Results 25,281-25,300 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Universal Social Charge (22 Jun 2023)

Michael McGrath: -----on workers and others who pay income tax in budget 2024. That will be done. I look forward to seeing the Deputy's pre-budget submission.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Universal Social Charge (22 Jun 2023)

Michael McGrath: I hope that he will support income tax reductions this year.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Crime Prevention (22 Jun 2023)

Michael McGrath: Although primary responsibility for combating all forms of crime and corruption lies with the Minister for Justice, my Department is eager to contribute to this task insofar as we can. An advisory council on economic crime and corruption was established in May 2022. Its establishment was one of the recommendations made in the review of structures and strategies to prevent, investigate and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Crime Prevention (22 Jun 2023)

Michael McGrath: The rise in this form of crime is a serious concern but I assure Deputy Doherty and the House that the advisory council is active. It met on 30 May last and it is working towards the development of a multi-annual strategy to combat economic crime and corruption. My officials in the Department of Finance are working closely with our colleagues in the Department of Justice to ensure that the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Crime Prevention (22 Jun 2023)

Michael McGrath: We are actively working on this issue. The advisory council, which came from the Hamilton report, is up and running. It has representatives from all of the key areas that would one expect across the Government and the private sector who are working to develop a comprehensive strategy to deal with what is a very significant issue of public concern. We are all seeing the increase in the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Primary Medical Certificates (22 Jun 2023)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 84 together. I thank Deputies Canney and McNamara for their questions. The disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme provides relief from vehicle registration tax, VRT, and value added tax, VAT, on the 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...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Primary Medical Certificates (22 Jun 2023)

Michael McGrath: This is urgent. The existing scheme dates back several decades. It is outdated. The terminology is outdated. It is not fit for purpose and we urgently need a new scheme. I support the thrust of what the Ombudsman has said in that regard. In my role, I have inherited a tax-based scheme which we will continue to operate until it is replaced by a new, more modern scheme. I have sought to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Primary Medical Certificates (22 Jun 2023)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputies. I have been of the view for quite some time, having examined individual cases, that a tax-based scheme based on the existing criteria for the primary medical certificate is not the way forward. I will continue to operate the existing scheme. We have made one significant improvement. We will get the appeals board back up and running and I will lend my full support to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mortgage Resolution Processes (22 Jun 2023)

Michael McGrath: Research has indicated that there is potential for existing mortgage holders to make mortgage savings by switching their mortgage. This is a particularly important consideration at a time of rising interest rates. In this regard, I have met the CEOs of the retail banks and a number of non-bank lenders and emphasised that they should take a consumer focused approach to encourage switching...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mortgage Resolution Processes (22 Jun 2023)

Michael McGrath: We need to see more switching activity, including from the non-bank sector to the banking sector. I have been very clear with the retail banks that I expect them to be receptive and welcoming of applications from customers who are currently in the non-bank sector. There will be mortgages that it will simply not be possible to switch. We are all aware of the requirement on banks to maintain...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mortgage Resolution Processes (22 Jun 2023)

Michael McGrath: I have already publicly said, and I am happy to repeat that statement, that the banks have an important role to play in facilitating and welcoming switchers from all parts of the financial sector, including from the non-bank sector. There are many inherently good mortgages which may technically be deemed to be a non-performing exposure but which can be cured in that technical sense because...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fiscal Policy (22 Jun 2023)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 89 together. I thank Deputy Smith for his question. On 10 May, my Department published a scoping paper titled Future Proofing the Public Finances – the Next Steps, which outlines some of the merits of establishing a long-term public savings vehicle in Ireland. The paper highlights that corporation tax receipts have effectively doubled since...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fiscal Policy (22 Jun 2023)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputies. They made some very valid points. They highlighted that there are many needs today. There are definite needs in the future. The demographic costs are real with respect to pensions, home care, nursing home care and so on. Those costs are real, we need to provide for them in the future and my colleagues have acknowledged that. We already have a significant national...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fiscal Policy (22 Jun 2023)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy and acknowledge he has been consistently making the case for more investment in road infrastructure, and not just new infrastructure but maintenance of our local and regional road networks. As he knows, there have been underspends in a number of Departments in recent years. We have engaged with the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, on the opportunity presented over the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disability Services (22 Jun 2023)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising this question. Following the resignation of all previous DDMBA members in November 2021, I had hoped that a new DDMBA would have been established by now and that the appeals process would have recommenced. The Deputy should note that five members are legislatively required for a functional board, however the recruitment of these members has proved to be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disability Services (22 Jun 2023)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy said, the working group reported back in February and reached the conclusion that the existing scheme is outdated. It needs to be replaced with a needs-based, grant-based scheme. Last week in the House, in responding to the report from the Ombudsman, the Taoiseach gave a commitment to convene a meeting of all the relevant Departments to work now on an solution urgently. I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disability Services (22 Jun 2023)

Michael McGrath: What is needed here is a whole-of-government approach. Dealing with these issues does not sit in any one silo or Department exclusively. I welcome the initiative the Taoiseach is undertaking to pull together the key Departments to devise a coherent and comprehensive response to the working group report and address the issues the Ombudsman has justifiably raised. This has taken too long....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Budget Process (22 Jun 2023)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for his question. While no decision has yet been formally made by the Government, the normal date for the budget is the second Tuesday in October and I anticipate that will be the date. The decision will be formally made by the Government when I and the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, bring a memo to Government to set the date. I expect we will do that very shortly.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Budget Process (22 Jun 2023)

Michael McGrath: An enormous amount of work has to go into the development and preparation of a budget on both the expenditure and the taxation sides. The Minister, Deputy Donohoe will have to go through a detailed round of Estimates, discussions and negotiations with all of his colleagues. The preparation of the documentation is quite a process. On my side, the taxation side, this year we have a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defective Building Materials (22 Jun 2023)

Michael McGrath: I met the banking and insurance defective block redress focus group yesterday to discuss its concerns, which included the issues raised by the Deputy. The focus of the meeting was on mortgages. I understand the very difficult situation faced by homeowners whose houses are affected by defective concrete blocks, and the Government is determined to assist households impacted by this terrible...