Results 19,901-19,920 of 33,049 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Apple Escrow Account (7 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, the State has recovered the alleged State aid from Apple. The total amount recovered is c €14.3 billion (which is the principal amount and relevant EU interest). The final payment was made in early September 2018. These sums have been placed into an Escrow Fund with the proceeds being released only when there has been a final determination in the European...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (7 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: It is assumed that the Deputy is not referring to the abatement of a public service pension, which, in accordance with the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and other Provisions) Act 2012, only applies where a retired public servant, in receipt of a public service pension, takes up employment in the public service. Where a public servant in receipt of a public service pension takes up...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (7 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) has developed a suite of policy measures aimed at assisting SMEs to access public procurement opportunities (implemented through Circular 10/14). These include: - Proportionate financial capacity criterion (turnover requirements limited to twice the contract value) - Contracting authorities are encouraged to divide public contracts into...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (7 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The individual referred to was not, before appointment, a serving civil or public servant. In general, public service pay policy requires that new entrants are appointed at the minimum of the scale. Where different arrangements apply, these are set out in the terms and conditions of appointment and should be clarified by the relevant employer.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Small and Medium Enterprises Supports (12 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I do not believe that businesses selling stoves would necessarily consider themselves to be operating "inside the fossil fuel industry". There is no carbon tax applied on wood or wood pellets and therefore consumers can purchase wood or pellet burning stoves or when purchasing multi fuel stoves can use wood or wood pellets instead of solid fuels, in both cases...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Reports (12 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Standing Order 164A of Dáil Eireann Standing Orders 2016 and Standing Order 168 of Seanad Eireann Standing Orders 2017 provide that "twelve months following the enactment of a Bill, save in the case of the Finance Bill and the Appropriation Bill, the member of the Government or Minister of State who is officially responsible for implementation of the Act shall provide a report which...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Pension Provisions (12 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that Chapter 2C of Part 30 of, and Schedule 23B to, the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (TCA) provide for limits on the tax-relieved amount of an individual’s supplementary pension arrangements, including public sector pensions.  As the Deputy states, the standard fund threshold (SFT) is currently €2 million and has been set at that amount since 1...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Economic Policy (12 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 121 together. I understand that the Deputy is referring to the blog article by Mr Brad Setser, which was published on the website of the Council on Foreign Relations. Ireland is a small country and large transactions by multinational enterprises can have a disproportionate impact on our statistics when compared to the effect of transactions of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Universal Social Charge Application (12 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Section 531AN of the Taxes Consolidation Act (TCA) 1997 provides for a reduced Universal Social Charge (USC) rate of 2% on all income above €12,012, where a person’s total income in a year does not exceed €60,000 and where the person is aged 70 or over or holds a full medical card. A rate of 0.5% on the first €12,012 of income applies to all taxpayers. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs Eligibility (12 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: To qualify for the favourite niece/nephew relief, which only applies to assets used in a business, the person must be a child of the disponer’s brother or sister. The person must also have worked for him (the disponer) for the five years immediately before receiving the gift or inheritance, for either 15 hours per week in a small business (run by the disponer and spouse or civil...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Offices (12 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: In response to the Deputy’s question; OPW provides accommodation for Government Services and manages a significant proportion of the State’s property portfolio. Outside of Dublin City, the Department of Finance has a staff cohort located in Government Buildings, Tullamore, Co. Offaly. There are currently 48 vacant spaces in the Department of Finance’s accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (12 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: In addressing the Deputy's specific question on the tax treatment of self-employed individuals carrying on a trade (including the trade of farming), as compared to companies carrying on a trade, it should be noted that self-employed individuals or those are taxed on their profits in much the same way as companies are. An individual engaged in a trade is taxed on the net income of the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs Data (12 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Small Benefits Exemption provides that, in general, where an employer provides an employee/director with a small benefit (that is, a benefit with a value not exceeding €500), PAYE, USC and PSRI need not be applied to that benefit. This treatment does not apply to cash payments, which are taxable in full. The benefit can be used only to purchase goods or services and cannot be...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs Costs (12 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Special Assignee Relief Programme (SARP) is available to employees of companies that are incorporated and tax resident in a country with which Ireland has a double taxation agreement or a Tax Information Exchange Agreement. Under existing legislation, the employee must have worked for the employer for a minimum of 6 months outside of Ireland immediately before being assigned to work in...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Living City Initiative (12 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I assume that the Deputy is referring to The Living City Initiative (LCI). LCI has applied to Waterford city since its inception. LCI is a scheme of property based tax incentives aimed at the regeneration of certain 'Special Regeneration Areas' (SRAs) in the historic centres of Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick and Waterford. LCI was initially announced in Budget 2013 and commenced...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Compliance (12 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that the business models and contractual arrangements in the poultry sector created the conditions for the generation of a systematic excess of flat-rate addition payments to farmers in the sector over their VAT input costs. This business model did not breach Irish VAT law at the time and did not constitute fraud or tax evasion. My predecessor introduced a provision in...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Freedom of Information Data (12 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: In line with the Department of Finance Freedom of Information Publication Scheme, my Department routinely publishes the details and outcome of Freedom of Information requests on its website, www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-finance. The most recent publication was on 4thOctober 2019, and is reflective of requests processed in Q3 2019.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs Eligibility (12 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Section 473 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides for a tax credit in respect of rent paid by an individual for private rented accommodation used as a sole or main residence. This includes rent paid for a flat, an apartment or a house. The tax credit is only applicable for years prior to 2018 and the qualifying criteria requires that a person was paying for private rented accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Flood Risk Insurance Cover Provision (12 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am conscious of the difficulties that the absence or withdrawal of flood insurance cover can cause to homeowners and businesses, and that is one of the reasons the Government has been prioritising investment in flood defences over the last number of years. However, you should be aware that provision of insurance is a commercial matter for insurance companies, which is based on a proper...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Illicit Trade in Tobacco (12 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: There is a long-standing commitment by successive Governments to use taxation along with other measures as an instrument to discourage smoking, particularly amongst younger people. This policy has been broadly successful. The Government’s Healthy Ireland strategy has set a target that 5% of the population or less would be smokers by 2025. According to HSE figures, the rate of smoking...