Results 11,721-11,740 of 33,214 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Help-To-Buy Scheme (30 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 354 and 356 together. I am advised by Revenue that some 6,847 applications have been received for the Help to buy scheme (HTB) to date this year, for the period 1 January to 30 June 2020. In that same period, some 2,490 claims were approved. Bearing in mind that HTB is a demand led scheme which is subject to a broad range of variables, including housing...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Staff (30 Jul 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 section...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Data (30 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that an individual’s tax residence position continues to be determined in accordance with the provisions of section 819 Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. In that regard, an individual’s tax residence status is determined by reference to his or her presence in the State during a particular tax year. For example, an individual will be considered tax resident...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Data (30 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 360 together. I am advised by Revenue that Special Assignee Relief Programme (SARP) claimants in 2019 are due to file their tax returns by 31 October 2020 (mid November 2020, if filing and paying through ROS). The latest year for which data are currently published is 2017, which includes a breakdown of SARP claimants into salary bands for 2013-2017....

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Expenditure (30 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department has made no payments for services or goods since 2015 to the company named by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Legislative Measures (30 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 363 and 364 together. Section 10 of the Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No.2) Bill 2020 makes a number of amendments to the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 to provide for a new once-off income tax relief for self-employed individuals carrying on a trade or profession who were profitable in 2019 but, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, incur losses in 2020. ...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Coverage (30 Jul 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, including in terms of honouring business interruption claims. I have considerable sympathy for such policyholders.  However neither I, nor the Central Bank can direct or require that insurers cover claims, including...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Illicit Trade (30 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The serious threat that illicit trade in tobacco, alcohol and fuel products poses to legitimate business, to consumers and the Exchequer is clear and I am assured that combating such criminality continues to be a Revenue priority.  Revenue and An Garda Síochána collaborate closely in acting against cross-Border fuel, alcohol and tobacco crime, and also cooperate with their...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Advertising (30 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department facilitates the “Switch Your Bank” campaign as part of its remit to ensure that consumers are protected within the financial sector in Ireland and to ensure a healthy level of competition. This is a public awareness campaign as part of a range of competition measures agreed with the European Commission to raise awareness and promote customer switching of financial...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (30 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The swift introduction, and subsequent extension to 6 months, of the payment breaks by the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland was critical for borrowers impacted by Covid-19.  The payment breaks on mortgages allow households to absorb the shock of the crisis, so that as many as possible can recover once the virus is under control. As at the end of June, the Central Bank...

Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (29 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: Deputy Doherty knows I do not have that power.

Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (29 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The order is fixed already.

Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (29 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I want to be clear; this Bill will be implemented as passed by the House. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the reference to directors in the Bill that is causing concern is an important compliance measure. As I have told Deputy O'Donnell and others, I have received correspondence on this issue in the past 24 hours. The Bill will be implemented as intended and as passed by the...

Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (29 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy's amendment seeks to restrict the hiring practices of employers who access the temporary wage subsidy scheme, the employment wage subsidy scheme or the special warehousing and interest provisions of the Bill. The amendment proposes that entry to such schemes would mean such employers would not be able to hire new workers to fill roles vacated due to layoffs or to hire new workers...

Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (29 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank Deputy Boyd Barrett for his questions. I am not passing anything off. I am introducing an economy-wide scheme. What is implicit in bringing in an economy-wide scheme is that I am not at this point proposing to bring in anything that is different sector by sector. I think it is clear in this legislation that we are looking to introduce a scheme that benefits as many people as...

Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (29 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I never said I had the ability to bring in a different percentage contribution for which Deputy Doherty is calling. I simply made the point that I have the ability to vary some of the operation of this scheme during its lifetime. I also know many people, as does the Deputy, who are in part-time work and who have many different employers. I take his point that it is unlikely they will go...

Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (29 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I will be, but Deputies have raised an array of issues.

Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (29 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I appreciate that. I thank the Deputies for the variety of matters they have raised. I will deal with each of them in turn. I will deal first with the amendment tabled by Deputy Doherty. I am very much aware of the issue the Deputy has raised. His point was that different parts of our economy are now beginning the slow journey into recovery at very different speeds. For some parts of our...

Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (29 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I compliment Deputy McNamara on the drafting of this amendment. It is a masterpiece of drafting and I am sure had to be read on many occasions by those souls who judge what is acceptable and not acceptable before they realised it was acceptable. To speak to the substantial matter Deputy McNamara raises, the primary qualifying criterion for the employment wage subsidy scheme is that the...

Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (29 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I will deal with the issues raised by the Deputies. On Deputy Boyd Barrett's point about the need for a roadmap and the need for artists, especially performing artists, to be clear regarding what their future prospects can be, insofar as that guidance can be given to many at present given the current uncertain times, I will follow up with the Arts Council and the Minister, Deputy Catherine...