Results 10,441-10,460 of 32,547 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Bodies (3 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, NewERA was established in 2011 as a unit within the National Treasury Management Agency (“NTMA”), initially on a non-statutory basis. As a shareholder advisory unit, NewERA advised Ministers from a shareholder perspective on 5 commercial state bodies (“CSBs”) - ESB, Bord Gáis Éireann (now Ervia), EirGrid, Bord na Móna and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Retail Sector (3 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I have previously outlined the rationale for the changes proposed to the VAT Retail Export Scheme. This scheme enables visitors that are resident outside the EU to benefit from VAT relief on goods purchased in Ireland and subsequently taken outside of the EU. If the scheme applies to UK visitors post-Brexit without changes UK visitors will be able to buy goods VAT free in Ireland. This...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Primary Medical Certificates (3 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 386, 388, 397, 405, 427, 430, 446 and 448 together. 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 cost of the scheme in 2019, excluding motor tax, was €72m. The Scheme is open to severely...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 387 and 411 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme (3 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I am informed by Revenue that the Disabled Driver and Passenger Scheme provides for the remission or repayment of VRT up to the maximum limits as provided for in Statutory Instrument 353 of 1994. Section 135C(3)(b) of the Finance Act 1992 further provides that a Category A series production electric vehicle can avail of relief of up to €5,000 on the VRT due. The Disabled Drivers...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Vehicle Registration Tax (3 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I am informed by Revenue that, for a person with a normal residence outside of the State, a temporary exemption from the requirement to register for a period not exceeding 12 months may be granted under a number of conditions including that the vehicle is taxed and registered abroad, owned by a person established outside the State and is not driven by a person except with the permission of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Home Building Finance Ireland (3 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by HBFI that it recently issued a mid-year update on its business performance to 31st July 2020. Further details are available at . To deal more specifically with the Deputy’s queries: - 89 loan applications with a value of €907 million were received to end July. - 29 loans were approved with a value of €340 million to support 1,477 new homes to end July. -...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Cycle to Work Scheme (3 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 398 and 409 together. Section 118 (5G) of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides for the cycle to work scheme. The scheme provides an exemption from benefit-in-kind where an employer purchases a bicycle and associated safety equipment for an employee to use, in whole or in part, to travel to work. Safety equipment includes helmets, lights, bells,...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 399 and 400 together. The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS), which was provided for in section 28 of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (COVID-19) Act 2020, expired on 31 August 2020. Of necessity, the underlying legislation and the scheme itself were developed very quickly, having regard to the urgent Government objective of getting much...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I would like to advise the Deputy that Revenue has recently prepared a detailed statistical report on the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS), following the filing of payslips for the period to end August. This report is published at www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/documents/research/statistical-o verview-of-covid-19-twss.pdf. Included on page 10 of this report is a breakdown of TWSS employees...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Coverage (3 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I am conscious of the difficulties that the absence, or the withdrawal, of flood insurance cover can cause to homeowners and businesses. However, you should be aware that the provision of insurance is a commercial matter for insurance companies, which is based on a proper assessment of the risks they are willing to accept. Consequently, neither I, nor the Central Bank of Ireland, can...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) was legislated for in section 28 of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020. The scheme was predicated on the employer wanting to keep the employees on the payroll and to retain them until business picked up. The employer was expected to make best efforts to maintain the employee’s net income for the duration of the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 404 and 407 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 Supports (3 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy will be aware that the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) provides a flat-rate subsidy to qualifying employers based on the number of paid and eligible employees on the employer’s payroll and charges a reduced rate of employer PRSI of 0.5% on wages paid which are eligible for the subsidy payment. I am advised that Revenue having regard to the circumstances of the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Retail Sector (3 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 412 and 413 together. I have previously outlined the rationale for the changes proposed to the VAT Retail Export Scheme. This scheme enables visitors that are resident outside the EU to benefit from VAT relief on goods purchased in Ireland and subsequently taken outside of the EU. If the scheme applies to UK visitors post-Brexit without changes UK...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Corporation Tax (3 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy has raised two points which I will deal with in turn, but I must first set out the parameters which must be respected when doing so. The Deputy will be aware that Revenue is statutorily bound to confidentiality in respect of taxpayer information and by law Revenue is prohibited from disclosing taxpayer information to third parties, including to Dáil Éireann. Section 851A...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Coverage (3 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: In relation to my reply of 20 October in relation to the risk presented by the State acting as an insurer for artists and the live events sector, I would draw the attention of the Deputy to the following factors. Specifically with regard to competition, the concern I have with such a proposal is that it could compound what some see as the ‘cherry picking’ of risk within the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Motor Tax (3 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: Details of the changes to motor tax and VRT are set out in the Finance Bill.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Reports (3 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The Department of Finance undertook a public consultation in 2019 seeking views on capping the cost of licensed moneylenders and other regulatory matters in relation to moneylending. The submissions received, proposed a number of policy changes in relation to the moneylending industry and are broadly in favour of introducing an interest rate restriction. A number of potential policy...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Correspondence (3 Nov 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I am aware of the 'Save our Ulster Bank' campaign that the Deputy is referring to and I share the concerns outlined in the correspondence. I became aware that NatWest is engaged in a strategic review of its operations, including those of its subsidiary, Ulster Bank, thanks to media reports published last month. Following these media reports, officials from my Department contacted Ulster...