Results 10,861-10,880 of 32,602 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Ministerial Advisers (29 Sep 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to inform the Deputy that on the commencement of every Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. The appointment of Special Advisers is subject to section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. The Guidelines for the 33rd Dáil, which incorporate the principles of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Revenue Commissioners (29 Sep 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners that it plans to purchase one new mobile container scanner in 2021 to replace one that has reached end-of-life. It is expected that the total cost for the new scanner will be approximately €1.8m. Revenue has applied for a grant from OLAF (the European Anti-Fraud office) under the Hercule III Programme to fund up to 80% of the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic (29 Sep 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The purpose of the Stay and Spend Incentive (SASI) is to incentivise taxpayers to support registered/accredited providers of accommodation and/or food during the off-season, thus providing support to a particularly vulnerable sector that will continue to be constrained by public health limitations. All food service providers and Fáilte Ireland registered or listed...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Cycle to Work Scheme (29 Sep 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: Section 118 (5G) of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides for the cycle to work scheme. It requires that the employee must mainly use the bicycle and safety equipment for qualifying journeys. This means the whole or part of a journey between home and the normal place of work. The Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Act 2020 made some changes to the scheme, increasing the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Brexit Preparations (29 Sep 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I expect the character and composition of Ireland’s international financial services sector is going to fundamentally change in a number of ways as a result of the extensive financial services investments won in recent years, including Brexit relocations and the pipeline of future projects. The industry in Ireland is going to become deeper and more diverse. My Department has been...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Brexit Preparations (29 Sep 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: As COVID-19 and a no deal Brexit represent key concurrent challenges facing the Irish economy, the interrelationship of the two economic shocks is an important consideration for Ireland’s short-term economic prospects.   Accordingly, my Department has, along with the ESRI, conducted an analysis of the sectoral overlap of the COVID-19 and no deal Brexit shocks. The main finding...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Renewable Energy Generation (29 Sep 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The 2019 Climate Action Plan charts an ambitious pathway to reduced carbon emissions by 2030 which includes a series of measures to phase out fossil fuel usage across all sectors while the Programme for Government augments the Climate Action Plan by committing to reduce emissions by an average of 7 per cent per annum through the decade. If the Deputy is seeking information in...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (29 Sep 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, the European Central Bank (ECB) has been the competent authority for issuing banking licences since 2014. Banking licences for institutions to be domiciled in Ireland are only issued once the Central Bank and ECB are satisfied that the business model of an applicant is viable and sustainable. I have been advised by the Central Bank that in the past ten years,...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services Sector (29 Sep 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: ‘Ireland for Finance’, launched in April 2019, is a whole of government strategy for the development of the international financial services sector to 2025.  The Strategy is structured around action measures grouped under four pillars: Operating Environment, Technology and Innovation, Talent, and Communications and Promotion. There are also three horizontal priorities which...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Data (29 Sep 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: In their statistical release on Residential Mortgage Arrears Statistics, the Central Bank publishes a range of data on the number of mortgages and mortgage arrears.  This publication details quarterly developments in the number and value of mortgages in arrears covering all residential properties in Ireland. The collected data covers bank and non-bank entities. All entities...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Carbon Tax Yield (29 Sep 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that the estimated carbon tax receipts for 2020 are €455m (VAT exclusive). This estimate is based on trends seen to date during the year, including the fall in consumption due to COVID-19 restrictions.  With regard to carbon tax receipts over the period 2021 to 2025, this will depend on a number of factors, such as changes in...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services Sector (29 Sep 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: In 2015 a strategy was launched called IFS2020: A Strategy for Ireland’s International Financial Services Sector 2015–2020.  New implementation structures were established under that Strategy and the Clearing House Group no longer exists.  This committee structure continues under the most recent Strategy for the development of the international financial services...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services Sector (29 Sep 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: In relation to the Deputy's question, I would like to begin by noting that the IFSC Clearing House Group no longer exists.  In its place there is the ‘Joint Committee’ which was established under IFS2020: A Strategy for Ireland’s International Financial Services Sector 2015–2020. The Joint Committee consists of two committees which have continued into the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: National Debt (29 Sep 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: For the purpose of this reply it is assumed that the Deputy is referring to GNI* rather GNI. The fluctuation in gross general government debt as a proportion of GDP, GNP and GNI* over the past ten years has been two-fold; a steady increase from 2009-2012 contrasted by a sharp decline from 2012-2019, across all three debt ratios. The table below sets out the outturn data in respect of gross...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Staff (29 Sep 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to inform the Deputy that I currently have no requests to increase staff levels in my Department. During the summer a Unit was put in place in the EU & International Division of my Department to support my role of President of the Euro Group of Finance Ministers. There are currently 7 staff members assigned to this Unit. All requests to increase staff levels in my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (29 Sep 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I am aware of the reports that NatWest is engaged in a strategic review of its operations, including those of  Ulster Bank Ireland. The Government has no formal role in such a review or any commercial decisions that result as these are a matter for the Board and Management of the Bank and its parent company, NatWest.  I understand that the process is ongoing and that no...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Legislative Measures (29 Sep 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The majority of the Consumer Insurance Contracts Act 2019 came into force from the 1st of September 2020, with 22 of the 27 sections now in operation.  The Act represents a major reform of insurance contracts and re-balances the relationship between consumer and insurer. It is my full expectation this will be positive for Irish consumers. For example, amongst other things, the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Brexit Supports (29 Sep 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, on 21stJuly 2020, Heads of State and Government reached agreement on the Post-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and Next Generation EU, totalling €1.82 trillion. Difficult discussions took place over four days, but the Government welcomes this agreement. This is a fair and balanced outcomeand demonstrates that Europe can work collectively to deal...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Vehicle Registration Tax (24 Sep 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 91 together. Vehicle Registration Tax is charged on new cars or used imports registering in the State for the first time. The VRT reform option in the Tax Strategy Group paper sets out a mechanism for transitioning to the new road emissions test 'WLTP' and recalibrating the tax design in light of the more realistic emissions recorded. This is...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Budget Process (24 Sep 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy may be aware, it is a longstanding practice of the Minister for Finance not to comment, in advance of the Budget, on any tax matters that might be the subject of Budget decisions.