Results 7,141-7,160 of 33,883 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (1 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: In line with the Programme for Government policy approach to Carbon Tax, Finance Act 2020 legislated for a series of annual increments in the carbon tax rate leading to a rate of €100 per tonne of tonne of CO2 emitted in 2030.The rate of €41 per tonne applied to auto fuels from October 2021 but I delayed the increased on home heating fuels until 1stMay 2022 to allow for the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Electric Vehicles (1 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government is committed to incentivising electric vehicles (EVs) as has been reflected in the wide suite of measures which have facilitated an exponential growth in EV registrations over the past number of years. The Programme for Government 2020 outlined a commitment to an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030 (a 51% reduction over the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (1 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: The EU ETS operates in all EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway (EEA-EFTA states) and covers approximately 10,000 installations in the power sector and manufacturing industry, as well as airlines operating between these countries.  The EU ETS works on the 'cap and trade' principle. A cap is set on the total amount of certain greenhouse gases that can be emitted by the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Naval Service (1 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 242, 243 and 244 together. I am advised by Revenue that the role of its Maritime Unit, which has a national remit, is to patrol and monitor internal waters, territorial seas and adjacent waters. These patrol and monitoring activities are aimed at the prevention, detection, interception and seizure of illegal importations and exportations of prohibited and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Unions (1 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 245 and 248 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. - Support Credit Unions in the expansion of services, to encourage community development. Credit...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (1 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy may be aware, during 2021, I announced that the State would commence selling its shareholding in AIB and Bank of Ireland through separate pre-arranged trading plans. Updates on the shareholdings in AIB and Bank of Ireland are disclosed to the market each time the shareholding falls through a percentage point threshold as is required by the Stock Exchange and investment...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Trade Sanctions (1 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: Revenue, as Ireland’s Tax and Customs administration, is responsible for managing the importation and exportation of goods in accordance with the EU Union Customs Code and relevant national legislation. I am advised by Revenue that both Palestine and Israel have Free Trade Agreements with the EU. As a result, there are no prohibitions on goods coming from either jurisdiction into...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (1 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy may recall, I previously asked my Department to undertake a comprehensive study of all aspects of the 9% VAT rate ahead of Budget 2019. The “Review of the 9% VAT rate: Analysis of Economic and Sectoral Developments” was published by my Department in July 2018, in order to better inform any decision in relation to the 9% reduced rate going forward. In addition...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (1 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: Section 485 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, as inserted by Section 11 of the Finance Act 2020, requires Revenue to publish the list of Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) recipients at the end of the scheme. I am advised by Revenue that it is currently finalising the wind-down process of the scheme, which was extended to 31 January 2022 to provide additional support to the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Industry (1 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 251 and 266 together. I am aware that the affordability of public liability insurance is an issue for certain sectors, including for those involved in performance and the arts. As the Deputy will be aware, neither I, nor the Central Bank of Ireland, can direct the pricing or provision of insurance products, as this is a commercial matter which individual...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (1 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 252 and 267 together. I am advised by Revenue that the VAT rating of goods and services is subject to EU VAT law, with which Irish VAT law must comply. The VAT Directive obliges each Member State to have a standard rate of VAT and also allows that a Member State may choose to have no more than two reduced rates of VAT, which may be no less than 5%, and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Gender Equality (1 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to inform the Deputy that 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 its employment practices. As an employer, the Department must fulfil its obligations under equality legislation, particularly the Employment Equality Act 1998-2015. The Employment Equality Act...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (1 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 254 and 256 together. The position remains as previously outlined with regards to the application of VAT exemption now rated at 13.5% on earnings over €37,500 for counsellors and psychotherapists. The VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law, with which Irish VAT law must comply. Under domestic legislation,...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Unions (1 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 255, 261 and 265 together. The Programme for Government includes a number of commitments in relation to the credit union sector.  The Review of Policy Framework is in its final stages with a summary list of proposals having recently been shared with all the credit union representative bodies. A final stakeholder engagement session has been scheduled...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (1 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 257 and 262 together. As the Deputies will be aware, the EU Commission published a proposal on the reform of VAT rates in January 2018 which would allow Member States more flexibility in how they apply VAT rates. The compromise text agreed at ECOFIN in December has been amended significantly in comparison to the original proposal so the EU...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (1 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that section 865 of the Taxes Consolidation Act (TCA) 1997 provides a general right to repayment of tax where a person has paid tax which is not due.  However, section 865(4) of the TCA provides that that right is subject to the making of a claim within a statutory limit of four years after the end of the chargeable period to which the claim relates.  That...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Primary Medical Certificates (1 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: The Disabled Drivers & Disabled Passengers Scheme provides relief from VRT and VAT on the purchase and use of an adapted car, as well as an exemption from motor tax and an annual fuel grant. The Scheme is open to severely and permanently disabled persons who also meet the below medical criteria, as a driver or as a passenger and also to certain organisations. In order to qualify...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (1 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: In response to the Deputy’s question about an EU level investigation into Switzerland, it should be noted that the EU’s methodology for classifying third countries as holding a high risk in regard to money laundering or terrorist financing was revised in 2020. This process takes the equivalent Financial Action Task Force (FATF) lists as a starting point.  Other countries to...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Correspondence (1 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to inform the Deputy that since coming into office, I have not brought policy instructions or policy documents to the attention of An Bord Pleanála.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Data (1 Mar 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: At year-end 2021 Gross National Debt stood at €237.2bn. The table below provides a breakdown of that figure into the various debt components. Year-end 2021 €bn Irish Government Bonds 154.1 EFSM/EFSF Loans 40.9 SURE Loan 2.5 Other Medium/Long-Term Debt 5.2 ...