Results 17,421-17,440 of 32,983 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Revenue Commissioners Data (3 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that section 851A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 prevents it from commenting on the tax affairs of any taxpayer, or from providing information which might directly or indirectly identify a taxpayer. Revenue has also confirmed that the tax affairs of sporting bodies are monitored and risk-ranked in the same way as all other taxpayers. The types of interventions...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Retirements (3 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: On 5 December 2017 the Government made a Decision to increase the compulsory retirement age to 70, for public servants recruited prior to 1 April 2004. Primary legislation was necessary in order to bring that change into effect. It was made clear at the time that until such legislation was enacted, the compulsory retirement age of 65, which applied to the vast majority of this cohort,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Policy Functions (3 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: ‘Dignity at Work – an anti-bullying, harassment and sexual harassment policy for the Civil Service’ which came into effect from 20/02/2015 covers all of the Civil Service including the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.  The policy was developed in partnership between Civil Service management and staff unions and replaced the previous policy, ‘A...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Debt (4 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by the Central Bank of Ireland that it is aware that a regulated entity has written to a number of buy-to-let (BTL) borrowers in arrears and that it is engaged with that particular entity but cannot comment on the specifics of any individual firm. Any borrower who is concerned or who has received letters should contact their regulated entity directly. If they are not satisfied...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: State Bodies Data (4 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Details of the number and percentage of women on each State Board under the aegis of my Department on 8 March 2016 and 8 March 2019 are in the table: State Board 8th March 2016 8th March 2019 Central Bank Commission 3 – 30% 3 – 30% Credit Union Restructuring Board (ReBo) 2 – 16.66% 2 – 66.66% (Caretaker Board while awaiting dissolution) Financial Services...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Data (4 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 to 63, inclusive, together. I am advised by Revenue that Section 118 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, as amended, is the general charging provision for the taxation of benefits in kind. The section provides for a charge to income tax in respect of the provision of certain benefits in kind by a body corporate for a director or employee, which...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Housing Policy (4 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am aware of the recent report concerning the Irish housing market by the UN special rapporteur on the right to adequate housing. The Irish government recognises the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to which the Ireland has been a party since 8 December 1989. Article 11.1 of this Covenant recognises the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Costs (4 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department is currently working on developing legislative changes on insurance as part of the Consumer Insurance Contracts Bill 2017. As the Deputy is aware the purpose of the Bill is to reform and modernise the law of consumer insurance contracts and to "level the playing field so that the consumer is better equipped to stand up to the insurer". The Bill is based on the 2015 Law Reform...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Book Sales (4 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Central Bank of Ireland has advised that it cannot comment on specific transactions relating to regulated firms. In addition, the Central has commented as follows: “While the strategy and commercial decisions of lenders are ultimately matters for the boards of those lenders, the Central Bank, as supervisor, requires that when loans are sold, all statutory legal protections are...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Data (4 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I welcome the publication of the CSO’s report on the feasibility of collecting price information on the cost of insurance to businesses, which was published in February 2019. Increasing the availability of data in relation to Employer and Public Liability Insurance is a matter which was discussed by the Cost of Insurance Working Group and its Report on the Cost of Employer and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Card Levy (4 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that there is no age-related exemption from the annual €30 levy that applies to credit card accounts. The charge is applied to an account regardless of the number of credit cards issued to the account. I am also advised by Revenue that individuals are exempt from Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) on their interest income where they, or their spouse or...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (4 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 69 and 72 together. First, I should note that while I have overall policy responsibility in relation to public service pension schemes, questions about the pension schemes of any particular public service body should be referred to the Minister of the parent Department for the body concerned. To address the general point raised, the Deputy will...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Bodies Data (4 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: In response to the Deputy's question, the Public Appointments Service (PAS) is the only body under the aegis of my Department which has a State Board. As set out in the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (in consultation with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, the Minister for Health...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Retirements (4 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 73 together. On 5 December 2017, the Government made the decision to increase the compulsory retirement age to 70, for public servants recruited prior to 1 April 2004. Primary legislation was necessary in order to bring that change into effect. It was made clear at the time that until such legislation was enacted, the compulsory retirement age of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Broadband Plan (4 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Officials in my Department with responsibility for the Vote of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment have been appraised periodically by that Department of progress on the procurement process but have had no involvement or input in that process or any evaluation of same.   The Office of Government Procurement was represented in an advisory role...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Home Loan Scheme (9 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Section 477C of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides for the Help to Buy incentive (HTB), which came into effect on 19 July 2016. A number of conditions must be satisfied in order for an individual to be eligible to avail of the incentive. To claim HTB, you must: - be a first-time buyer; - buy or build a new property between 19 July 2016 and 31 December 2019; - If you are buying the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (9 Apr 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. Section 56(4) of the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Act 2017 provides that "The Ombudsman shall, without prejudice to...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Customs and Excise Staff (9 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 153 together. In September 2018, the Government granted approval in principle for the phased recruitment of an additional 600 Revenue staff to meet the challenges posed by Brexit. Revenue has appointed over 470 staff from open recruitment and interdepartmental competitions since the start of 2019. The majority of these have been assigned to customs...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Bank Charges (9 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I understand this to mean that the cost of a transaction would be notified to a customer at the time of the transaction rather than being notified to them at the end of the two or three month billing period. The European Communities (Payment Services) Regulations 2009 (PSR) and the Consumer Protection Code 2012 contain certain requirements in relation to the information to be provided about...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Bank Charges (9 Apr 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: In fulfilling its statutory role under Section 149 of the Consumer Credit Act, 1995 (the Act), I understand that the Central Bank assesses each notification received from a credit institution pursuant to the Act, where they wish to introduce any new customer charge or increase any existing customer charge in respect of certain services, in accordance with the specific assessment criteria set...