Results 8,281-8,300 of 33,175 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tax Code (21 Sep 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I am of course aware of the huge challenges we have in providing affordable homes, providing homes for those who need them most and the great challenge of increasing rents. That is why I am absolutely committed to delivering the measures that are outlined in Housing for All. There is no delay whatsoever to those commitments. I am committed to the introduction of such a tax. Before I look...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Banking Sector (21 Sep 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy already knows what the macroprudential rules are and how they are operated so I will directly answer the question he has put to me. With regard to my engagement with the Central Bank, the operation of the macroprudential rules is an independent function of the Central Bank and it is not appropriate for me to contact it on how it operates that policy. It is set and implemented by...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Banking Sector (21 Sep 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: It is a separate issue and I am aware of its huge importance and the chronic stress and anxiety it has caused. While the Deputy recognised that I cannot influence a lending decision made by our banks, I will raise this issue in the coming weeks, in the context of the Government response to mica that will be put forward.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Banking Sector (21 Sep 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: To date, I have not had engagement with the banks on a contribution they may, or may not, make to a scheme such as this in the future. Obviously, there is an intensely important need that we have to strive to better meet on behalf of the communities for whom the Deputy is raising this issue and the families who do not have a home. The issue we will need to consider is how this will be paid....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tax Code (21 Sep 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions No. 2 and 5 together. As is always the case, I have to emphasise that it is not appropriate for me to comment on the tax affairs of an individual business. I am advised by Revenue that the competent authority agreement with Malta, to which the report refers, was clearly set out as addressing arrangements that would otherwise exploit mismatches between the two...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (21 Sep 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: My officials and I have ongoing engagement with each of the banks in which the State has a shareholding, including PTSB. This engagement has been in place since the State first invested in the banks and it includes regular meetings where a wide range of topics are discussed. With regard to the withdrawal of Ulster Bank from the Irish market, I have had various discussions with its...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (21 Sep 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: 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, professional medical care services recognised as such by the Department of Health are exempt from VAT. Professional medical care services recognised by the Department of Health are generally those medical care services supplied by health...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Budget 2022 (21 Sep 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: In advance of the Budget, as Minister for Finance I receive a large number of pre-budget submissions on a wide range of issues. These can range from highly detailed and developed proposals for specific changes to existing taxes, reliefs, exemptions and allowances to more straightforward requests, for example, to increase the single person tax credit. Many submissions contain proposals...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Economic and Social Research Institute (21 Sep 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 59 together. It is important to recognise that the Government receives advice from many quarters on many issues. In relation to borrowing, I am aware of the ESRI analysis but, equally, I am aware of other pieces of analysis - including most recently from the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council- that highlight the risks associated with more-and-more...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Yield (21 Sep 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The Exchequer has benefited from better-than-expected corporation tax receipts this year. As of August, the most recent available data, corporation tax receipts were €859 million, or 14 per cent ahead of target and up by some €524 million, or just over 8 per cent ahead of the same period last year. This over-performance is significant, but would have been even higher were it not...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Inflation Rate (21 Sep 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I am very conscious of the pick-up in consumer price inflation in recent months. While Covid-19 had a deflationary impact both in Ireland and internationally last year, inflation has picked up since the beginning of this year. In Ireland, the annual rate of HICP inflation rose to 3 per cent in August – the highest rate since 2008; similar trends have been observed across other advanced...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: National Treasury Management Agency (21 Sep 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) has informed me, that the net Exchequer cash interest paid in respect of Ireland’s National Debt in 2020 was just over €4.5bn. This was a reduction of over €0.5bn, or more than 10% on the 2019 figure and some 40% below the 2014 peak. In the first eight months of 2021, National Debt interest totalled just over €3.2bn,...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Unions (21 Sep 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for his question. Since the beginning of the year, I have held nineteen meetings with various credit union stakeholders including credit unions themselves, Representative Bodies, various collaborative ventures, the Registrar of Credit Unions and the Credit Union Advisory Committee. These meetings have proven to be very informative and their outputs will feed into the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (21 Sep 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The present position is that agricultural contractors are not entitled to avail of relief from increases in the carbon tax on farm diesel under section 664A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. This is because farming, which is defined in section 654 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, requires that the occupation of farmland; agricultural contracting does not involve the occupation of farmland....

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Industry (21 Sep 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: This Government recognises the importance of a stable, well-functioning and competitive insurance industry. Therefore the Action Plan for Insurance Reformset out 66 actions across a number of policy areas which is aimed at reducing volatility in the market, removing barriers to entry and making Ireland more attractive to insurance companies. The Government recently published the first Action...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Fiscal Data (21 Sep 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department publishes two sets of (granular) fiscal forecasts each year: in the spring (set out in the Stability Programme Update) and in the autumn (alongside the annual Budget). Clearly, and as the Deputy is aware, tax revenue has performed strongly over the summer; some of this is permanent - in the sense that it remains in the base - while some is temporary and reflects one-off gains....

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (21 Sep 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: My officials and I regularly meet with the main retail banks, both in-person, and more recently, using virtual platforms. In particular, we engage with each of the banks in which the state has a shareholding (i.e. AIB, Bank of Ireland and PTSB) on a regular basis. This engagement has been in place since the State first invested in the banks and it includes regular meetings where a wide...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Vacant Properties (21 Sep 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: Within the tax system, the Help to Buy (HTB) incentive is the main instrument through which support is provided to first-time buyers. HTB is a scheme to assist such buyers with the deposit they need to buy or build a new house or apartment. The incentive gives a refund on Income Tax and Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) paid in the State over the previous four years, subject to limits...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Strategy Group (21 Sep 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The Tax Strategy Group (TSG) is chaired by the Department of Finance with membership comprising senior officials and political advisers from a number of Civil Service Departments and Offices. Papers on various options for tax policy changes are prepared annually by Department of Finance officials. The TSG is not a decision making body and the papers produced by the Department are simply a...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Official Engagements (21 Sep 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: These engagements were undertaken in my capacity as President of the Eurogroup. I travelled to Slovenia for the Eurogroup and informal ECOFIN meetings, and there was an opportunity to engage in an additional bilateral with Croatia, as a neighbouring country. Exchanging views with my Eurogroup colleagues and the European institutions is an essential dimension of the Presidency, whether...