Results 8,701-8,720 of 9,274 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Budget 2025 (5 Nov 2024)

Jack Chambers: Inflation has eased considerably this year and has been running at or below 2 per cent since March. Indeed, inflation was just 0.1 per cent in October, among the lowest rates in the euro area. While much of the easing in headline inflation is due to falling energy prices, core inflation (i.e. excluding energy and food prices) has also eased considerably and is now below 2 per cent. ...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Primary Medical Certificates (7 Nov 2024)

Jack Chambers: The Deputy should note that my Department and I share concerns that the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme or DDS is no longer fit-for-purpose and believe it should be replaced with a needs-based, grant-led approach for necessary vehicle adaptations that could serve to improve the functional mobility of the individual. However, this is very much a matter for Government as...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Employment Rights (7 Nov 2024)

Jack Chambers: On 20 October 2023, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, delivered an important judgment on the key factors to be considered when classifying an individual’s employment status for Irish income tax purposes. The detailed judgment was delivered by Mr. Justice Brian Murray in The Revenue Commissioners v. Karshan (Midlands) Ltd. t/a Domino’s Pizza. The case was concerned...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Primary Medical Certificates (7 Nov 2024)

Jack Chambers: The Deputy should note that my Department and I share concerns that the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme or DDS is no longer fit-for-purpose and believe it should be replaced with a needs-based, grant-led approach for necessary vehicle adaptations that could serve to improve the functional mobility of the individual. However, this is very much a matter for Government as...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Industry (7 Nov 2024)

Jack Chambers: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 76 together. Insurance reform is a priority for this Government, and is being delivered via the Action Plan for Insurance Reform. This whole-of-Government initiative is designed to ensure the affordability and accessibility of this key financial service. The vast bulk of objectives contained within the Action Plan are now complete, and the importance...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Industry (7 Nov 2024)

Jack Chambers: Insurance reform is a key priority for this Government and is being delivered via the Action Plan for Insurance Reform. The latest Implementation Report demonstrates that significant progress has been made, with 95 percent of the actions contained in the Action Plan now either delivered or initiated. The establishment of the Office to Promote Competition in the Insurance Market is a...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (7 Nov 2024)

Jack Chambers: As the Deputy is aware, the overall Government response relating to the defective concrete blocks grant scheme is led by my colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage who has put in place a scheme of financial support to help affected homeowners. As part of this engagement, I am aware that the Minister for Housing has established an Implementation Steering Group to...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (7 Nov 2024)

Jack Chambers: I understand the very difficult situation faced by homeowners whose houses are affected by defective concrete blocks and, as the Deputy is aware, the Government response on this issue is led by my colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. In relation to impacted households who have a mortgage with a Central Bank regulated entity, the provisions of the relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Small and Medium Enterprises (7 Nov 2024)

Jack Chambers: SMEs are the foundation of the Irish economy, accounting for the majority of employment in the State. Their vital importance to our economy is reflected in our Programme for Government commitments. The tax system contains a number of incentives and reliefs designed to support SMEs. This Government has been proactive in both reviewing these measures and introducing targeted new supports, and I...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Small and Medium Enterprises (7 Nov 2024)

Jack Chambers: Small and medium enterprises are the life-blood of the Irish economy, accounting for the majority of employment in the State, and this government is committed to supporting small businesses so they can continue to thrive. SME’s vital importance to our economy is reflected in our Programme for Government commitments. As Minister for Finance I have proactively engaged with SMEs and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Small and Medium Enterprises (7 Nov 2024)

Jack Chambers: I am advised by Revenue that the periodic VAT returns represent a high-level summary in respect of VAT payable and/or VAT reclaimable and do not provide sufficiently detailed data to support the type of analysis sought by the Deputy. Regarding payment difficulties, Revenue’s clear preference is always to engage with taxpayers and businesses, and, where possible, to agree mutually...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Reports (7 Nov 2024)

Jack Chambers: As the Deputy is aware, overall housing policy is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. In relation to the availability of funding for residential development specifically, viability remains the primary challenge for securing funding for residential housing development. When a project is viable, funding is available. However, as...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Data (7 Nov 2024)

Jack Chambers: Vacant Homes Tax (VHT) is administered by Revenue in accordance with Part 22B of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (TCA 1997). A residential property will be within the scope of the tax if it has been occupied as a dwelling for less than 30 days in a chargeable period. Each chargeable period commences on 1 November and ends on 31 October of the following year. The first chargeable period...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Economic Policy (7 Nov 2024)

Jack Chambers: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 83 together. The Irish economy is in relatively good shape at an aggregate level, reflecting the easing in inflation and the solid growth in the domestic economy over recent quarters. The brightest spot in the Irish economy has undoubtedly been the labour market. There were over 2.75 million people in employment in the second quarter of 2024 as...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Priorities (7 Nov 2024)

Jack Chambers: The Irish economy is in relatively good shape at an aggregate level, reflecting the easing in inflationary pressures, the solid growth in the domestic economy and strength of the labour market. The brightest spot in the Irish economy has undoubtedly been the labour market, with over 2.75 million people in employment in the second quarter of 2024. The unemployment rate is also expected to...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Data (7 Nov 2024)

Jack Chambers: Vacant Homes Tax (VHT) is administered by Revenue in accordance with Part 22B of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (TCA 1997). A residential property will be within the scope of the tax if it has been occupied as a dwelling for less than 30 days in a chargeable period. Each chargeable period commences on 1 November and ends on 31 October of the following year. VHT operates on a...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Transport Policy (7 Nov 2024)

Jack Chambers: The existing vehicle tax structures in the State have a very strong environmental rationale, with the more pollutant, fossil-fuelled cars paying higher rates of tax, between Motor Tax, Benefit-in-Kind (BIK), Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) and the Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) charge. In contrast, lower emission cars are subject to lower rates of tax. The current policy approach to carbon tax which...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs (7 Nov 2024)

Jack Chambers: Tax relief for trade union subscriptions was previously provided for under section 472C of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. The relief was introduced in 2001 and abolished from 2011 onward (in line with the National Recovery Plan and with a view to widening the tax base). A review of the appropriate treatment for tax purposes of trade union subscriptions and professional body fees was...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Exemptions (7 Nov 2024)

Jack Chambers: The Climate Action Performance Payment Scheme is part of the Ash Dieback Action Plan for forest owners impacted by ash dieback disease, published by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). Payments under the scheme, totalling €5,000 per hectare, may be paid by DAFM in three instalments to grant aided ash forest owners (including forest owners who are farmers) who...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Exemptions (7 Nov 2024)

Jack Chambers: The income tax age exemption applies for any year of assessment where an individual is aged 65 years or over and his or her total income does not exceed €18,000 per annum. Where an individual is a married person or civil partner and is jointly assessed to tax, the age exemption will apply where either individual is aged 65 or over and where the couple’s total income does not...