Results 9,641-9,660 of 32,572 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme (20 Jan 2021)

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. Details of these reliefs and the grant in respect of fuel usage are available on the Revenue website at the following link: The relief from Value Added Tax and Vehicle Registration Tax are...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Customs and Excise (20 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that as an integrated tax and customs administration, Revenue deploys resources based on evolving business needs and to tackle any risks as they emerge. Over the last 2 years the number of Revenue staff assigned to our ports and airports has more than doubled over previous levels. In January 2020 there were 564 Revenue staff assigned to our ports and airports, while...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Primary Medical Certificates (20 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: Following approval of the Finance Act 2020, which provides for the medical criteria for the Disabled Drivers Scheme, the HSE has been informed that medical assessments can recommence from 1stJanuary 2021. This is considered to be an interim solution only. A comprehensive review of the scheme, to include a broader review of mobility supports for persons with disabilities, will be conducted...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Data (20 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department has published a Report on Tax Expenditures with each Budget since Budget 2016 (the Report on Tax Expenditures 2020 published on the day of Budget 2021 being the most recent). The report provides tables, of the extant tax expenditures and where available the number availing and revenue forgone in respect of each of the two most recently available years. It can be found at the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (20 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a European Union regulatory regime wherein electricity and gas markets are commercial, liberalised, and competitive. Operating within this overall EU framework, responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets, including the matters raised by the Deputy, is solely a matter for the Commission for Regulation of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Interest Rates (20 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: Firstly, I would like to let the Deputy know that I have no statutory role in relation to interest rates. All credit institutions in Ireland, including those in which the State has a shareholding, are independent commercial entities. Interest rates on deposit accounts are a commercial matter for the boards and management of individual banks. Notwithstanding this, I am not aware of any Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic (14 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 48 together. The Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) is a demand led economy-wide scheme that focuses primarily on business eligibility, delivering a per-head subsidy on a flat rate basis to the employer.  The level of uptake is contingent on whether an employer meets the eligibility criteria and also on whether they decide to avail...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (14 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: Section 28B of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 provides for the operation of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme, which is an economy-wide enterprise support for eligible businesses in respect of eligible employees.  It provides a flat-rate subsidy to qualifying employers based on the numbers of paid and eligible employees on the employer’s payroll...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Primary Medical Certificates (14 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: Following approval of the Finance Act 2020, which provides for the medical criteria for the Disabled Drivers Scheme, the HSE has been informed that medical assessments can recommence from 1st January 2021. This is considered to be an interim solution only. A comprehensive review of the scheme, to include a broader review of mobility supports for persons with disabilities, will be conducted...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (14 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (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. The support is available to companies, self-employed individuals and partnerships who carry on a trade or trading activities, the profits from which are chargeable...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (14 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52, 55, 61 and 65 together. In March 2020 Revenue introduced a short-term concessionary measure in relation to the operation of benefit-in-kind (BIK) on employer-provided vehicles having regard to the unprecedented situation arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.   The concessionary treatment applicable to BIK on employer-provided vehicles, along...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Wage Subsidy Scheme (14 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) is an economy-wide scheme that focuses primarily on business eligibility, delivering a per-head subsidy on a flat rate basis to the employer. The EWSS “turnover  test” has been specifically designed so as to target the subsidy at otherwise viable employers whose businesses continue to be adversely impacted by COVID-19 by...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (14 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: On 18 March last the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland (BPFI) announced a coordinated approach by banks and other lenders to help their customers who were economically impacted by the Covid-19 crisis.  The measures included flexible loan repayment arrangements where needed, including loan payment breaks initially for a period up to three months and then...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Motor Industry (14 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that the Union Customs Code (UCC) sets out the legal framework for customs rules and procedures in the EU. With the departure of the UK from the EU, the UK became a 3rd country for the purposes of trade with the EU and therefore customs formalities apply. This includes the payment of customs duties and other taxes where applicable. Customs is an EU competence and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Lending (14 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: Since the COVID-19 situation first arose, I have maintained contact with the BPFI and lenders on the measures they have put in place to assist their customers who are economically impacted by the pandemic.  In relation to the particular issue of new mortgage lending, the main retail banks previously confirmed that they are considering...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Strategies (14 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: Since 27 June 2020, my Department has undertaken a broad range of important policy initiatives, many of which will remain a priority in 2021. The main policy initiatives in 2020 included production of Budget 2021 and publication of Finance Bill 2020, as well as preparation of the July Stimulus Bill.  Policy options were developed to improve efficiency of tax administration...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (14 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is administered by the Department of Social Protection.   It is an income support which is taxable and subject to income tax. The PUP follows the general taxation rule for social welfare type payments and is exempt from USC and PRSI charges. Tax is not collected in real-time through the PAYE system.  Instead, liability to tax will be...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Help-To-Buy Scheme (14 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The Help to Buy (HTB) incentive is a scheme to assist first-time purchasers with the deposit they need to buy or build a new house or apartment. The incentive gives a refund of Income Tax and Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) paid in Ireland over the previous four years, subject to limits outlined in the legislation. I am advised by Revenue as follows: In addition to the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (14 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, I have met with representatives from both Ulster Bank and its parent company, NatWest in recent months. My most recent meeting was with the Chair of NatWest on the 17 December where I emphasised that Ulster Bank is an important part of the Irish banking landscape and I reiterated the importance of timely and direct communication between staff, their...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Electronic Commerce (14 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, there has been a significant increase in the use of electronic, or digital, payments in recent years, and more specifically over the course of the last year.  Notwithstanding the significant increase in the take-up of electronic payments, cash remains a vital part of the Irish payment system. An Indecon report commissioned by my Department in 2019...