Results 19,961-19,980 of 33,049 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Code (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 50 together. It is a reasonable request. We discussed the matter earlier. I cannot commit on behalf of the Revenue Commissioners as to what they will do or what engagement they will have with the Oireachtas. Nevertheless, as soon as I have absolute clarity on the matter and the Revenue Commissioners respond to me, I will immediately make the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Code (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Penalties and how they are levied are matters for the Revenue Commissioners. I know the reason Revenue made the decision to make the change for today. It was its determination ensure no taxpayer would be penalised as a result of the systems issue that had developed. As the Deputy knows and has acknowledged, efforts have been made to address and resolve the issue in the operation of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Code (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for the invitation, but I am well aware of how hard the work is for those involved in mining. I am also well aware of their concerns. I assure and inform them that the matter has also been raised with me by the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy McEntee, and the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Budget 2020 (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government decided in September that budget 2020 would be based on the assumption of a disorderly Brexit at the end of October. Given the information available at the time, this was the safest and most appropriate course of action. Since I published budget 2020, the risk of the United Kingdom departing the European Union this year without a deal has been reduced. However, the ultimate...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Budget 2020 (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: While the answer I gave on "Morning Ireland" may have been a preview of the position today, it was a review of the postion yesterday. I went through many of these issues yesterday with the Deputy's colleagues at the Committee on Budgetary Oversight. For the benefit of all colleagues, I will emphasise some of the points I made. They relate to the point the Deputy put to me about other...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Budget 2020 (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: It would probably be premature to say investors or large companies might invest elsewhere as a result of the Apple ruling, particularly as regards companies that are already here. However, the loss of the Apple case would pose exceptionally important challenges for our corporate tax policy, requiring deeply serious consideration. I am very conscious of the magnitude of €14 billion...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Costs (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 48 together. I am very conscious of the difficulties referred to by the Deputy. While neither I, nor the Central Bank of Ireland, can interfere in the provision or pricing of insurance products, nor compel insurers to provide cover in the first place the Government, through the work of the cost of insurance working group, has identified the key...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Costs (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am aware of the importance of this issue and I am glad to be able to tell the Deputy how much work has been done on it. The Minister of State and I are very much aware of the many issues being created for small and medium sized businesses and for the leisure sector all over the country. This is why we put in place the Personal Injuries Commission. It is why we enacted the Judicial...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Costs (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Minister of State, Deputy D'Arcy, and I are well aware of the importance of this issue and that is why the Minister of State went to London a couple of weeks ago to meet key insurance underwriters and to press the case for the coverage of the sector. I am aware that the withdrawal of any form of insurance in the sector makes it difficult, if not impossible, for many to provide their...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Policy (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The publication identifies Ireland as having the lowest tax-to-GDP ratio in the European Union, at 23%. This low ratio, however, primarily reflects well known issues in the measurement of GDP in Ireland. As a result, this measurement is not an accurate reflection of the relationship between tax revenues and economic output in Ireland. The Deputy will be aware of the work we have done to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Policy (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I notice an increasing tendency in the Labour Party to deny or share any of the experience it had in government. The Deputy was a member of a Government, a very fine member at that, who gave great leadership in the State at a very difficult time, during which she well understood the pressure the corporate tax regime was under. She understands and understood then the sensitivity of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Policy (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy has made the assertion that we facilitate very large companies in paying no tax. What we do is we implement our tax policy fairly without regard to any company or individual. The Deputy has given no recognition to the many changes made in our corporate tax policy, including by me, in recent years whereby we have dealt with issues related to hybrids and how tax is levied when...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Policy (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: -----but it is my job to ensure our reputation will continue to be built because of the changes we are making. If I was to make any of the changes the Deputy is recommending and they resulted in the loss of a single Irish job, she would be the first Deputy to come into the House to castigate me for doing so.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Banking Sector Staff (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am aware of reports of ongoing and potential rationalisation within the banking sector, both in Ireland and on a wider European level. Reductions in staffing levels are always a matter of regret, as are branch closures. As Minister, I hope they can be kept to the minimum necessary to ensure the banks can meet their obligations to their customers and the need for them over time to be able...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Banking Sector Staff (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy is correct that a lot of work went on to ensure that if changes took place in the UK as a result of Brexit, Ireland would be well placed to attract additional investment and jobs. That is what we have done. Bank of America and JP Morgan have made decisions that are a result of Ireland being a competitive and stable place in which to grow financial services. I do not think that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Banking Sector Staff (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Central Bank and Mr. Sibley have reiterated a number of important points that I and the Central Bank have made. While recognising that these are commercial decisions in which we do not play a role, I want the rate of interest offered to existing mortgage holders in Ireland to become more competitive. In order for that to happen, other changes need to be made, particularly the level of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Illicit Trade (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 53 together. The threat that fuel fraud and the illicit alcohol and tobacco trade pose to legitimate businesses, consumers and the Exchequer is clear and I am assured by Revenue that combating such criminality continues to be a priority for it. Steps taken by Revenue to combat the illegal fuel trade include the introduction of stringent supply...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Illicit Trade (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy regularly raises this issue with me and I know how important it is to the businesses and communities he represents. On a number of occasions when we have discussed this, I have made available to him information on the scale of seizures that are happening. He may be aware that as recently as April of this year, 2.9 million smuggled cigarettes were detected and removed in a single...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Illicit Trade (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The message I want to send to business owners is that we want to ensure they have a level playing field. More importantly for them, the right action must be taken to create such a level playing field. I hope it is apparent from the actions I have detailed in my response to the Deputy that we are aiming to achieve this objective. We will continue our efforts in that regard.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Rate Application (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 58 to 60, inclusive, together. Food supplement products are subject to the standard rate of VAT (23%). Shortly after the introduction of VAT, Revenue allowed the zero rate to be applied to certain food supplement products (vitamins, minerals and fish oils). This concessionary approach expanded as the market developed over the years and resulted in...