Results 19,001-19,020 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cross-Border Health Services Provision (16 Apr 2019)

Michael McGrath: 346. To ask the Minister for Health the number of applications for refund under the cross-border directive in the system; the amount in total claims outstanding and awaiting processing; the estimated waiting time for an application submitted for a refund of expenses incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17530/19]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Counselling Services Provision (16 Apr 2019)

Michael McGrath: 399. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 662 of 15 January 2019, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the counselling service previously available under the youth health service is not currently available; the reason this is the case in view of the assurance given that services would not be impacted by the reorganisation; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (16 Apr 2019)

Michael McGrath: 539. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which she plans to address the situation where many private sector employees are required by their contract of employment to retire at 65 years of age but cannot access the State pension, contributory, until 66 years of age and rising to 68 years of age over the next number of years; and if she will make a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Property Tax Review (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McGrath: 38. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will introduce legislative changes in 2019 for the local property tax, LPT; the reforms he will introduce for the income thresholds for the LPT deferral; the reforms he will introduce in terms of exemptions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17998/19]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Property Tax Review (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McGrath: This question relates to LPT. The Minister has signalled his intention to defer the revaluation of properties which was due to take place in November 2019. However, questions need to be answered regarding other recommendations in the LPT review such as changes to the income thresholds for deferrals, as well as other exemptions which are time limited and will fall in the absence of new...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Property Tax Review (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Minister for his reply. Will he clarify if he received any advice that not proceeding with the revaluation of properties raised some constitutional questions? There are some constitutional concerns about the validity of the LPT as a result of not doing that. Will the Minister clarify if the exemptions, which are time limited and are due to lapse at the end of October 2019, will...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Property Tax Review (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McGrath: Will the Minister put on the record his understanding of the number of properties purchased since 2013 which are currently exempt and for which the exemption would normally fall later this year? He did not really answer the question as to whether any concerns were raised. He has given us his view that he remained within the constitutional parameters in not going ahead with the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Property Tax Review (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McGrath: What has been shared with the Minister? He might share it with us.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Central Bank of Ireland Reports (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McGrath: 40. To ask the Minister for Finance when he plans to introduce the central bank (amendment) Bill to address the recommendations of the Central Bank on banking culture and accountability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17999/19]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Central Bank of Ireland Reports (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McGrath: This question concerns the Central Bank's report on behaviour and culture within the main retail banks. One of the key recommendations in the report was that a senior individual accountability regime would be introduced in Ireland for senior executives within the banking system. There already is such a regime in the UK. This recommendation was contained in the report issued by the Central...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Central Bank of Ireland Reports (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McGrath: That reply is deeply disappointing. The reality is that the Central Bank has asked for these powers to hold senior executives in our banking system accountable, and the Minister is talking about going to the Government to seek approval to draft the heads of a Bill. He has not done that yet and is hoping to do that in the coming months. That does not sound to me like it is a Government...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Central Bank of Ireland Reports (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McGrath: People want to know when this Bill will be introduced, not when the Minister is going to seek approval to draft the heads of a Bill. People want to know when it will be the law of the land that senior executives who are making critical decisions about the future of their consumers can be held to account in the manner recommended by the Central Bank. I would like to hear when the Minister...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Insurance Industry (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McGrath: 42. To ask the Minister for Finance his legislative and policy priorities in the area of insurance reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18000/19]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Insurance Industry (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McGrath: The fact that three of the five priority questions have been dedicated to insurance underlines just how grave the current situation is. It really is a crisis point for many businesses throughout the country. Many have closed and others are on the brink of closure. This House needs to offer some solutions and we need to be clear and specific about when these solutions will be in place. For...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Insurance Industry (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McGrath: It is great to see the Minister answering questions on insurance because it seemed to me at times that the Minister of State, Deputy D'Arcy, has been a lone voice in Government talking about insurance. I am glad to see the Minister taking these questions as the Minister serving in Cabinet with responsibility. The bottom line here is that there are sectors of business in this country to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Insurance Industry (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McGrath: In terms of specifics, the Minister is expecting some announcement shortly on the work of An Garda Síochána around insurance fraud. We do not know the nature of that but this has been long promised and we are expecting some announcement. Let us hope it is tangible and positive. The Minister is expecting and taking the caveat on board that it depends on the speed at which the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McGrath: 43. To ask the Minister for Finance when he plans to bring forward legislative changes that would oblige insurance companies to inform policyholders of claims made against them; the reason he has not brought forward legislation in its own right; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17767/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McGrath: This question is on a similar theme but on the previous point, if the guidelines are too loose they will be a waste of time. My advice to the Minister is that he should not go down that road. With regard to some specific issues in the insurance area, what policyholders have found in many instances is that claims have been settled behind their back. They are often claims they did not...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McGrath: I would like the Minister of State to indicate who would not agree to provide for this on a non-legislative basis in order that policyholders might be told of claims made against their policies. That is so dispiriting. This recommendation dates back to January 2017 and Insurance Ireland was to have had a general protocol in place by the end of that year. This did not happen and then the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McGrath: That is pathetic. It has taken two and a half years for the most basic reform to be introduced in order that consumers will be informed, via their annual renewal notices, what they paid last year and what they are being asked to pay this year. It has taken that amount of time to have that level of basic information provided to consumers. I feel sorry for the Minister of State at times in...