Results 26,881-26,900 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Contracts (30 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: The Department of Finance commissioned one report from Grant Thornton in the past five years, in 2019. The purpose was a review of the business model of the in-house print room. The cost was €23,985.00 and the contract ended with payment on 17 December 2019.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs (30 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 214, 218 and 220 together. The position is that Finance Act 2023 introduced the temporary one-year Mortgage Interest Tax Relief that I announced on Budget day. The tax relief will be available to taxpayers in respect of their principal private residence in the State where the outstanding mortgage balance was between €80,000 and €500,000 as of 31...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Revenue Commissioners (30 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: I am advised by Revenue that its office in Sarsfield House, Limerick is currently open to the public from 9.30am to 1.30pm, Monday to Friday, and assisted over 4,600 customers throughout 2023. If a customer wishes to schedule an appointment outside of the above opening hours, or avoid waiting times, they can arrange an in-person appointment by calling the Appointment Helpline on 01 738 3660...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: European Union (30 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: Potential reforms to the EU’s fiscal rules have been mooted for many years but discussions accelerated following the publication of a Commission ‘orientations’ document in November 2022, followed by legislative proposals last April. Intensive discussions on the proposed reforms took place throughout last year in the various technical sub-committees of ECOFIN. Political...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Waste Management (30 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: Directive 2015/2366/EU on Payment Services (PSD2) was transposed into Irish law by the European Union (Payment Services) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No.6 of 2018). The practice of payment service providers charging consumers a surcharge for making payments with credit or debit cards is prohibited under Regulation 86(6) of S.I. No.6 of 2018. Regulation 86(6) states that a payee shall not request...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Data (30 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: I am advised by Revenue that approximately 1.9 million taxpayer units earned less than €40,000 in 2021, the latest year for which fully analysed data are available.Of the 1.9 million taxpayer units, approximately 310,000 taxpayer units were recorded for tax purposes as married. The number of these who opted for joint assessment is not readily available in the data available for...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Primary Medical Certificates (30 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: The final report of the 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 and all aspects. The proposals note this...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Ministerial Staff (30 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: I wish to inform the Deputy that there are two civilian drivers assigned to the Minister of State. Hours of attendance for civilian drivers are fixed from time to time but amount to, on average, not less than 41 hours and 15 minutes gross per week. The working pattern for civilian drivers is seven days on and seven days off on a week-on week-off basis. Annual hours vary depending on leave...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (30 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware, in 2022 in light of the acute impact rising prices were having on households and business, Government provided for excise rate reductions in the order of 21, 16 and 5.4 cent per litre on petrol, diesel and Marked Gas Oil (MGO) respectively. These temporary reductions were due to end initially on 31 August 2022 but following review and monitoring of fuel prices...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Revenue Commissioners (30 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: The VAT treatment of goods and services is subject to EU VAT law, with which Irish VAT law must comply. My reply to the Deputy’s previous question (PQ 3019/24 of 23 January 2024), explained that, in accordance with the Directive, Section 86 of the Value-Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010 provides for the Flat-rate Farmers Scheme, and that this arrangement, which is unique to the farming...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Schemes (30 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: The Deputy should note at the outset that the final report of the 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: Medical Aids and Appliances (31 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: I am advised by Revenue that the VAT treatment of goods and services is subject to EU VAT law, with which Irish VAT law must comply. In general, the Directive provides that all goods and services are liable to the standard rate of VAT unless they fall within categories of goods and services specified in Annex III of the VAT Directive, in respect of which Member States may apply a lower rate...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Climate Action Plan (31 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware, Progress Reports on the Climate Action Plans are prepared by the Department of the Taoiseach and published each quarter. Quarterly progress reports are available online at : www.gov.ie/en/publication/55fde-climate-action-important-pub lications/ Environmental reforms to the taxation system are considered as part of the annual budgetary cycle.Background detail and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (31 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: At the outset, the Deputy should note that the VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law, with which Irish VAT law must comply. In general, the EU VAT Directive provides that all goods and services are liable to VAT at the standard rate (23% in Ireland), unless they fall within categories of goods and services specified in Annex III of the VAT Directive, in...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Motor Fuels (31 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware, in 2022 in light of the acute impact rising prices were having on households and business, Government provided for excise rate reductions in the order of 21, 16 and 5.4 cent per litre on petrol, diesel and Marked Gas Oil (MGO) respectively. These temporary reductions were due to end initially on 31 August 2022 but following review and monitoring of fuel prices...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services (31 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: As Minister for Finance, I am responsible for the development of the legal and policy framework governing financial regulation and 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...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Schemes (31 Jan 2024)

Michael McGrath: I am advised by Revenue that the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations, S.I. No. 353 of 1994 as amended provides for the repayment or remission of VAT and Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) on the purchase of an adapted vehicle for the transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities. Qualification for the scheme also provides access...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (1 Feb 2024)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy. If I may briefly respond to the first point he made, I am satisfied that the Revenue Commissioners will apply the law without fear or favour. I do not direct them on operational matters but they have all of the powers they need and they will fully discharge their responsibilities. They will engage directly with RTÉ and any other relevant parties to ensure all...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (1 Feb 2024)

Michael McGrath: The Government position on this is clear. It is our understanding and expectation that once a home is certified and remediated under the scheme, it will be treated for mortgage purposes in the same manner as any other home. This specific issue is being dealt with by the subgroup to which I referred. It met on 11 January. The focus was on the ability of the homes to be mortgaged. The...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (1 Feb 2024)

Michael McGrath: I am very much across the issues involved that are relevant to the work of the Department and the bodies that come under its aegis. The Department is part of the implementation steering group and the subgroup where these issues are being actively discussed. The ability of the homes to be mortgaged was the focus of the first meeting last month and there will be another meeting this month. I...