue. When this change was made back in 2019, many businesses changed the fleets of vehicles they had and they were incentivised to do so. I acknowledge that not all of them were in a position to do so and it was the employees who had to pay an extra price by way...

Finance Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Apr 2023)

Michael McGrath: -----on 1 January. I refer to extra tax-----

Finance Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Apr 2023)

Michael McGrath: -----in the form of BIK.

Finance Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Apr 2023)

Michael McGrath: That is why I made an intervention, in the interests of fairness.

Finance Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Apr 2023)

Michael McGrath: I looked at the range of examples of how this was impacting individuals. Some of the changes were significant and hurt people at a time when many people are struggling anyway. I acknowledge and accept that and that is why I have made the change. In the amendments, the Deputies are asking for us to sign up to the changes I have made permanently. I am not prepared to do that because it is...

Vacant Homes Tax: Motion [Private Members] (19 Apr 2023)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputies from the Social Democrats for raising this issue and tabling this motion. I reiterate that the Government wants to see vacant homes occupied. I agree with many of the points that have been made. These are properties that are already there and are fully serviced and habitable. If they are not habitable, they are derelict and do not fall under the vacant homes tax in...

Vacant Homes Tax: Motion [Private Members] (19 Apr 2023)

Michael McGrath: I draw the Deputies' attention to the data compiled by the Revenue Commissioners. In total, 57,206 properties were indicated by their owners as being vacant as at 1 November 2021, according to the provisional analysis published by the Revenue Commissioners. It is interesting to look at the reasons for the vacancy. That information was sought by the Revenue Commissioners. About 22% of the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Schemes (18 Apr 2023)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 345, 346, 364, 365, 366 and 376 together. As the Deputies are aware the previous members of the DDMBA resigned effective from 30November 2021. Since then two Expression of Interest campaigns have been held, seeking suitable candidates for the Board. The Department of Health has led on all actions and tasks with respect to the Expression of Interest...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (18 Apr 2023)

Michael McGrath: I am advised by Revenue that based on stamp duty returns for 2022, the latest year available, the estimated cost of abolishing stamp duty for first-time buyers of homes of less than €500k and for homes of less than €1 million in a full year is in the order of €47 million and €56 million respectively. This estimate is arrived at by firstly taking the stamp duty...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Legislative Programme (18 Apr 2023)

Michael McGrath: During my time as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform I commissioned a Review of Ireland's Statutory Framework for Ethics in Public Office. I am happy to inform the Deputy that the Government approved the publication of the Review in December 2022 and also agreed to the preparation of a General Scheme for legislative reform informed by the Review's...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Staff (18 Apr 2023)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that there are currently 6 staff from my Department working with the European Union in Brussels, in addition to 2 Central Bank of Ireland staff who are currently seconded to the Department of Finance working with the European Union. 4 staff are based in the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union (Perm Rep), whose roles and position are as...