Results 26,761-26,780 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Credits (17 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 336 and 337 together. Finance Act 2022 introduced the Rent Tax Credit, which is provided for in section 473B of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. This is an income tax credit of up to €500 per year (or up to €1,000 for jointly assessed couples) which may be claimed in respect of qualifying rent paid in 2022 and 2023. Finance Act 2023 increased...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Legislative Measures (17 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: My Department has been working with the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) as part of the NTMA on the most appropriate way to address the issues raised by the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023 which was brought forward by Deputy John Brady. The engagement by my officials with relevant stakeholders including the NTMA and the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Resolution Processes (17 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: The Deputy will be aware that the Central Bank of Ireland publishes mortgage arrears statistics on a quarterly basis. These are publicly available on the Bank's webpage. I have been informed by the Central Bank of Ireland that quarterly mortgage arrears statistics have been collected since September 2009. The end year long-term arrears are provided for the years 2009 to 2022 in the table...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Illicit Trade (17 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 343 and 345 together. Revenue has primary responsibility for the prevention, detection, interception and seizure of controlled drugs intended to be smuggled or illegally imported into, or exported from, the State. I am advised by Revenue that its drugs interdiction strategy supports the Government’s strategic approach to the misuse of drugs under the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Revenue Commissioners (17 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: I am advised that Revenue currently operates 25 dog detector teams, including one team working on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The year one cost of each detector dog team is approximately €100,000. This includes the cost of a trained detector dog, salary of the handler, training for the handler with the dog, transport, and kennelling arrangements....

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Data (17 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 346, 347, 348, 349, 350 and 360 together. The Tax Debt Warehousing Scheme has offered valuable and practical liquidity support to businesses during the COVID pandemic and continues to support businesses as they recover from the impacts of the pandemic and the cost of living crisis. It has assisted businesses with their cash-flow during difficult trading...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services (17 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: As Minister for Finance, I am precluded from intervening in commercial and operational decisions in any particular bank, even one in which the State has a shareholding. Decisions in this regard are the sole responsibility of the board and management of the banks, which must be run on an independent and commercial basis. This independence is protected by a Relationship Framework which is a...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Vehicle Registration Tax (17 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: I am advised by Revenue that each application for exemption or relief from Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) under the Vehicle Registration Tax (Permanent Reliefs) Regulations 1993 is considered on a case-by-case basis. Such applications may, where appropriate, include the consideration of ‘normal residence’ criteria as defined in the Regulations. A taxpayer has the right to...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Primary Medical Certificates (17 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: The final report of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) Transport Working Group's review of mobility and transport supports including the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme (DDS), endorsed proposals for a modern, fit-for-purpose vehicle adaptation scheme in line with international best practice that would replace the DDS, as it is no longer fit-for-purpose on any...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Business Supports (17 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that applications can be made through the SBCI Hub for funding under both the growth and sustainability elements of the Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme (GSLS). Successful applicants will receive an eligibility code which they can provide to a participating on-lender. AIB and Finance Ireland are currently accepting applications under both elements...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services (17 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: The practice of payment service providers charging consumers a surcharge for making payments with credit or debit cards is prohibited under Article 62 of the second Payments Service Directive (PSD2). PSD2 states that a payee shall not request charges for the use of a payment instrument for which interchange fees are regulated under the Interchange Fee Regulation, which includes consumer...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Fiscal Policy (17 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) portfolio is constructed within the legislative framework set for it by the Oireachtas. ISIF has a Sustainable & Responsible Investment Strategy (S&RIS) which reflects a commitment to be a responsible investor as steward of public assets by protecting and enhancing both the long-term value of the ISIF and the reputation of the National...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Collection (17 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: Local Property Tax (LPT) is a self-assessed tax where residential property owners are obliged to determine the amount of tax payable by selecting the appropriate valuation band for their property on their LPT return and making payment arrangements each year for the tax due. Where LPT payment or deferral arrangements are not made, property owners may be subject to mandatory deduction at...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Official Engagements (17 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: During my visit to the West Coast of the United States, I did not meet with the CEO or any other representative of Visa. I did meet with key IDA client companies across the technology, internet and pharma sectors and participated in Enterprise Ireland engagements focused on healthcare and technology. In addition, I had a series of appointments in the Los Angeles area related to creative...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Data (17 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: The application of the 10% rate of stamp duty to certain acquisitions of residential property is provided for in section 31E of the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999, as introduced by the Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021. I am advised by Revenue that, based on returns for the period since the commencement of the Section, the available information for 2021, 2022 and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs (17 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: Section 477C of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (TCA) requires that applicants for the Help to Buy (HTB) scheme must be first-time purchasers, which is defined as: " 'first-time purchaser' means an individual who, at the time of a claim under subsection (3) has not, either individually or jointly with any other person, previously purchased or previously built, directly or indirectly, on...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Data (17 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: I am advised by Revenue that the Department of Social Protection (DSP) requests a file of the Class S contributions from Revenue at the end of December each year, after the self-employed return filing deadline. Revenue has confirmed to me that, while there was a technical issue which resulted in a slight delay in producing the file for the 2022 tax year by the end of December 2023,...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (17 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: The application of VAT to goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law, with which Irish VAT law must comply. The EU VAT Directive provides a common framework of rules and principles which are to be applied across the EU by the various Member States. The VAT Directive also provides that Member States may be permitted to maintain certain historic national arrangements,...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Electric Vehicles (17 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 364 and 365 together. I am advised by Revenue that the total number of VRT Category A registrations by county for 2023 is set out in the following table. County Total Registrations Electric Vehicle Registrations Carlow 1,575 217 Cavan 2,020 181 Clare...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Economic Sanctions (17 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: EU sanctions have a direct effect in all Member States of the EU, and are legally binding on all natural and legal persons. Ireland has strongly supported sanctions in response to Russia’s unjust and illegal invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022, while also consistently emphasising the importance of effective implementation. Twelve packages of sanctions have been agreed by the EU to...