Results 11,761-11,780 of 32,892 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Motor Insurance Costs (16 Jan 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy should note at the outset that in my role as Minister for Finance I am responsible for the development of the legal framework governing financial regulation. Neither I nor the Central Bank can interfere in the provision or pricing of insurance products, as these matters are of a commercial nature, and are determined by insurance companies based on the risks they are willing to...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector Regulation (16 Jan 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 205 and 206 together. Cryptocurrencies and their exchanges or platforms are currently not regulated and do not currently require an authorisation or licence from the Central Bank of Ireland.  On 12 December 2013 the EBA published a warning to consumers on virtual currencies, and on 4 July 2014 issued an opinion recommending that national supervisory...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Costs (16 Jan 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: As Minister for Finance, I am responsible for the development of the legal framework governing financial regulation.  Neither I nor the Central Bank of Ireland can interfere in the provision or pricing of insurance products, as these matters are of a commercial nature, and are determined by insurance companies based on an assessment of the risks they are willing to accept.  This...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: IBRC Liquidation (16 Jan 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by the Special Liquidators of IBRC that no refunds have been made or compensation issued by them in respect of payment protection insurance charged by the former building society referred to in your question. The Special Liquidators further advise that former customers may contact the Office of the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman to request that office to review and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jan 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government disagrees profoundly with the Commission's analysis in the Apple State aid case and is challenging the Commission's decision before the European Courts. The Irish authorities engaged fully with the Commission throughout the State aid investigation. This involved a significant degree of legal and technical complexity, and additional expertise has been engaged where...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: State Aid Investigations (16 Jan 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Notwithstanding the appeal in the Apple State Aid case and the difference in view between Ireland and the Commission on the issue, the Government is committed to complying with the binding legal obligations the Commission’s Final Decision places on Ireland. Apple therefore must be deprived of the benefit of the alleged aid and this involves two actions: - The calculation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Rebates (16 Jan 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that the VAT refund to the person concerned was paid into his bank account on 9 January 2018.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (16 Jan 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I am informed by Revenue that for inheritance tax purposes, the relationship between the person who provides the inheritance (i.e. the disponer) and the person who receives the inheritance (i.e. the beneficiary) determines the maximum amount known as the “Group threshold” below which inheritance tax does not arise. There are three separate Group thresholds based on the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: House Sales (16 Jan 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I assume from the question asked that the person in question is in arrears.  The Central Bank has informed me that its approach to mortgage arrears resolution is focused on ensuring the fair treatment of borrowers through a strong consumer protection framework and ensuring that lenders have appropriate arrears resolution strategies and operations in place.  The Code of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services Regulation (16 Jan 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: For the purpose of this reply, I assume that the Deputy is referring to financial activities governed by the Insurance Distribution Directive (the IDD), the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) and the Central Bank of Ireland’s Consumer Protection Code 2012 (the CPC). In recent years, the European Commission has focused on Consumer Protection with regard the provision...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: State Properties Data (16 Jan 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: In response to the Deputy's question, my Department manages and controls the shared accommodation needs of both the Department of Finance and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in respect of Departmental staff occupying  accommodation within the State’s buildings portfolio.  My Department  is not involved in any direct rental of buildings occupied...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Stamp Duty (16 Jan 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: On 10 October 2017, in Budget 2018, the Deputy will be aware that I increased the rate of Stamp Duty on transfers of non-residential property from 2% to 6%. The Finance Act 2017 provides that, in general, the increased rate of duty applies in respect of all instruments relating to the transfer of non-residential property executed on or after 11 October 2017. The old rate of 2%...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Housing Loans (16 Jan 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Developers are not regulated financial service providers and their actions are not a matter for the Department of Finance so my Department is not undertaking any examinations into reports that developers are no longer accepting "subject to loan approval" clauses in contracts for house sales. I am aware that the Deputy has put a similar question to the Minister for Housing, Planning and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Interest Relief Eligibility (16 Jan 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that Section 244 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides for mortgage interest relief in respect of qualifying interest paid in a tax year.  In order to qualify for the relief, a loan must be exclusively used to purchase, repair, develop or improve the principal private residence of the claimant. In the case to which the Deputy refers, while the loan was...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme (16 Jan 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and VRT on the purchase of an adapted car for transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities, payment of a fuel grant, and an exemption from Motor Tax. To qualify for the Scheme an applicant must be in possession of a Primary Medical Certificate. To qualify for a...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Yield (16 Jan 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that the information furnished on a VAT return does not require the yield from particular trades or activities to be separately identified; with the result that the amount of VAT collected from the Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy cannot be identified from Revenue data. An estimate of the VAT collected on the PSO levy based on figures published by the Commission...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme (16 Jan 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The qualifying provisions for the Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme are contained in Statutory Instrument No. 353 of 1994 (Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994.  Regulations 8 (disabled drivers), 10 (disabled passengers) and 12 (organisations) provide that a vehicle must be “purchased” by the person or organization. The...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Commemorative Coins (16 Jan 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The Central Bank of Ireland acts as agent for the Minister for Finance in issuing all legal Irish coin, both circulating coins and commemorative coins. The Central Bank is the sole body with the statutory authority to issue coin as legal tender in Ireland. The Central Bank is aware that there are private companies within the market that offer coin-like objects and medals for sale...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: State Investments (16 Jan 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I am informed by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) that the Exchequer held no American treasury bonds during 2017. However, I am informed by the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) that as of 31 December 2017, the ISIF held, in its Global Portfolio (which comprises a globally diversified portfolio of investments) American treasury bonds and bills with a value of €11.1m.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage to Rent Scheme Administration (16 Jan 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department has no role in sanctioning expenditure in respect of the proposed new Mortgage to Rent Scheme. The Mortgage to Rent Scheme is managed by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.