Results 11,301-11,320 of 32,547 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Lending (14 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I fully appreciate the concerns many people are experiencing about mortgage applications and drawdowns at this difficult time, and my Department is maintaining close contact with the Central Bank and Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) as the lending industry works to address the difficulties the Covid-19 situation is causing for both borrowers and lenders. In this context, the...

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

Paschal Donohoe: The legislation underpinning the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) provides that payments to employees under the scheme are not taxable in real-time through the PAYE system. As the Deputy will appreciate, this was in keeping with the need to get financial support into the hands of affected workers as quickly as possible. The subsidy payments remain liable to income tax and universal...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Public Inquiries (14 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to inform the Deputy that there are no tribunals, public investigations or commissions of investigation set up under my Department. My Department is a stakeholder in two commissions of investigation, however these are set up under the Department of the Taoiseach.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs (7 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: Consanguinity relief is the relief that applies in relation to transfers of farmland between certain blood relatives whereby the applicable rate of stamp duty is reduced from 7.5% to 1%. The details and conditions of the relief are set out in Schedule 1(5) of the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999. The relief is due to expire on 31 December 2020. My Department is currently carrying out...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Help-To-Buy Scheme (7 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The Programme for Government ‘Our Shared Future’ includes a commitment to "retain and expand the Help to Buy scheme for new properties and self-build properties". The intention is to deliver on this and other commitments in the programme within the duration of the life of the Government. In relation to the 70% loan to value floor in the scheme, I should also point out that...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Lending (7 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: In the context of mortgage lending, the European Union (Consumer Mortgage Credit Agreements) Regulations 2016 (CMCAR) provides that, before concluding a mortgage credit agreement, a lender must make a thorough assessment of the consumer’s creditworthiness. The assessment must take appropriate account of factors relevant to verifying the prospect of the consumer being able to meet his...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Lending (7 Jul 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, and my Department maintains close contact with the Central Bank and Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) as the lending industry works to address the difficulties the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme (7 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I have asked my officials to investigate the status of this claim and if all is in order to ensure payment is made without further delay. I understand that the initial delay was due to an error in the online claim. I have further asked my officials to revert directly to the Deputy on the matter in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs (7 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy’s question relates to tax relief under section 847A Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (TCA) for donations to certain sports bodies for the funding of capital projects. I am advised by Revenue that the sports body in question has been granted exemption under section 235 TCA, which means that donations to the sports body for the purpose of the capital project would be eligible...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Value Added Tax (7 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government is fully aware of the unprecedented impact that the coronavirus is having on business and people’s livelihoods. In this regard a range of measures have been introduced to provide income support to those who need it while also giving confidence to employers to retain the link with employees so that when this crisis passes our people can get back to work as quickly and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Revenue Commissioners (7 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that it closed its public offices, including the Cork office, in accordance with the Government measures announced on 27 March 2020 to suppress the transmission of COVID-19. Revenue has also confirmed that it is adhering to the public health advice that people work from home to the greatest extent possible. To facilitate such ‘remote working’ Revenue has...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (7 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The flexible approach taken by Revenue to debt collection, accrual of interest and enforcement activity to date has provided vital liquidity support to businesses during the COVID-19 crisis. In this context, Revenue has emphasised the importance of businesses continuing to file tax returns promptly, even in circumstances where they cannot pay the associated liabilities. Revenue has also...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Wage Subsidy Scheme (7 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) is provided for in section 28 of the recently enacted Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020. The Deputy will be aware that the TWSS is an emergency measure to deal with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy. Of necessity, the underlying legislation and the scheme itself were developed rapidly, having regard to the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Wage Subsidy Scheme (7 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 152, 153, 160, 166 and 183 together. The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) is provided for in section 28 of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020. The TWSS is an emergency measure to deal with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy. Of necessity, the underlying legislation and the scheme itself were developed...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Wage Subsidy Scheme (7 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 190 together. Section 28 of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 provides for the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS). The scheme is designed to maintain the key relationship between employers and employees and minimise the impact on the economy to the greatest extent possible during the public health restrictions...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Home Repossessions Rate (7 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I have been advised by the Central Bank of Ireland that within the remit of their responsibilities for safeguarding stability and protecting consumers, its approach to mortgage arrears resolution is focused on ensuring the fair treatment of borrowers through a strong consumer protection framework and ensuring that lenders have appropriate arrears resolution strategies and operations in place....

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Vehicle Registration Tax (7 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: There are currently five VRT categories which determine the basis of the applicable VRT charge. I have no plans to make changes to the type of vehicles that are in these categories.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Credits (7 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The issue raised by the Deputy relates to the eligibility criteria for the Single Person Child Carer Credit (SPCCC). The SPCCC is a tax credit that is available to a single person who has a “qualifying child” resident with him/her for the whole or greater part of the tax year and who satisfies the other conditions of the relief. The value of the credit is €1,650 for...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Primary Medical Certificates (7 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 158 and 187 together. I have been advised that hearings of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal have been postponed due to Covid-19 restrictions, where the fact that many appellants would likely be in the vulnerable or high-risk Covid-19 category is a relevant consideration. I have also been advised that a Supreme Court decision of 18 June...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Coverage (7 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: At the outset you should note that neither I, as Minister for Finance, nor the Central Bank of Ireland can interfere in the provision or pricing of insurance products or have the power to direct insurance companies to provide cover to specific individuals or businesses. This position is reinforced by the EU framework for insurance (the Solvency II Directive) which expressly prohibits Member...