Results 541-560 of 32,429 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: National Treasury Management Agency (18 Feb 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: The UN maintains a database of businesses involved in certain specified activities relating to settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, OPT. The UN list was developed in 2020 with a qualified update in 2023. At the end of 2023, direct investments by the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, ISIF, in companies on the UN database was approximately €4.2 million in 11...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tobacco Control Measures (18 Feb 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 269 together. I am advised by Revenue that it uses a range of measures to tackle the sale of illicit cigarettes, including online sales. At the core of these measures is identifying and targeting the smuggling of illicit tobacco products into the State, with a view to disrupting the supply chain, seizing the products and, where possible, prosecuting...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Fiscal Policy (18 Feb 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: In October 2024, my predecessor published the ‘Funds Sector 2030: A Framework for Open, Resilient & Developing Markets’, a wide-ranging review of the funds and asset management sector. The Review fulfilled certain recommendations of the Commission on Taxation and Welfare 2022 report which called for, among other things, an examination of the taxation regime for funds and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Properties (18 Feb 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is provided with accommodation by the OPW and does not own any properties.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Properties (18 Feb 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is provided with accommodation by the OPW and does not own any undeveloped sites.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (18 Feb 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy should note that at present the VAT rate for hairdressing and beauty services is 13.5%. This is the higher of the two reduced VAT rates, which Ireland currently avails of. The other reduced rate is 9%. However, the basis for the 13.5% rate differs for both services. In relation, to hairdressing the EU VAT Directive, with which Irish VAT Law must comply, contains provisions...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Industry (18 Feb 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: At the outset, I would like to acknowledge the sensitivity of this issue and assure you that the Government recognises the importance of ensuring that the "Right to be Forgotten" is provided for in an appropriate manner in future legislation. The Programme for Government 2025- Securing Ireland’s Future commits to legislate for a ‘Right to be Forgotten’ for cancer...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Artificial Intelligence (18 Feb 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I can confirm for the Deputy that the government approved Interim Guidelines for the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Public Service in January 2024. I can confirm that my department follows these guidelines and that these guidelines were circulated to all staff within my department. My department also follows guidance from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) released in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Yield (13 Feb 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: Tá brón orm. I was only reading out a base figure in the interests of time. Let me be non-selective and read out all the figures for each year since 2017. Those figures are: €8.3 million, €28.2 million, €72 million, €73.8 million, €43.1 million, €37.6 million and €31.8 million, respectively. In recent years-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Yield (13 Feb 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: -----we have seen it at that figure. This is the reason Revenue instigated the compliance intervention that it did. I have made changes. I did so by means of tax legislation in order to ensure that issues that were being raised with me by Revenue were acted upon, and that happened. As soon as further information becomes available for the sector, it will of course be shared with the Deputy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Yield (13 Feb 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy might clarify when he responds the source of the figure of €8 billion, please, so that we are clear on the particular point he is making. I am advised by Revenue that in 2022 it commenced a compliance-based review of the Irish real estate fund, IREF, sector with one of its aims being to identify the reasons for the reduction in the amount of IREF withholding tax paid in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Yield (13 Feb 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: The review was a compliance review undertaken by Revenue and therefore it would not publish a document in relation to that, respecting taxpayer confidentiality. However, it has indicated, as I shared with the Deputy, the tax payments that were made by that sector to the Exchequer over recent years. For 2023, that figure stands at €31.8 million. In 2017, that figure was €8.3...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (13 Feb 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: It is important to acknowledge that the overall size of the Israeli economy is €500 billion. That is how big that economy is. ISIF is enormous, and many different investments are taking place across the world. We have already seen ISIF divest from companies within Israel. As I said in response to the House earlier, it is not clear to me, given the scale of the investment that ISIF...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (13 Feb 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: -----in funding the kinds of activities and the approach that this Government has been clear in condemning. I have said to the House that I am aware of all of the legal debate that has taken place about the Sinn Féin Bill and the issues that have been raised. I am, of course, going to consider the issue further.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Code (13 Feb 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy should note at the outset that capital acquisitions tax, CAT, is a beneficiary-orientated tax that is payable by the recipient of a gift or inheritance as opposed to the person providing that gift or inheritance. The relationship between the person giving a gift or inheritance, the disponer, and the person who receives it, the beneficiary, determines the maximum amount, known as...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Code (13 Feb 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy. I am well aware of the kinds of issues he has raised. I am sure his constituents raise them with him. Times of inheritance are obviously difficult moments for families. Tax bills at times of sadness can be considerable. As I said in my earlier answer, any change to this form of taxation brings a particular, and perhaps significant, cost. That must be considered as...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (13 Feb 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I do not have a timeline regarding the publication of that report - if indeed it will be published. Of course, any changes we would make would be subject to debate in the Chamber and because they may require legislative change, they will be discussed by the Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach. There will, therefore, be ample opportunity for the Deputy to put...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (13 Feb 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 14 together. As Deputies are aware, the UN maintains a database of businesses involved in certain specified activities relating to settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, OPT. At the end of 2023, direct investments by the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, ISIF, in companies on the UN database was approximately €4.2 million in 11...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (13 Feb 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I disagree strongly with the Deputy's overall analysis regarding the Government's stance on the people of Palestine. From the decision we made regarding the recognition of the Palestinian state, one supported by the entire Dáil, to the ongoing funding we have provided through multilateral and international organisations to support those people, who have seen such harm and loss of life...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Trade Relations (13 Feb 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: There is an obvious contradiction in what the Deputy is saying.