Results 22,641-22,660 of 32,864 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (26 Sep 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The provision for Public Service staffing numbers in 2017 is just under 315,000 Full Time Equivalents (FTEs). This represents an increase of over 8,000 or 2.7% on the 2016 outturn and an increase of over 25,000 or nearly 10% on 2014. The corresponding provision for the Exchequer pay bill in 2017 is €16.47 billion. This is an increase of approximately €850 million on the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (26 Sep 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The enforcement of tax, social welfare, and employment legislation; health and safety, and building control regulations etc. apply equally to public and private sector contracts. Consequently, it is not for me as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to set out a separate policy for public sector contracts.  It is the responsibility of each contracting authority to ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Brexit Expenditure (26 Sep 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Planning for the withdrawal of the UK from the EU poses a significant challenge, particularly given that the precise nature of the relationship that will exist between the UK and the EU is yet to be agreed. The impact of Brexit will depend on the outcome of the complex negotiations that are currently taking place. However, Ireland’s economy is in a strong position to deal with...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Expenditure Programme Review (26 Sep 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The 2017 Spending Review is the first in a series of rolling, selective reviews, which will cover the totality of Government spending over a three year period to 2019. Work on the Spending Review began in January of this year and concluded in July, when I published the output of the Spending Review alongside the Mid-Year Expenditure Report. The papers prepared for the Spending Review cover...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2018 (26 Sep 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Responsibility for proofing policy proposals as referenced in the Deputy's questions is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant individual spending Departments, as appropriate, in developing proposals for submission to my Department in connection with the Estimates process.  In advance of the finalisation of the Estimates for 2018, officials in my...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Spending Code (26 Sep 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Discussions and negotiations around Budget 2018 are ongoing and there are guidelines in place for evaluation of all proposals. Guidelines for the appraisal of spending projects and programmes are set out in the Public Spending Code (PSC). The PSC sets out the rules and procedures that maintain Value for Money standards across the public service. The PSC highlights the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Policy (26 Sep 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I should first explain the context behind the fiscal rules, to the extent that it relates to capital spending. Substantial progress has been made in restoring Ireland’s public finances as reflected in Ireland’s movement from the corrective to the preventive arm of the Stability and Growth Pact from the beginning of 2016.  The core element of the Preventive Arm is...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Investment Plan Publication (26 Sep 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I assume the Deputy is referring to the proposed National Investment Plan, which will set out key priority themes for public capital investment for the period 2018 to 2027, in support of the forthcoming National Planning Framework.  The National Investment Plan will mark the culmination of an extensive deliberative process conducted by my Department in the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Community Employment Schemes Supervisors (26 Sep 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Community Sector High Level Forum was reconvened in 2015 and met most recently on 7 April 2017, to give consideration to a number of issues including the issue to which the Deputy refers. In considering the matter, I must have regard to the costs and precedent of such an arrangement were one to be created. A scoping exercise is currently being progressed by...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: NewERA Administration (26 Sep 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The NTMA, which is a body under my aegis, acts as NewERA (New Economy and Recovery Authority) in providing centralised financial and commercial advisory services and as a dedicated source of corporate finance advice to Government Ministers with respect to the following designated bodies: ESB, Ervia, Irish Water, EirGrid, Bord na Móna, and Coillte. On request by a Government Minister,...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Brexit Issues (26 Sep 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government’s  Brexit priorities are clear: minimising the impact on trade and the economy, protecting the Northern Ireland Peace Process, maintaining the Common Travel Area and influencing the future of the European Union. In relation to the economy, the Government’s paper ‘Ireland and the negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the European...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Real Estate Investment Trusts (26 Sep 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 72 together. The Finance Act 2013 inserted Part 25A into the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 which introduced the tax regime for the operation of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT) in Ireland.  Part 25A provides, inter alia, that a REIT must distribute to its shareholders at least 85% of property income by way of property income dividends....

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Irish Real Estate Fund (26 Sep 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Irish Real Estate Fund regime, which was introduced by section 23 Finance Act 2016, took effect from 1 January 2017. Therefore, there were no distributions by IREFs in 2016. IREFs must operate a 20% IREF withholding tax on the happening of certain taxable events (such as a distribution of profits or a redemption of units). IREF withholding tax is a separate tax to dividend...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Electric Vehicles (26 Sep 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: There are a number of tax incentives in place to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles which are an environmentally cleaner mode of transport.  A relief from Vehicle Registration Tax is provided up to a maximum €5,000 and the annual rate of motor tax is the lowest rate chargeable at €120.  Further to this electric vehicles qualify for the Accelerated Capital...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Fire Service Staff (26 Sep 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: In light of the detail provided by the Deputy, Revenue will contact the person directly to discuss the matter further. 

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Living City Initiative (26 Sep 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that there are no data available in respect of potential qualifying premises, or the likely additional uptake, to estimate the cost of extending the Living City Initiative scheme to Drogheda and Dundalk. It should be noted that the Special Regeneration Areas for the Living City Initiative were designated following consultation with the relevant city councils and an...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Industry Regulation (26 Sep 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The European Commission on 04 July 2017 carried out an unannounced inspection at the premises of companies active in motor insurance in the State. The basis for this inspection was a concern by the Commission that the companies involved may have engaged in anti-competitive practices in breach of EU antitrust rules that prohibit cartels and restrictive business practices and/or abuse of a...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Revenue Commissioners Resources (26 Sep 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I am informed by Revenue that the relevant Income Tax and Universal Social Charge (USC) figures in the pre-budget 2018 Ready Reckoner include all cases registered with Revenue for self-assessment Income Tax or as PAYE employees (employees for this purpose includes those in receipt of occupational pensions). The income data published in the Ready Reckoner relates to gross income. The...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Interest Rates (26 Sep 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Central Bank is aware of various information about the operations of regulated firms as their supervisor. The Central Bank is subject to strict confidentiality requirements under section 33AK of the Central Bank Act 1942, which prevent the disclosure of firm-specific information gathered in that role. My Department sought information from the Banks in which the State has...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services Regulation (26 Sep 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I am aware that banks may request documentation of the type described from any account holder, including voluntary and community groups, as part of ongoing efforts to combat both money laundering and terrorist financing. The Central Bank oversees regulated financial services providers in Ireland and an important part of its supervisory remit is to ensure that credit and financial institutions...