Results 21,721-21,740 of 32,864 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Severe Weather Events Response (14 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government is the Lead Government Department for coordinating the response to severe weather emergencies at national level. My Department is one of the Departments that participate in the National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG), which met on 15 October 2017 in anticipation of the arrival of Storm Ophelia. On the basis of advice provided...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Rental Sector (14 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: According to the latest data published by the CSO, average weekly earnings grew by 2.2 per cent on an annual basis in the second quarter of 2017. This compares to annual rent inflation of 6.6 per cent based on Residential Tenancies Board data. The fundamental issue with the housing market in Ireland today is lack of supply. This applies to the rental market specifically and to the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Deposit Guarantee Scheme (14 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Approved Retirement Funds (ARFs) are part of the flexible options at retirement introduced in Finance Act 1999 to provide control, flexibility and choice to the holders of personal pension plans and to proprietary director members of occupational pension schemes, in relation to the drawdown of their retirement benefits. In order to avail of an ARF, members aged under 75 are required to...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Home Renovation Incentive Scheme Eligibility (14 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The terms of the Home Renovation Incentive (HRI) are set out in section 477B of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. (a) I am advised by Revenue that the cost of installing a stair lift in a home can qualify for relief under HRI. (b) I am also advised by Revenue that the cost of a stair lift qualifies for relief in respect of health expenses under the Tax Acts and a refund of VAT where it...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Knowledge Development Box (14 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 127 together. I am advised by Revenue that the Knowledge Development Box (“KDB”) was introduced with effect from 1 January 2016. Information from Corporation Tax returns for 2016, the bulk of which have only recently been filed, will be processed, parsed and analysed in the coming months. Further information on the KDB will then be...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Compliance (14 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Details of the numbers of convictions, and of prison sentences imposed, in the period in question are set out in the following tables. The Deputy may wish to note that in some of the cases in which a prison sentence was imposed, the sentence may have suspended in full or in part by the courts. There was no case of a prosecution in respect of the non-filing of tax returns in which a prison...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: State Claims Agency (14 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The NTMA have advised me that the State Claims Agency did not undertake audits in the Defence Forces in 2013 and 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Intellectual Property Management (14 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: In relation to “onshoring” of intangible assets, as recorded in the National Accounts, I understand from the CSO that there are two channels by which this can occur. The first channel is through the import of Research and Development (RandD) related intellectual property (IP), and the second is through the relocation of companies and their associated balance sheets. The...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: EU Directives (14 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: In Finance Act 2015, Ireland introduced Country by Country reporting in line with the OECD Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Action 13 recommendation. The first reports will be filed with the Revenue Commissioners by the end of this year and these reports will be exchanged with other tax authorities around the world through EU and OECD mechanisms.  Making country by country...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Agreements (14 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: There is widespread consensus in recent years that aggressive tax planning can only be prevented by all countries acting together. Member States of the EU agreed last year to draw up a list of countries that do not live up to international best practice on tax.  Criteria were agreed by Member States early in 2017 which are based on agreed international tax standards on transparency,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Severe Weather Events Response (14 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: In the first instance, I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to the families and friends of the three people who tragically lost their lives during Storm Ophelia last month.  The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government is the Lead Government Department for coordinating the response to severe weather emergencies at national level.  My Department is one of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Expenditure (9 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: There was no smart-aleckry in the comment I made. As somebody who has worked with the Minister, Deputy Ring, over many years and had the experience of working with him in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, I know his ability and focus to ensure that plans from Government happen on the ground is unparalleled. If there is an issue in regard to the expenditure of money by local...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Sector Staff (9 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 provides for a more comprehensive examination by the Public Service Pay Commission of underlying difficulties in recruitment and retention in sectors and employment streams of the public service where difficulties are evident. The Government recently approved the terms of reference for the second phase of work of the commission. Where a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Sector Staff (9 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I entirely agree with Deputy Calleary on the final point he made. As he said, pay will play a role but there are many other matters at stake here, particularly the issue of career planning. When people enter any kind of job, but particularly a front-line service job, they have a reasonable expectation that they will know how their career is going to be planned for the foreseeable future....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Expenditure (9 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The disbursement of funds from the Vote of the Department of Rural and Community Development is a matter for the Accounting Officer of that Department in the first instance. My Department's circular No. 13/2014 clarifies arrangements for the management and accountability for grants from Exchequer funds. In particular, section 6 provides that the default position is that grants should be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Expenditure (9 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I can assure Deputy Ó Cuív that there are few Ministers more capable of spending money well than the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Ring.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Expenditure (9 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: When he is dealing with this matter this year, I am very confident that he will be ensuring that money made available will be spent. Deputy Ó Cuív can be certain that if the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Ring approaches my Department looking for a decision regarding pre-funding - he has not done so as yet - it will be for money that he is confident of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pay (9 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I do not envisage a broader consultation on this. It is part of the agreement that I made with representatives of the union movement on the Public Service Stability Agreement. In fairness, given that I have made that commitment, I will adhere to the process. The process, as I understand it, does not include a role for public consultation. No doubt the union movement, in dealing with...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pay (9 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: This is exactly the point I was making earlier on at different points in these questions. It is that if one makes one move in one area, it always has consequences in other areas. The Taoiseach dealt with this matter in Leaders' Questions during the week and both myself and the Minister, Deputy Harris, are engaged in this matter at present. I understand that the organisations that are...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Services Card (9 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware the card is a means of assisting the delivery of public services to people who need them. The Department is currently engaged in a procurement process for a media campaign to promote the awareness and benefits of the scheme. The campaign is likely to be delivered by radio, digital and print channels and is expected to begin in the coming months. The...