Results 23,721-23,740 of 34,379 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Finance Bill 2017: Order for Second Stage (24 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Finance Bill 2017: Second Stage (24 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." When I made my Budget Statement in this House two weeks ago, I said this was a budget to safeguard our national finances and to help rebalance our economy. It was a budget to promote fairness and provide for modest but sustainable improvements in the lives of those we serve. Many of the measures to help us achieve these goals are...

Other Questions: Tax Compliance (24 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I will provide a table for Deputy Boyd Barrett that will give, in a fair amount of detail, the figures he was looking for. I do not accept the distinction between gross and net taxation. People pay their tax and that is collected but the table I have here goes through the tax collected under the RCT system, and any tax then offset against tax liabilities and so on. I will provide all of...

Other Questions: Tax Compliance (24 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy never made reference in his question to supplying me with details of a particular raid or visit attached as he could have done. If he had given me that information I might have been able to respond to some of the points he made publicly or privately. The Deputy, however, chose not to do so.

Other Questions: Tax Compliance (24 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy comes in here and raises allegations about a particular activity of the Revenue Commissioners but if he had given me advance notice of that issue I might be in a position to respond but the Deputy did not do that.

Other Questions: Tax Compliance (24 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: In respect of the efforts of the Revenue Commissioners to deal with this matter I have outlined the amount of activity that has happened in response-----

Other Questions: Tax Compliance (24 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I am puzzled as to why the Deputy wants to keep interrupting me on this matter. He alleges that nothing is happening and when I try to tell him-----

Other Questions: Tax Compliance (24 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: That is fair. He does not allege that nothing is happening but he alleges that not enough is happening and when I try to update the House on what is happening the Deputy wants to continue to interrupt me in so doing. I was about to say, before the Deputy concluded, that compliance activity in this sector alone, for example in 2016, yielded €54.7 million for the Exchequer, which is...

Other Questions: Economic Data (24 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The strong performance of the economy is expected to continue over the short run. As part of budget 2018, my Department is forecasting real GDP growth of 4.3 % for this year and 3.5% for next year. The benefit of this growth will be felt in the labour market, with an additional 48,000 jobs projected to be created next year. Recent economic indicators have generally been positive. Real...

Other Questions: Economic Data (24 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy referred to the European Commission and its views on taxation. Our views are clear on the matter. I outlined them earlier on in response to Deputy Michael McGrath. I do not foresee any circumstances in which the ability of our State to set our corporation tax rate in the way we do so at the moment will be affected by the proposals from the European Commission. More broadly,...

Other Questions: Economic Data (24 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: We are seeking to manage all those risks carefully. This is why we are increasing the amount of resources available to agencies which are involved in promoting Ireland to ensure that our message about the Irish economy and its attractiveness is well understood by all. Our recent record in job creation and investment into our country points to the ability of our agencies and the Government...

Other Questions: Tax Compliance (24 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 38 together. I am informed by Revenue that many outdoor operations are carried out by their joint investigation units with some operations carried out on a multi-agency basis with other Departments or agencies such as the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and the Workplace Relations Commission. The role of Revenue’s...

Other Questions: Tax Compliance (24 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes. Broadly, on those figures for 2015, the tax collected under the RCT system was €200 million.

Other Questions: Tax Compliance (24 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: These are the tax collected overall figures. For 2016, it was €255.5 million. For 2017, to the end of September, the figure was €230.8 million.

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (24 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: We are involved in a negotiation at the moment on an issue that will have a profound effect on our island. With regard to the Deputy's statement about the British Government's view of a customs unions, it is crucial that we gain clarity regarding what its customs policy will be. The Government's view is clear. A customs policy that is as close to the current arrangements as is feasible...

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (24 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Of course, the Revenue Commissioners are inputting into and sharing information with our negotiating team regarding the different outcomes that could emerge from the negotiations that are under way relating to Article 50 but political agreement must first be achieved. We are clear that a customs policy that is as close as possible to the current customs unions will minimise any of the...

Other Questions: Stamp Duty (24 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: This is a tax rate which stood for most of our recent history at 9% before going to 6% and then down to 2%, where it has remained for the past number of years. I assure the Deputy that when I made the decision, I was fully aware, as with any decision, of all of the consequences of what I was putting to the Dáil on budget night. I accept that it causes difficulty, concern and increased...

Other Questions: Stamp Duty (24 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy will have been as aware as I am of the definition of "commercial property". In putting the point to me about relief, he neglected to state that we have brought the relief in at 1% with no age limit for the next three years and that at the end of three years, we will revert to an age limit. The way in which we are looking to maintain the incentive is by having this window in place...

Other Questions: Stamp Duty (24 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Regarding Deputy Martin Kenny's points, I am well aware of the gravity of any decision that I make on taxation. I am crystal clear about it. I go back to the broad point that this rate of 2% was one third of what it had been a number of years ago. If we fail to use periods like this to bring rates like that back to a more sustainable level, we create the seeds of a tax system that is...

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (24 Oct 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 15, 40 and 73 together. Like all Government agencies, Revenue is actively engaged in examining a range of scenarios in order to support Ireland's objectives. This work is being undertaken within a whole-of-Government framework led by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. While the precise customs arrangements that will apply after Brexit will...