Results 5,621-5,640 of 32,433 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (22 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: As Minister for Finance, I do not have a direct function in the operations of any bank. Although the State is a shareholder in some of the banks operating in the State, they must be run on a commercial and independent basis. Actions taken by the banks, including the services they choose to provide, are matters for the board and management of each institution. While decisions...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Fuel Prices (22 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: Ireland’s taxation of fuel is based on European Union law as set out in the Energy Tax Directive which sets the legal framework for taxation of fuels and electricity in the EU.  Ireland applies Mineral Oil Tax (MOT) to fuels used for motor or heating purposes.  MOT is comprised of a non-carbon and a carbon component; the carbon component is also referred to as carbon tax. The...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Traveller Community (22 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to inform the Deputy that the issues included in the recommendations in the report of the Joint Committee on Key Issues Affecting the Traveller Community are not directly relevant to my Department.  My Department does not have policy responsibility for health, education, employment and accommodation, and accordingly it is not involved in the implementation of these recommendations.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Data (22 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 233, 234 and 266 together. Ireland's taxation of fuel is subject to European Union law as set out in Directive 2003/96/EC, commonly known as the Energy Tax Directive (ETD). The ETD prescribes minimum tax rates for fuel with which all Member States must comply. ETD provisions on mineral oils are transposed into national law in Finance Act 1999 (as amended)....

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Credits (22 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 239 together. As the Deputy may be aware, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, has established an Independent Working Group to examine the issue of defective housing. Officials from my Department participate in this Working Group. The objectives of the group are to identify the scope of relevant significant...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (22 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: Ireland transposed the fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive into Irish law by way of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Amendment) Act 2021 and the provisions of the 2021 Act, that relate to Virtual Asset Service Providers, commenced on 23 April 2021. In order to provide a comprehensive response to the Deputy’s question, my officials consulted with...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Ukraine War (22 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: I would first note that there is nothing specific in the Section 110 securitisation regime that is of particular relevance to Russian investors or originators, and such vehicles are fully in scope of the sanctions regime.  Furthermore, Central Bank data shows that the direct exposures of the Irish Financial System as a whole to Russia are very small. A statistical release on...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (22 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy is aware, the VAT Compensation Scheme for Charities was introduced in Budget 2018 to reduce the tax burden on Charities and partially compensate them for the VAT incurred in delivering on their charitable purpose.  A total annual capped fund of €5m is available for payment under the Scheme and where the total amount of eligible claims from all Charities in a year...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic (22 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government agreed to give a recognition payment of €1,000, for eligible frontline health and ambulance workers. An equivalent payment will be provided for relevant staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices that were affected by Covid-19. Policy in relation to the payment is, in the first instance, a matter for the Minister for Health. However,...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: World Economic Forum (22 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: The Annual Meetings of the World Economic Forum (WEF) normally take place in Davos, Switzerland in January of each year. An invitation to the Minister for Finance is usually received annually and officials in my Department liaise with the organisers regarding ministerial attendance and participation in panel discussions. I last attended the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Ukraine War (22 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: It is first important to note that Russia’s war is illegal, immoral and unjustified. Ireland’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering. We have been working closely with our EU partners and fellow Member States in the adoption of sanctions in response to Russia’s violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and all...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Housing Schemes (22 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: Home Building Finance Ireland was established to increase the supply of new homes for owner-occupiers, renters and social housing by providing funding on commercial terms to housebuilders for commercially viable developments throughout Ireland.  To December 2021, HBFI has approved funding of €835m across 71 projects in 18 counties.  This funding will support the building of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Housing Schemes (22 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) has informed me that it is a commercial investor in businesses, platforms and projects which support the delivery of new homes in Ireland.  These investments are in private market commercial operations, typically featuring a significant quantum of third-party investment.  As such, the activities of individual investments are commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (22 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: The Affordable Housing Act 2021 laid the foundation for two new affordable purchase schemes: the first to be delivered via Local Authorities and the Land Development Agency, and the second a national 'First Home' shared equity scheme supporting purchases in the private market. On the basis that the purchaser of a home will generally require a mortgage to secure a home, I can confirm that...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Ukraine War (22 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy may be aware, as Minister for Finance I am Ireland’s Governor to a number of global and European International Financial Institutions (IFIs) including the World Bank, the IMF, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) as well as a number of other regional multilateral development banks. The IFI community has reacted...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Yield (22 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: The regulation of gambling in Ireland is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Justice. Gambling regulation is currently provided for principally by the Betting Act 1931 (as amended) and the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 (as amended). Gaming is defined by section 2 of the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 as playing a game (whether of skill or chance or partly of skill and partly...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (22 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: As Minister for Finance, I do not have a direct function in the operations of any bank. Although the State is a shareholder in some of the banks operating in the State, they must be run on a commercial and independent basis. While the charging of fees is a commercial decision for regulated entities, within the parameters of the regulatory framework, under Section 149 of the Consumer...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Unions (22 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 250, 259, 260 and 268 together. This Government recognises the importance of credit unions. The Programme for Government contains commitments to: - Review the policy framework within which Credit Unions operate; - Enable and support the Credit Union movement to grow; and - Support Credit Unions in the expansion of services, to encourage community...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Revenue Commissioners (22 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257 and 258 together. I am advised by Revenue that the total number of taxpayer queries dealt with through its telephone and MyEnquiries service channels for the years 2018 to 2022 (to date) is set out in the table below. Revenue has also confirmed that approximately 68% of queries received through MyEnquiries were responded to...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (22 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that the person’s standard rate tax band was allocated in full to his other income, which meant that his annuity pension was taxed at the higher rate. I am further advised that following discussions with the person, Revenue has reallocated the appropriate portion of his standard rate tax band to his annuity pension for 2022 and has updated his Universal...