Results 21,781-21,800 of 34,135 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Bank Debt Restructuring (15 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I can confirm for the Deputy that I have been informed of permanent tsb’s decision to launch a sale process involving a portfolio of non-performing loans. This transaction was confirmed publicly by the bank earlier this week and has been dubbed Project Glas. This decision is being taken to help reduce the bank’s high level of non-performing loans and is a move prompted by SSM...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Stamp Duty (15 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised that, while forecasts for 2019 to 2021 are not available, Revenue provide estimates of receipts for the current Budget year. Revenue’s estimates for Stamp Duty from non-residential property transactions 2018 are based on receipts for previous years, as well as impacts of earlier policy changes and assessment of significant once-off transactions that are not expected to...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Data (15 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The standard rate cut off point increased by €750 in Budget 2018 for all earners, e.g. from €33,800 to €34,550 for single individuals and from €42,800 to €43,550 for married one earner couples. As published in Budget documentation, at the time of Budget 2018 it was estimated that the first year (i.e. 2018) cost of the increase would be €132 million,...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Government Bonds (15 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy may be aware, last December the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) announced that it planned to issue €14 - €18 billion of Government bonds over the course of 2018. It has already issued €5.25 billion of benchmark bonds so far this year. This is one third of the mid-way point of the €14 - €18 billion range. The volume of new...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Government Bonds (15 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Having already been reduced in size twice, Quantitative Easing (QE) is now scheduled to run until at least September 2018. This was confirmed by the European Central Bank (ECB) at its most recent Governing Council meeting in January, when it stated that net asset purchases under the Programme are intended to run until the end of September 2018, or beyond if necessary. The...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Gender Recognition (14 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy is aware, on 4 September 2015, the Gender Recognition Act 2015 came into effect and provides for the legal recognition of a person's preferred gender. Under the Civil Service Diversity Policy - A Policy of Equality of Opportunity, the Department of Finance is strongly committed to equality of opportunity in all it employment practices. As an employer, the Department must...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Data Protection (14 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which will take effect on 25 May 2018 places additional responsibilities on controllers and processors of personal data. My Department is aware of its obligations under the GDPR and is taking appropriate measures to ensure compliance with the regulation.  These measures include reviewing the personal data held in the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (14 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: A review of the nature proposed by the Deputy is not currently planned as, to the extent that there are differences in the tax treatment of the different categories of couples, such differences arise from the objective of dealing with different types of circumstances while at the same time respecting the constitutional requirements to protect the institution of marriage. The basis for the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: NAMA Portfolio (14 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy will be aware that I, as Minister for Finance, have no role in respect of NAMA's commercial operations or decisions. These are matters for NAMA, in accordance with its statutory independent commercial mandate. However, in this instance, I am advised that NAMA has never had any involvement with this particular property. I would remind the Deputy that should she wish to raise any...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Brexit Issues (14 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The future arrangements that will apply to cross border movements of excisable goods will depend on the outcome of discussion on the future relationship between the EU and the UK. In accordance with EU rules, it will technically be the case that if such an agreement does not provide for UK participation in the EU excise movement control system, importers of excisable goods will still have...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Development Plan (14 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The new National Development Plan 2018 - 2027, NDP, is currently in the process of being finalised and I expect that it will be published following approval by Government on 16 February.   The primary objective of the NDP is to underpin the implementation of the new national planning framework for spatial policy under the Ireland 2040...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Gender Recognition (14 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: DPER provides a welcoming and supportive environment to all employees and is committed to valuing all aspects of diversity and supporting an inclusive workforce as identified in our People@PER Strategy 2017 – 2020. Furthermore, the Department is committed to protecting dignity and respect across the organisation and our Dignity at Work Policy aims to promote respect, dignity, safety,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Data Protection (14 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: In common with other Government Departments, work is ongoing in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in preparation for the implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which will take effect from 25 May, 2018.  My Department is aware of its obligations under the GDPR and is taking appropriate measures to ensure compliance with the regulation.  A...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Our Public Service 2020: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (13 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I am pleased to have the opportunity to address the committee today. Last December, I launched the new framework for development and innovation in the public service, Our Public Service 2020. There has been much progress since the first reform programme was started in 2011, in areas including procurement, shared services and Civil Service renewal, and public service reform continues to play...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Our Public Service 2020: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (13 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank Deputy Calleary. I acknowledge the significant amount of work that happened on public service reform in the pre-2011 period. I am aware that Deputy Calleary, in his previous ministerial position, played a big role in that. I acknowledge the quality and quantity of work that went on across that period. I will now turn to the five questions put to me by Deputy Calleary. The first...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Our Public Service 2020: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (13 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: It is not our intention to rush the Bill through. The Senator is right that it is a lengthy item of legislation. As to why it has taken until now to bring it to the Oireachtas, it went through pre-legislative scrutiny in the committee at some length. There were many hearings on it. When I took over as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform just under two years ago, the Bill was about...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Our Public Service 2020: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (13 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: We have to bear in mind that in a post-Brexit environment there will be Irish companies in new international markets working very hard to win business as a result of the negative effects Brexit will have. I am just curious to see why the Senator feels we need to distinguish her concerns purely in terms of foreign companies when one bears in mind that there will be other jurisdictions...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Our Public Service 2020: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (13 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I did not say at any point that it is not of concern to me. I am challenging the Senator's language. She should bear in mind that Irish companies will be going abroad looking for new business in the context of what is unfolding in the UK. I would have thought she could appreciate the need to be sensitive to the fact that we have Irish companies tendering for international business at the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Our Public Service 2020: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (13 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I agree with the Senator. Given that our party and the Independents who form Government are not in a position to control a majority in either the Dáil or Seanad, we must make agreements with the Business Committees of each House regarding the time that is available. From my point of view and that of the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, we are certainly not looking to push anything...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Our Public Service 2020: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (13 Feb 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: We have not yet set a date as to when the LCDC structure will be reviewed. I imagine such a review would be instigated by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government but I can talk to the Minister, Deputy Murphy, and find out the Department's timeline for reviewing it. I have considerable experience of the operation of the LCDC structure within parts of my constituency. There...