Results 10,261-10,280 of 33,280 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Schemes (27 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 184, 195, 196 and 225 together. The purpose of the Stay and Spend Tax Credit scheme is to provide targeted support to businesses within the hospitality sector whose operations are likely to be most affected by continued restrictions on public health grounds. The scheme was developed at a time when there appeared to be a steady downward trend in infection...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (27 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department and the Revenue Commissioners are aware of the legal case in question which concerns specific taxpayers. As the Deputy is aware, it is not appropriate to comment on issues relating to specific taxpayers. It should also be noted that litigation is a common feature of tax administration in all jurisdictions and in this context we must also be conscious that this may be part of an...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (27 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is an income support which is taxable and subject to income tax. The PUP follows the general taxation rule for social welfare type payments, such as Jobseekers Benefit and Jobseekers Benefit (Self-Employed), and is exempt from USC and PRSI charges. I do not propose to introduce a tax amnesty for PUP recipients as suggested by the Deputy. It...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Brexit Preparations (27 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that as an integrated tax and customs administration, it 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. As at 1 January 2021, I am advised by Revenue that 675 staff were assigned to our ports...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Brexit Issues (27 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that in the absence of specific details, it is not in a position to comment on the case referred to by the Deputy. If the Deputy wishes to provide me with the specific details, I will pass these on to Revenue and Revenue will be happy to engage directly with the Deputy on the matter. I am advised by Revenue that its overarching objective in the context of the trading...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (27 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 190 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (27 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) has been deliberately designed as an economy wide enterprise support that is open to all sectors on the basis of a turnover test that can be applied across the whole economy while at the same time remain targeted at employers who are considered to be most in need of support. The EWSS turnover test has been specifically calibrated so as to target...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Motor Insurance (27 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: At the outset, while I have an appreciation of the specific issue the Deputy raises, neither I, nor the Central Bank of Ireland, can direct the pricing of insurance products, as this is a commercial matter. In addition, we cannot compel any insurer operating in the Irish market to provide cover to specific individuals or groups, such as young or recently qualified drivers who may use a van...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Interest Rates (27 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I am aware that the general level of lending interest rates 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 in Ireland. For example, the interest rates on new fixed rate mortgages (excluding renegotiations) have fallen from 4.11% in December 2014 to 2.67% in...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Vehicle Registration Tax (27 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised that the National Car Testing Service (NCTS), which manages the Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) process on behalf of Revenue, submitted incorrect weights (to Revenue) for the vehicle in question when it was being registered for VRT purposes. Revenue has confirmed to me that the matter has now been rectified and the correct weights have been notified to the relevant motor-tax...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Property Tax (27 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that it is precluded, by virtue of taxpayer confidentiality obligations set out in section 851A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, from providing the specific information sought by the Deputy in relation to Local Property Tax (LPT) payments made by Local Authorities on social housing stock. Revenue publishes a comprehensive range of quarterly and annual statistics...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Wage Subsidy Scheme (27 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) was introduced on 26 March 2020 to provide income support to eligible employees where the employer’s business activities were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme operated until 31 August 2020 and was replaced by the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) on 1 September 2020. To ensure payments were made to employees as...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Wage Subsidy Scheme (27 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 237 together. As recently advised to the Deputy in a previous reply to a Parliamentary Question, Revenue has completed compliance checks in respect of more than 92% of employers who participated in the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS). To date, over €3m of subsidy payments has been recouped in aggregate from some 620 employers, and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (27 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 201, 207 and 218 together. I am aware of concerns that have been raised regarding the pace of recovery for the aviation sector, and that it has been suggested that the level of support be increased and/or that the application of some of the new State supports should be delineated on the basis of explicit sectoral qualification criteria. However, the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (27 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 202, 205, 209, 215, 220 and 227 together. 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. The support is available to companies, self-employed individuals and partnerships who carry on a trade or trading activities,...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Value Added Tax (27 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: I have no plans to remove VAT on beekeeping equipment and supplies. Irish VAT law must comply with European VAT law which does not allow for a zero rate to be charged on goods outside of those specified in the VAT Directive or falling under an existing derogation.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Living City Initiative (27 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The original Living over the Shop (LOTS) scheme was part of a suite of capital allowance schemes which have now terminated and, in relation to this particular scheme, relief is not available for any capital expenditure incurred after 31 July 2008. The incentive was introduced in 2001 in the five city boroughs of Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. It provided relief of 100 per cent...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector Data (27 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: The Financial Institutions ("Bank") Levy was introduced for the three-year period 2014 to 2016 in Finance (No.2) Act 2013 with the purpose of enabling the banking sector to contribute to economic recovery. The annual yield of this levy is approximately €150 million. In Finance Act 2016 my predecessor, Minister Michael Noonan, extended the bank levy to 2021, with a rolling series...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Corporation Tax (27 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy may be aware, on 14 January I published an Update to Ireland’s 2018 Corporation Tax Roadmap. The Update demonstrates that Ireland has a proven track record of taking significant actions to prevent aggressive tax planning. Appendix 1 of the Update outlines 20 corporation tax reforms that Ireland has implemented since 2013, showing an extensive and continuing programme of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Avoidance (27 Jan 2021)

Paschal Donohoe: Finance Act 2013 introduced the regime for the operation of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) in Ireland. The purpose of the REIT regime is to allow for a collective investment vehicle which provides a comparable after-tax return to investors to direct investment in rental property, by eliminating the double layer of taxation at corporate and shareholder level which would otherwise apply....