Results 8,821-8,840 of 32,569 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance (Revised)
Vote 8 - Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Revised)
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revised)
Vote 10 - Tax Appeals Commission (Revised) (20 Apr 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: If the Chairman is aware of a bank that is considering buying Ulster Bank and KBC Bank beyond what happened and if he is aware of further international investment and someone wanting to set up a retail presence here in Ireland he could share that with me outside of this committee.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance (Revised)
Vote 8 - Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Revised)
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revised)
Vote 10 - Tax Appeals Commission (Revised) (20 Apr 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: It is a view. I did not give the Chairman a glib answer. I gave him a serious answer that reflects the challenge we have currently in attracting and maintaining large international banks to Ireland. It is not a glib answer; it is a realistic answer. I would certainly welcome the collaboration and help of this committee in, as the Chairman said a moment ago, talking up Irish banking. It...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance (Revised)
Vote 8 - Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Revised)
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revised)
Vote 10 - Tax Appeals Commission (Revised) (20 Apr 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I am glad the Chairman did so. It is good to hear that view from him. I have views of my own and I have duties of my own, just as he does as Chairman of this committee. I do not recall in our exchange asking him to praise banks. I did not do so. I think he was the one who said that there could be a role in talking up and acknowledging the benefits of banking in our country at the moment,...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance (Revised)
Vote 8 - Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Revised)
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revised)
Vote 10 - Tax Appeals Commission (Revised) (20 Apr 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I am sorry, just let me finish.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance (Revised)
Vote 8 - Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Revised)
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revised)
Vote 10 - Tax Appeals Commission (Revised) (20 Apr 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I was very happy to hear the Chairman's views because I respect them. I think he would allow me the opportunity to give my views back. The inference in his suggestion that there were opportunities for other potential buyers of Ulster Bank and KBC beyond what has happened with Bank of Ireland and AIB and that I did not pursue those opportunities is plain wrong. The challenge we now have is...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance (Revised)
Vote 8 - Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Revised)
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revised)
Vote 10 - Tax Appeals Commission (Revised) (20 Apr 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I want to respond to that.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance (Revised)
Vote 8 - Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Revised)
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revised)
Vote 10 - Tax Appeals Commission (Revised) (20 Apr 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: Let us just take a step back and consider what the Chairman has said I did not do. In respect of two banks, in which the State has no share and which are internationally owned, the Chairman is suggesting that I should have been involved in the sale process and played a role in attracting other buyers. I am telling the Chairman that there is not a wave of other buyers who want to come into...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance (Revised)
Vote 8 - Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Revised)
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revised)
Vote 10 - Tax Appeals Commission (Revised) (20 Apr 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: With the Chairman's consent, I will give a quick answer to that question. Our membership of the Single Market means that we now have an array of financial services providers here in Ireland. While they do not have branches here, they are providing cards, current accounts and debit payment facilities to many consumers in Ireland. Our membership of the Single Market is allowing that to...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance (Revised)
Vote 8 - Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Revised)
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revised)
Vote 10 - Tax Appeals Commission (Revised) (20 Apr 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: Our Estimates-----

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance (Revised)
Vote 8 - Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Revised)
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revised)
Vote 10 - Tax Appeals Commission (Revised) (20 Apr 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: Deputy Durkan referred to our "discourse", so we must have been doing something right.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (1 Apr 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The CRSS is a targeted support for businesses significantly impacted by restrictions introduced by the Government under public health regulations to combat the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Details of the CRSS are set out in Finance Act 2020 and detailed operational guidelines, which are based on the terms and conditions of the scheme as set out in the legislation, have been published on...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Economic Policy (1 Apr 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: We are in a period of unprecedented uncertainty. Our current focus is on maintaining existing supports and ensuring that they continue to support those most impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Government has introduced a number of schemes to support individuals and businesses who have been impacted by the pandemic. Of the three primary schemes, the Pandemic Unemployment Payment has paid...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Brexit Supports (1 Apr 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The new Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and UK is a positive conclusion to the transition period. However, the new agreement still represents a break from previously existing arrangements, and thus a permanent shock to the Irish economy. Therefore, Brexit will still have a negative economic impact on the Irish economy and living standards compared to the previous relationship....

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Industry (1 Apr 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government has prioritised the reform of the insurance sector in order to improve the cost and availability of this key financial service, including for businesses. The Action Plan for Insurance Reform sets out 66 actions in this regard across several policy areas, including my Department, with 95% due to be completed by the end of 2021. At its most recent meeting, the Cabinet Sub-Group...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Economic Policy (1 Apr 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 63, 67 and 69 together. Approaching the pandemic, the Irish economy was in a healthy position. Strong rates of economic growth had been recorded for a number of years, the labour market was effectively at full employment, while surpluses were recorded on the current account of the balance of payments and the government budget balance. While the negative...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Interest Rates (1 Apr 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 71 together. I am aware that the general level of interest rates on new mortgage lending in Ireland are higher than is the case in many other European countries, though it should also be noted that recent trends indicate that certain mortgage rates have been falling. For example, the interest rates on new fixed rate mortgages (excluding renegotiations)...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services Sector (1 Apr 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department has been participating in whole of Government preparations for Brexit since before the UK referendum in 2016 and, in line with the Government’s overall approach, this work intensified during 2020 ahead of the end of the transition period. My Department has been working closely with the Central Bank of Ireland and the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), through the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Economic Policy (1 Apr 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: Prior to the pandemic Irish economic fundamentals were very strong, with robust growth, a labour market close to full employment, and dual surpluses in the current account of the balance of payments and the public finances. The outbreak of the pandemic turned the economy on its head in the space of a few weeks, with the introduction of Covid-19 restrictions resulting in a sharp contraction in...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (1 Apr 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware tax sovereignty is an important issue for Ireland. Ireland believes that the current unanimity based voting procedure which applies among EU Member States is the most appropriate voting system in the area of taxation. Indeed, over the last 4 years, over 20 taxation initiatives have been agreed by Member States through this voting process. This is an average of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: House Prices (1 Apr 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The Department of Finance continues to monitor all aspects of the housing market, including the rate of property price inflation. As of January 2021, annual property price inflation stood at 2.6 per cent. The Government’s primary response to mitigating residential price inflation is to increase supply. I am encouraged by the stability in new dwelling completions last year in spite...