Results 18,961-18,980 of 32,999 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (6 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government recognises the importance of the SME sector and continues to enhance the already substantial measures to support SMEs in accessing the public procurement market. Significant work has been undertaken by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) to ensure that public procurement is accessible by all businesses, including SMEs. My colleague, Minister of State Patrick...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Statutory Retirement Age (6 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I refer the Deputy to my answer to his PQ 32729/19 on 23 July 2019, which is copied below for the Deputy's convenience. There has been no change to this policy matter since July. As the Deputy is aware, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (6 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 307 of 23 July 2019. Under the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA) 2018 – 2020, it was agreed to examine the remaining salary scale issues in respect of post January 2011 entry grades. The attached report, laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas in March 2018, estimates the point in time cost of pay equalisation of new...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Budgets (6 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Gross voted current and capital expenditure ceilings for the 2020 to 2022 period were published in July of this year in the Mid-Year Expenditure Report (MYER). Table 1.3 on page 8 of the MYER sets out gross voted current expenditure ceilings and table 1.4 on page 9 of the report sets out gross voted capital expenditure ceilings. These tables are also provided in appendix 1. In terms of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Property Tax Assessments (17 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that under the relevant legislation any self-contained dwelling, such as a granny flat, should be treated as a separate residential property that incurs a separate local property tax (LPT) liability. However, Revenue recognises that certain types of dwelling that are an integral part of a larger building may be difficult to value and sell on the open market....

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs Data (17 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Section 50 of Finance Act 1999 provided for a student accommodation scheme whereby expenditure incurred on student rental accommodation can be set against the rental income from the property and against other Irish rental income, thus reducing the taxable income of the person incurring the expenditure. The relevant provisions in the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 are contained in Part 10,...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (17 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The basis for the current tax treatment of married couples derives from the Supreme Court decision in Murphy vs. Attorney General (1980). This decision was based on Article 41.3.1 of the Constitution where the State pledges to protect the institution of marriage. The decision held that it was contrary to the Constitution for a married couple, both of whom are working, to pay more tax than two...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Revenue Commissioners Investigations (17 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Section 851A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 requires Revenue to uphold taxpayer confidentiality and prohibits the release of any information that could lead to the identification of taxpayers. The Deputies will also be aware that I am precluded from being involved in individual tax cases. Revenue has however assured me that it carries out a full range of interventions to combat all types...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: IBRC Legal Cases (17 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by the Special Liquidators of IBRC that a settlement agreement was entered into between the parties to the proceedings to which the Deputy has referred to and, due to the confidentiality provisions in the settlement agreement, its terms cannot be disclosed. In respect of investors other than the individual who brought the aforementioned proceedings, no...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Motor Insurance Data (17 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 113 together. As the Deputy is aware, the National Claims Information Database (NCID) is intended to facilitate a more in-depth analysis of annual trends in motor insurance claims.  This was seen as key to developing an understanding of how claims costs are impacting premiums, in particular understanding the relationship between the price paid...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs Data (17 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy will be aware that the relief cost €18.1 million in 2016.  It is not possible to estimate with any degree of reliability the likely savings that would accrue to the Exchequer in 2020 or in the years beyond that if the SARP were abolished. The reason for this is that there are currently no data available that would enable such a calculation to be made. The...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Property Tax Review (17 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The review I initiated of the Local property Tax (LPT) has been completed by the Department of Finance in conjunction with the Departments of the Taoiseach, Public Expenditure & Reform and Housing, Planning & Local Government and the Revenue Commissioners, and was published in April (available at www.gov.ie/en/publication/1e5c76-review-of-local-property-ta x/).  In...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Protection Policies (17 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by the Central Bank of Ireland that its Consumer Protection Code 2012 (the CPC) contains a number of protections for mortgage holders, including buy-to-let mortgage holders. The CPC sets out requirements around information which must be provided to a mortgage borrower prior to taking out the mortgage, and establishes timeframes for assessing mortgage applications. The CPC...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Register Data (17 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Central Credit Register (CCR) is established by the Central Bank under the Credit Reporting Act 2013. The CCR is a database of credit information based on credit applications and agreements, and its primary purpose is to assist lenders to make more informed decisions on applications for credit. Under the Act a lender is required to access information held on the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Rate Application (17 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law, with which Irish VAT law must comply. Under domestic legislation, professional medical care services recognised as such by the Department of Health and Children are exempt from VAT. Professional medical care services recognised by the Department of Health and Children are generally those medical care services...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Operations (17 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 121 together. The second Payment Services Directive (or “PSD2”) was transposed into Irish law last year through the European Union (Payment Services) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 6 of 2018).  PSD2 is supplemented by a European Commission Delegated Regulation (2018/389) with regard to regulatory technical standards for strong...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Motor Tax Yield (17 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As of end-August Motor Tax is currently €16 million or 2.3 per cent ahead of target.  The performance of Motor Tax in the year is publically available in the Department of Finance's monthly publication 'Fiscal Monitor', and has been reproduced for the Deputy's convenience below. Monthly Performance Monthly Target Excess/Shortfall Excess/Shortfall...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Revenue Documents Issuance (17 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that it has reviewed the person’s tax position and Balancing Statements (P21) have issued to them for the years 2015 to 2017. A Balancing Statement cannot be provided for 2018 as the person is not on record as a PAYE employee for that period. Section 865(4) of the Taxes Consolidation Act (TCA) 1997 provides for a statutory time limit of four years for the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Brexit Staff (17 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: 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.  Following the Government decision in December 2018 to give greater priority to preparations for a no deal Brexit, it was agreed to accelerate Revenue’s recruitment plans. I am advised by Revenue that it has appointed...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Data (17 Sep 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. The Office of the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) was established on 01 January 2018 to resolve complaints from consumers,...