Results 17,001-17,020 of 32,983 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works Projects (26 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: A planning application was lodged for the State Data Centre on the 21-2-2019. The programme for detailed design, tender and construction is under review at present but it is expected that tenders will be sought in Q3 2019 and construction should commence in Q4 2019/Q1 2020. The construction period is expected to be 12 to 18 months.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Assessments (26 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Hazelhatch area of Celbridge, County Kildare was assessed as part of the Eastern Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Study. The Flood Risk Management Plans identified the need for a further study of the area to help identify any feasible option to manage the existing flood risk. This further study, being commissioned by Kildare County Council, is carrying out a detailed...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes (26 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The raising of roads in three areas was proposed as part of the Claregalway Flood Relief Scheme. While it has been possible to carry out this work in two locations (Montiagh South and a further stretch of the Montiagh North Road), it has not been possible to identify any practical working solutions to the difficulties associated with raising the third section of road which provides access...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Funding (26 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: No EU receipts were received by or channelled through my Department in 2017. My Department normally receives EU receipts in relation to the funding it provides for Technical Assistance for the two North South cross-border PEACE and INTERREG programmes. However no receipts were received in 2017 as the current round of programmes were at an early stage of implementation. My Department is also...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Home Building Finance Ireland Establishment (27 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: HBFI has been established as an independent, commercial entity to provide lending for new housing construction. As Minister for Finance I do not have any role in these commercial decisions and it is not appropriate for me to comment on individual credit applications. HBFI lending activities must be both commercial and comply with State aid rules. I am advised by HBFI that it intends to...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Motor Insurance Coverage (27 Feb 2019)

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 position is...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Agencies Expenditure (27 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am informed by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) that current contract for public relations was awarded to Gordon MRM on 3 May 2018. The duration of the contract is 3 years and may be extended by the NTMA for a further period or periods in aggregate of up to two years. Public Relations Year Details of Events, Campaigns or Policies Company or Individual Amount 2018...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: NAMA Expenditure (27 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by NAMA that receivers appointed to NAMA-secured properties are selected from NAMA's insolvency service provider panel which was established following a competitive public procurement process. I am advised that, arising from this process, very competitive fixed-fee rates were achieved relative to prevailing market norms. I am advised that, in general, fees are not paid to...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Amusement Machine Licences (27 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 69 together. In relation to PQ 9904/19, Gaming machines and amusement machines which are made available for play must have a valid excise licence issued by Revenue. Legislation for gaming machines is contained in the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 and the Finance Act 1975. Legislation for Amusement Machines is contained in the Finance Act 1992. An...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tracker Mortgage Examination (27 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Firstly, I must point out that the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) is independent in the performance of his statutory functions. I have no role in the day to day workings of the office or in the decisions which he takes. However the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman has informed me that while the Central Bank Examination was still underway individual tracker...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (27 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: In response to a question from the Deputy, on 2 May 2018 I advised the Dáil that “Irish Airlines Pensions has advised this Department that as a result of the deficit that exists on the Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (IASS) pension fund, it is not in a position to fully fund transfers effected through the Public Sector Transfer Network (PSTN). The rules of the PSTN require a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Contracts Data (27 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The details sought by the Deputy are not available centrally. The management of individual contracts is a matter for the relevant contracting authorities and my Department does not have a central coordination role in relation to contracts entered into by all state authorities. However information on the types of public works contracts that contracting authorities intend to use on public...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Preparations (28 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department’s budget 2019 macroeconomic forecasts, endorsed by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, IFAC, incorporate, as a central scenario, that the UK will make an orderly exit from the EU with a transition period until the end of 2020. Moreover, the impact of this assumption is to lower the level of GDP by almost 2 percentage points. This in turn feeds through to the fiscal...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Preparations (28 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Regarding the Deputy's first question, the figures I have available to me are very provisional because we are only approaching the end of February. For me to be able to give the Deputy an exact read on how I believe tax revenue for this year will decline on the basis of a disorderly Brexit is very difficult to do, but I will be in a position to do this when the ESRI has completed its work. ...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Preparations (28 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes, they have been. The Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Finance provided briefings to parties and Independent Deputies on the Brexit Bill last week. On Tuesday, the Cabinet agreed two further amendments I proposed to the Bill on the operation of duty free and the VAT refund scheme. That and all the other tax changes have been cleared by the Commission. I will make...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Banking Sector Regulation (28 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Corporation tax loss relief is provided for under section 396 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. It allows for losses incurred in the course of business to be accounted for when calculating the tax liability of a business. Loss relief is a long-standing feature of the Irish corporate tax system and is a standard feature of corporation tax systems in all OECD countries. It is available...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Banking Sector Regulation (28 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: We are treating banks the way we treat every other business. Every other business has the ability to treat its losses in a certain way. As the Deputy will be aware, the way losses are treated on the balance sheets of banks has an impact on banks' value and ability to perform. I did not indicate at any point that our banks are unprofitable. In many cases, they have returned to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Banking Sector Regulation (28 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The research I published, which the Deputy referred to, also stated that the way taxes and losses are treated on the balance sheets of banks has a significant effect on those balance sheets. If we were to change that treatment, there would be consequences for the ability of the banks to meet the needs of customers in a more cost-effective way. The Deputy knows, of course, what would happen...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Credit Union Lending (28 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Credit unions are already allowed to offer mortgages to their members. Indeed, a number of them do. As of September, there were mortgages worth €171 million outstanding across the sector, representing a 17% increase year on year. However, the amount of mortgage lending that credit unions can engage in is limited by the Central Bank's lending regulations for credit unions, which...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Credit Union Lending (28 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for recognising our acknowledgement of the credit union movement and the support that we have put in place for the sector in recent years. A review of whether it would be appropriate to allow the movement to play a larger role in the provision of mortgage loans is under way. I expect that work to come to an end later this year. It is appropriate that we allow it to...