Results 10,381-10,400 of 32,864 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Legislative Programme (3 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy will be aware that the Public Sector Standards Bill 2015 is currently at Committee Stage. With regard to the Government's legislative programme for the Autumn Session 2017, my Department has two Bills on the priority list for publication: - Appropriation Bill 2017; and - Public Service Pay and Pensions Bill 2017. The latter Bill is the result of merging the Financial Emergency...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2018 (3 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Unemployment has reduced from over 15% in early 2012 to 6.3% in August 2017. On the basis of the improving labour market, there have been reductions in expenditure on providing income supports for people who are unemployed. In arriving at estimates of fiscal space, an assumption is made about the level of Live Register related savings each year. The Expenditure Report 2017 set out...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2018 (3 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Mid-Year Expenditure Report published last July stated that Gross Current Expenditure would reach an estimated €54.8 billion in 2018. I have consistently highlighted the requirement to focus on the totality of this expenditure in assessing how best to deliver quality public services rather than the planned annual increment reflected in estimates of fiscal space. In this context...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Medicinal Products Expenditure (3 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Responsibility for pharmaceuticals is the responsibility for the Minister for Health. The introduction of new medicines is governed by the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 which sets out the responsibilities of the HSE and the Department with regard to this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Help-To-Buy Scheme (4 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I take it that the Deputy is referring to the possibility of a back-dating of eligibility for the Help-to-Buy Initiative (HTB) to before 19 July 2016. The commencement date for HTB was chosen as it was the date of the launch of 'Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness', in which the development of such a scheme for inclusion in the Budget was...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Data (4 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Central Bank has advised that, while rate rectification is almost complete for the majority of impacted customers identified to date, the redress and compensation phase of the Tracker Mortgage Examination is ongoing. Lenders are continuing to determine the exact circumstances and the impact of their failures for each individual account. Therefore, the Central Bank has...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (4 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I assume that the Deputy is referring to the €29.80 increase to certain social welfare benefits for a Qualified Child (IQC).  This is not a tax allowance but is a part of the social welfare benefit available to the individual. In 2017 the Increase for a Qualified Child is €29.80 per week. There is no generally available tax credit in respect of child dependants, but...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Operations (4 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy is aware, I have no role in the day-to-day management or financial reporting of any bank in which the State is a shareholder. Financial reporting obligations and accounting practices are matters solely for the Board and Management of each institution. Each of the SSM (Single Supervisory Mechanism) regulated institutions produces detailed, externally audited accounts in...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Corporation Tax (4 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 92 together. I note the publication by the US administration and Congressional leaders of a framework providing additional detail on their proposals for US tax reform. While a reduction to the US corporate tax rate and a move to a territorial system are expected to be part of any legislative proposal building on this announcement, the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Help-To-Buy Scheme (4 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will appreciate, with less than a week to go to Budget 2018, it would be inappropriate for me to comment at this point on what may or may not be contained in that Budget.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Industry (4 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the statutory independent body responsible for the enforcement of domestic and EU competition law in the State.  Section 9(5) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 provides that the CCPC is independent in the performance of its functions, including carrying out investigations of alleged anti-competitive practices....

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Budget Submissions (4 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department has so far received in the order of 370 Pre-Budget Submissions from a wide range of groups and individuals. These are being considered by the relevant officials in the context of Budget and Finance Bill preparation. I can confirm that a submission from Aid Link has been received. However, as the Deputy will be aware, it is not the practice of the Minister for Finance to discuss...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: IBRC Liquidation (4 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by the Special Liquidators of IBRC that the vast majority of assets remaining in the liquidation are tied to on-going litigation. For reasons of confidentiality and commercial sensitivity, the Special Liquidators cannot provide any further detail on these assets at this time. The Special Liquidators are committed to selling the remaining assets as quickly as is practical but...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Budget Submissions (4 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy may be aware, I have received a number of pre-Budget submissions proposing changes to the operation of income averaging for the farming sector.  Consideration of specific proposals with regard to income tax measures relating to the farming sector remain ongoing in the context of Budget 2018 deliberations.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (4 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department in liaison with the Department of Justice & Equality is currently processing  this particular appeal application. It is expected that a decision will be made shortly on the appeal and this outcome will be conveyed to the  persons concerned by the Department of Justice & Equality.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (4 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Public procurement is the acquisition, whether under formal contract or not, of works, supplies and services by public bodies.  National rules governing public procurement must comply with the relevant EU, WTO and national legal requirements and obligations.  Under EU law, public contracts above a certain value must be advertised EU-wide and awarded to the most competitive tender in...

Financial Resolutions 2018 - Budget Statement 2018 (10 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Budget day offers the opportunity to reflect on a journey made, to recognise both what our country has achieved and what we want to achieve. On this budget day, we build on progress that would have looked impossible only a few short years ago. Today, we redouble our efforts to rise to the challenges that exist while mapping our national response to the new risks but also to the new...

Financial Resolutions 2018 - Budget Statement 2018 (10 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Some €90 million is being allocated to roll out of a new access plan which will ensure that patients can avail of the medical care they need in the most appropriate setting for them. This will particularly benefit our most vulnerable patients as we enter the approaching winter. As part of the access plan, a total allocation of €55 million has been provided for the National...

Financial Resolutions 2018 - Budget Statement 2018 (10 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Some €40 million is being provided for primary care developments, which will allow a number of initiatives to go ahead. In particular, the Government looks forward to further progress in relation to the GP contract and we hope agreement can be reached on the introduction of additional services throughout 2018. I also acknowledge that continued investment in primary care, including...

Financial Resolutions 2018 - Budget Statement 2018 (10 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: This means that over 1,000 additional special needs assistants, SNAs, can be recruited in time for September 2018, bringing the total number of SNAs to over 15,000.