Results 15,241-15,260 of 32,961 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Bank Codes of Conduct (8 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, I have long been on the record as stating that there are cultural failings in the banking sector that must be addressed. I and my colleagues in Government are supportive of measures to change behaviour, operations and organisational culture within the financial sector, in order to keep the customer at the heart of its operations. The Central Bank's proposals...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: EU Issues (8 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 45 together. The Deputy will be aware that the Commission proposal for an interim Digital Services Tax, which imposes a 3% levy on the turnover of certain companies’ digital activities, is currently being debated among Member States – both at a technical and political level. The Revenue carried out an analysis of the impact of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: European Central Bank (8 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: At its most recent meeting on 25 October 2018, the Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) confirmed that it will continue to make net purchases under the Asset Purchase Programme (APP), also known as Quantitative Easing (QE), at the new pace of €15 billion per month until the end of 2018. Subject to incoming data regarding the medium-term inflation outlook, the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services Sector (8 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: There has been much discussion in recent years about Blockchain and the potential impact it may have on many sectors, such as the financial services industry. Blockchain technology, or Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), is still in the early stages of development. Proof of concepts so far have shown the potential to deliver significant benefits in financial services and other sectors...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Fiscal Policy (8 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: As I have previously outlined, the concept of ‘fiscal space’ is no longer an appropriate one. This is because a myopic focus on what is technically permissible under the fiscal rules would lead to pro-cyclical budgetary policies that jeopardise the sustainability of our public finances. As such, in formulating budgetary policy the Government is instead guided by the fiscal...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: State Claims Agency (8 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 47 together. Setanta Insurance was placed into liquidation by the Malta Financial Services Authority on 30 April 2014. As it was a Maltese incorporated company, the liquidation is being carried out under Maltese law. The Deputy will be aware that the Insurance (Amendment) Act 2018 (Act 21 of 2018) was signed into law in July this year. The Act...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Brexit Negotiations (8 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Ireland's Brexit priorities are well known and include protecting the Northern Ireland Peace Process, minimising the impact on trade and the economy, maintaining the Common Travel Area and working to influencing the future of the European Union. We are now in the final stages of Article 50 negotiations and there is a need to conclude work on the Irish Protocol to ensure that all elements...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Union Lending (8 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy is aware, new Investment Regulations for Credit Unions have only recently come into effect which have enabled the sector for the first time to invest in Tier 3 Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). The introduction of this new Investment Framework was the result of extensive engagement between officials from my Department, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Data (8 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The Central Bank has advised that, apart from periodic data published by the Bank on mortgage lending (including for first time buyers) since the commencement of the Central Bank’s Macro Prudential Mortgage Lending Rules in 2015 (the most recent such publication which is for H1 2018 is attached: www.centralbank.ie/docs/default-source/publications/financia...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Credits (8 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that a Tax Credit Certificate in respect of the person in question issued to her employer on 2 November 2018. A copy of the Certificate also issued to the person at her home address. The Certificate issued on a ‘Week 1 basis’ as Revenue records did not include full information in respect of the person’s employment in 2018 to enable it to be issued...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs Application (8 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Finance Bill 2018 (as published) provides in sections 19 and 46 for a cumulative €70,000 lifetime cap on the benefit any one farmer can receive under three farming related tax reliefs (the young trained farmer stamp duty relief, stock relief for young trained farmers and succession farm partnerships). I am aware of the concerns raised by the farming bodies that have contacted me or...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Contracts (8 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department has not commissioned any projects of this nature.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works Expenditure (8 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the costs to date of remedial works to buildings commissioned by OPW as Design and Build projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. Reply There were two Design and Build Contracts, within the last 10 years to which the OPW was a party, involving remedial works. 1.Government Offices, Carricklawn, Wexford A contract was placed...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Equality Proofing of Budgets (8 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: As part of a suite of reforms to the public expenditure framework, performance-based budgeting was introduced across all areas of public expenditure in 2012. Under that remit an Equality Budgeting pilot for 2018 was announced on Budget Day last year. The approach we have taken in introducing Equality Budgeting in Ireland is that equality budgeting is to be integrated into the existing...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Metropolitan Area Networks Programme (8 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 57 together. The Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) contracts are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment.I understand that the Office of Government Procurement had no involvement in these contracts. The general position in relation to public procurement is that a competitive process conducted in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Government Procurement (8 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Public Procurement is a key element of Government’s Public Service Reform programme and the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) was established to lead on its implementation. The OGP’s functions include Sourcing, HR, Corporate Office, Customer Service, Systems and Data, eInvoicing, Policy and Construction Policy. The OGP commenced sourcing operations in 2014 and, together...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (8 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Procurement is a key element of the Government’s Public Service Reform agenda and, given the volume of the State’s spend, it is essential that the Public Service operates in a co-ordinated and efficient way and delivers sustainable savings for the taxpayer. The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) leads on the implementation of the reform programme and sets the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts Social Clauses (8 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Public procurement can be used to encourage suppliers to perform actions that are focussed on the inclusion of broader social policy considerations. In general, the inclusion of social considerations in a procurement process is most effective where the benefit is a core requirement and can be directly linked to objectives of the contract. The social objectives should be clear and verifiable...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (8 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Public Procurement is governed by EU legislation and National rules and guidelines. The aim of these rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money. Individual public bodies and contracting authorities are responsible for establishing arrangements for ensuring the proper conduct of their affairs, including...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (8 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Public Procurement is governed by EU legislation and National rules and guidelines. The aim of these is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money. The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) was established to lead on the implementation of the Government’s Public Procurement Reform programme. The OGP has...