Results 10,561-10,580 of 32,547 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Seanad: Budget 2021: Statements (14 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I am pleased to have the opportunity to appear before the Seanad today to contribute to the debate on budget 2021. As I informed the Dáil yesterday, this year's budget has been prepared in circumstances that are without precedent. The outbreak of the coronavirus has hugely impacted individuals, communities, societies and economies throughout the world, and our country is part of this....

Seanad: Budget 2021: Statements (14 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and thank Senators for their contributions. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, will be in the House for the afternoon to respond to other points Senators will raise in that debate. I am going to respond to a point made by each Senator and thank them all for their contributions. While I will deal with individual points, it...

Seanad: Budget 2021: Statements (14 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I will wrap up now.

Seanad: Budget 2021: Statements (14 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The three party leaders are focused on trying to make the right decisions for our country. Senator Chambers made the point about the increase in carbon tax and how we are looking to do that. We want to do it gradually with all of the gains from that change in carbon tax being used to deal with the issues to which she referred. On Senator McGahon's contribution, there was indeed a wide...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Schemes (14 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: Officials from my Department have considered the introduction of a car-scrappage scheme to promote the uptake of electric vehicles, and it is the Department’s view that a VRT based car scrappage scheme is unlikely to work well. The Department set out analysis on this proposal in the Climate Action and Taxes Tax Strategy Paper. This can be accessed at this link: . There are currently no...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Living City Initiative (14 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 118 together. I am advised by Revenue that the available information in respect of the Living City Initiative is the number of claimants (rather than number of properties) and the tax forgone. Year Amount Claimed €m Number of Claimants 2018 0.5 27 2017 0.4 ...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (14 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The design of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) reflects the changing environment around the COVID-19 pandemic which has shifted from crisis mode to one of living alongside the virus, in line with the recently announced Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19. The Government’s focus has therefore shifted from an employee income support paid via...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (14 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised that, in general, you cannot open a standard current account until you are aged 18. However, each financial institution has different procedures for opening an account. Some providers require that a parent or guardian sign the account opening form if the applicant is under 16 years of age. Other providers only require parental permission if the applicant is under 13 years of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (14 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to advise the Deputy that there are no age restrictions for any of the Covid-19 related schemes that are under the remit of my Department. Subject to the other relevant qualifying criteria being met, there is no restriction on persons who are under 18 and over 65 in the application of the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS), Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), or the loss...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Availability (14 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 123 together. In the answer to an earlier Parliamentary Question from the Deputy (Ref: 27576/20), Central Bank data on the number and value of outstanding Personal Contract Plan (PCP) agreements for car purchases was provided. However, the Central Bank has advised that this data is not available on a county by county basis. Regarding the regulation of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Coverage (14 Oct 2020)

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, nor can we compel any insurer operating in the Irish market to provide cover. This position is reinforced by the EU Single Market framework for insurance (the Solvency II Directive) which...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Exemptions (14 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: As I outlined yesterday in my Budget speech, I have increased the rate of carbon tax from €26 euro per tonne of Carbon Dioxide emission to €33.50 per tonne. This applied to auto fuels from midnight last night. I have delayed the increase on all other fuels, including green diesel, to 1st May 2021. As the Deputy will be aware, those who are eligible to purchase green...

Financial Resolutions 2020 - Budget Statement 2021 (13 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: When I presented budget 2020 we confronted the main challenge then facing our country, a hard Brexit. INTRODUCTION This year, while we continue to prepare for Brexit, we are also responding to the worst global pandemic in a century. We live in an era of great uncertainty and increasing risk. Overcoming these challenges in the interests of our fellow citizens is the central task of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Primary Medical Certificates (13 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81, 82, 84 to 87, inclusive, 96, 97 and 111 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: Insurance Coverage (13 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: Let me say at the outset that I am very much aware of the problems faced by many businesses in relation to the availability and affordability of public liability insurance, including those in the tourism sector, such as walking and mountaineering guides. However, as this is a commercial matter, neither I, nor the Central Bank of Ireland, can direct the pricing of insurance products, and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Schemes (13 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The Help to Buy incentive (HTB) is a scheme to assist first-time purchasers with a deposit they need to buy or build a new house or apartment. HTB will be in place until 31 December 2021. 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 outlined in the legislation. in the case of self-build...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Wage Subsidy Scheme (13 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The Employment Wage Subsidy (EWSS), which has been operating since 1 July has replaced the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) which expired on 31 August 2020. The EWSS will remain in place until March 2021, thereby allowing employers to rely on the continuation of support over a longer period of 8 months while also ensuring such support is sustainable and affordable. It should be noted...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Grant Payments (13 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: Section 112B of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, usually allows one voucher per year up to the value of €500 to be given to an employee by his or her employer tax free, provided certain conditions are satisfied. Where an employer wishes to recognise efforts of frontline or other key staff working during the COVID-19 crisis, either by accelerating part of a reward (voucher) usually...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Lending (13 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy is aware as Minister for Finance I have no role in the commercial decisions made by the banks, including the nature and structure of any forbearance measures. This applies equally to the banks in which the State has a shareholding. EBS has provided me with the following statement: "The EBA Guidelines on legislative and non-legislative moratoria on loan repayments applied in the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Lending (13 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The Central Bank has advised that it expects all regulated firms to take a consumer-focused approach and to act in their customers’ best interests at all times, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lenders continue to process mortgage applications and have supports in place to assist customers impacted by COVID-19. If mortgage applicants have any queries or concerns about the...