Results 12,421-12,440 of 32,924 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service Renewal Plan (21 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy will be aware that the Civil Service Mobility scheme is one of a number of arrangements to be put in place to fulfil the requirements of Action 15 of the Civil Service Renewal Plan which calls to ‘Expand career and mobility opportunities for staff across geographic, organisational and sectorial boundaries’.  The scheme is being phased in with Phase 1A for the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Retirements (21 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 53517/2017 on 14 December 2017. The legislation is on the list of priority legislation for publication in the Spring/Summer Session 2018. 

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Primary Medical Certificates Eligibility (22 Feb 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...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Data (22 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Finance Act 2015 introduced a new relief for landlords who commit to let their property to tenants in receipt of social housing supports for a minimum period of three years.  It allows landlords to claim an increased expense deduction for mortgage interest in their rental accounts – they will be able to claim 100% of relevant mortgage interest, in place of the 85% generally...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Freedom of Information Requests (22 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department endeavours to comply with the decision deadlines set out in the Freedom of Information Act 2014. However, the scope of work of the Department, especially in preparing the Budget, the Finance Bill, and associated Oireachtas briefings, sometimes delays the processing of freedom of information requests. In relation to the two freedom of information requests referred to by the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs Eligibility (22 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, the Home Renovation Incentive (HRI) provides a tax relief by way of an income tax credit in respect of repair, renovation or improvements works on principal private residences or rental properties where the works are carried out by tax compliant contractors.  The repair, renovation or improvement works must have been carried out on or after 25 October 2013...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Rebates (22 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 47 together. The Value Added Tax (Refund of Tax) (No 15) Order 1981 provides for the refund of VAT on certain aids and appliances used by disabled persons. I am advised by The Revenue Commissioners that the table below sets out the number of VAT claims and amounts refunded in accordance with the Order for the years 2014 to 2017 (inclusive). No...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Rate Application (22 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The Value-Added Tax (Refund of Tax) (No. 15) Order, 1981 enables VAT paid on qualifying goods, such as aids and appliances constructed or adapted for use by a disabled person, to be refunded where the goods are purchased for the exclusive use of disabled persons suffering a specified degree of disablement. I am advised by The Revenue Commissioners that motor vehicles are excluded...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Fiscal Policy (22 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 50 together. There are two specific changes to the Exchequer Borrowing Requirement (EBR) as published in the Economic and Fiscal Outlook for Budget 2018. These forecasts cover the period to 2021. The first relates to the passing of the Water Services Bill 2017 into law. As explained in the Economic and Fiscal Outlook, Chapter 7 'Budgetary Reform', Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Inflation Rate (22 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Inflation in Ireland and other developed economies has been subdued for a prolonged period. While inflation picked up elsewhere last year, inflation in Ireland remained close to zero. Overall HICP inflation averaged just 0.3 per cent last year, the fifth consecutive year of inflation below 1 per cent. By contrast, inflation in the euro area as a whole, on a HICP basis, averaged 1.5 per cent...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Economic Policy (22 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Although the economic recovery has been much faster than anticipated, developments in the labour market, which is probably the best barometer of the Irish economy given distortions to GDP and GNP, suggest that the economy is not yet operating at full capacity. While unemployment has fallen rapidly to 6.1 per cent in January, from a peak of 16 per cent in 2012, this is still above the level...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Stability and Growth Pact (22 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 54 together. The level of gross voted capital expenditure for 2018 of €5.8 billion set out in Table 3.1 of the National Development Plan, which is the same as the level set out in the 2018 Revised Estimates Volume, is consistent with the general government expenditure forecasts included in Budget 2018.  Therefore, the forecasts for both...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Union Lending (22 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The Credit Union and Co-Operation with Overseas Regulators Act 2012 introduced changes to the Credit Union Act, 1997 (the 1997 Act). Since 1 January 2016, section 43 of the 1997 Act provides that the Central Bank may prescribe investments in which a credit union may invest its funds. Following engagement with the credit union sector on proposals for credit unions to provide funding...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Cycle to Work Scheme (22 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 57 together. The Cycle to Work Scheme exempts (from income tax, employee PRSI and USC) the benefit-in-kind (BIK) arising from the provision of a bicycle / cycle safety equipment by an employer to an employee (or director), where the bicycle is used by the employee to cycle to and from work or between workplaces. I have no plans to amend the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Loan Books Purchasers (22 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Addressing high NPL ratios is one of the key priorities of the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM). PTSB’s latest published NPL ratio of 28% is one of the highest in the Eurozone. It is over five times the European average. Therefore, PTSB must deliver a significant reduction in its NPL ratio, and within a timeframe, that meets the expectations of the SSM. Given the volume of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Fiscal Policy (22 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will recall, on 31 January last I appeared before the Oireachtas Budgetary Oversight Committee to discuss the proposal to establish a Rainy Day Fund. That engagement was part of the consultation between my Department and the Oireachtas, following the publication of my Department’s Rainy Day Fund consultation paper along with Budget 2018 last October. At the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Sale of State Assets (22 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, the State currently owns c. 71% of the shares in AIB, 14% of the shares in Bank of Ireland, and c. 75% of the shares in Permanent TSB. Following the IPO of AIB last year all three of our bank investments are now listed on the main markets of the Irish and London stock exchanges, providing...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Revenue Commissioners Data (22 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that the data requested by the Deputy cannot be compiled in the time available. I will write to the Deputy directly in the matter when the available data is provided to me by Revenue. The table sets out the overall tax debt for each of the years 2013 – 2016, as published by Revenue, in its annual report for each of those years. YEAR Total Debt €...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: European Central Bank (22 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: As Minister for Finance, I nominated the Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland, Professor Philip Lane, earlier this month for the position of Vice-President of the European Central Bank.  This was on the basis that Professor Lane is an exceptionally well-qualified candidate who would make an ideal person to serve on the Executive Board of the European Central Bank.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Central Bank of Ireland Staff (22 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to clarify for the Deputy that where vacancies in the positions of deputy governors and directors of the Central Bank of Ireland arise, open competitions are the usual method of filling the vacancies. The current Governor was also appointed by open competition. The legislative background for filling vacancies for the positions of governor, deputy governors and directors of the Central...