Results 11,581-11,600 of 32,547 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Industry (3 Jun 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I am aware that there have been many concerns expressed about how the insurance industry is responding to the needs of its business policyholders in these difficult times. I have considerable sympathy for such policyholders, however the Deputy should note that neither I, nor the Central Bank, have any influence over the pricing of insurance products, nor can we compel any insurer operating in...

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

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 74 together. I am advised by Revenue that section 118(5G) of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides for the cycle to work scheme. This scheme provides an exemption from benefit-in-kind where an employer purchases a bicycle and associated safety equipment up to a maximum of €1,000 for an employee to use, in whole or in part, to travel to work....

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Wage Subsidy Scheme (3 Jun 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 62 together. 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. In the context of the compelling need for immediate implementation of the TWSS, the scheme necessarily had to build on data returned to Revenue through its real-time PAYE system....

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

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 97 together. I am aware that there have been many concerns expressed about how the insurance industry is responding to the needs of its business policyholders in these difficult times, in terms of honouring business interruption claims and with regard to whether forbearance and other flexible measures are being offered to them. I have considerable...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Credits (3 Jun 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: Ireland has a progressive income tax system which is structured such that the more income you have, the more tax you pay. As an individual’s income increases they move up through the various rates and bands and, as a result, while the levels of take home pay increase overall, the amount of tax paid also increases. Total income tax receipts account for around 40% of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Value Added Tax (3 Jun 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that the VAT rating of goods and services is subject to EU VAT law, with which Irish VAT law must comply.  In accordance with VAT legislation, the supply of all goods is generally liable to the standard rate of VAT, currently 23%, including goods manufactured or produced from recycled materials; the acceptance of waste for recycling is regarded as a service of the...

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

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 51, 57 and 65 together. I am informed by Revenue that, in respect of registrations and examinations carried out in the National Car Testing Service Centres, a resumption proposal that was submitted by the Road Safety Authority to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has been accepted and will see a limited number of Centres resume on 8 June for...

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

Paschal Donohoe: I previously replied to the Deputy on this matter in Question number 68 of 20 May 2020. In my reply, I confirmed to the Deputy that the grant application in question was processed by Revenue and submitted to my Department for payment on 2 March 2020 and was subsequently paid by my Department in March 2020. The amount of fuel grant paid was €528.96.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Lending (3 Jun 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The European Union (Consumer Mortgage Credit Agreements) Regulations 2016 (CMCAR) provide 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 or her obligations under the...

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

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that the issue to which the Deputy is referring has arisen because the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) is temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The NCTS manages the car registration process for Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) purposes on behalf of Revenue. Revenue has also confirmed that it has engaged with the NCTS and with the car dealership in...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Bank Charges (3 Jun 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: Covid 19 has presented unprecedented difficulties for consumers and businesses alike. The Central Bank expects that all regulated firms take a consumer-focused approach and act in their customers’ best interests at all times. Both the Central Bank and I encourage firms to take all possible measures to assist their customers during this difficult time and to help their customers to the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Lending (3 Jun 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I have been informed by the Central Bank of Ireland (the Central Bank) that for all regulated entities, including banks, retail credit and credit servicing firms, the Central Bank is focused on ensuring that COVID-19 related payment breaks operate in borrowers’ best interests and are in line with regulatory requirements. Payment breaks give customers the opportunity to postpone or...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Wage Subsidy Scheme (3 Jun 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) is an emergency measure to deal with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy. It builds on data returned to Revenue through the PAYE system and as such is a fully automated solution. The automated solution, which was developed in a very short timeframe in response to the pandemic, is designed around the dates specified in the legislation....

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Business Regulation (3 Jun 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The sale of intoxicating liquor to consumers is regulated under the Liquor Licensing laws.  Any legal changes in this area would be a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality.   I am advised by Revenue that its function in relation to liquor licences, is limited to the issue of the annual licence on presentation of the appropriate court authorisation, tax...

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

Paschal Donohoe: 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 have been developed very quickly, having regard to the overarching urgent Government objective of getting much needed assistance to employers and employees, where businesses have been seriously affected by the pandemic and the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Lending (3 Jun 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The European Union (Consumer Mortgage Credit Agreements) Regulations 2016 (CMCAR) provide 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 or her obligations under the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Jun 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 - and it will pass – our people can get...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Lending (3 Jun 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The Central Bank has indicated that it has not advised retail banks and mortgage brokers that pending mortgage applications cannot be approved in cases in which applicants payslips show receipt of temporary wage subsidy scheme payments. The European Union (Consumer Mortgage Credit Agreements) Regulations 2016 (CMCAR) provide that, before concluding a mortgage credit agreement, a lender must...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Electric Vehicles (3 Jun 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: As Minster for Finance I do not offer any grant schemes for personal transportation. However, I can advise the Deputy that the Office of the Revenue Commissioners operates a Cycle to Work Scheme.  New bicycles and pedelecs (electrically assisted bicycles which require some effort from the cyclist) are included in the Cycle to Work Scheme.  Further details on the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Yield (3 Jun 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 116 together. The monthly tax receipts to end-April 2020 are available at my Department's databank at This information is presented in the tables for the Deputy's convenience.  In ordinary circumstances, my Department produces monthly taxation profiles at the beginning of the year based on the previous Budget's taxation...