Results 11,961-11,980 of 33,214 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Vehicle Registration Tax (14 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) is based on the Open Market Selling Price (OMSP) of an imported vehicle, which is defined as the price it might reasonably be expected to fetch if sold in the State. The OMSP is determined by reference to the vehicle model, level of CO2emissions, level of Nitrogen Oxide emissions, mileage, condition of the vehicle, and any special features or characteristics....

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Vehicle Registration Tax (14 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I am informed by Revenue that the appointed agent for the registration of vehicles, Applus, has re-opened the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) Centres for VRT purposes after 10 weeks’ closure due to Covid-19. The Centres were re-opened on a phased basis between June 8 and June 29 and every effort is now being made to reduce the waiting times for appointments and to clear the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Personal Injury Claims (14 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: At the outset, I wish to emphasise that specific details on businesses operating in the context of the pandemic are a matter for my colleague the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and his Department. In addition to this, matters of liability fall under the remit of the Department of Justice and my colleague the Minister for Justice. Having noted this, in my remit...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Value Added Tax (14 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of the EU VAT Directive, with which Irish VAT law must comply. In general, the VAT Directive provides that all goods and services are liable to VAT at the standard rate unless they fall within Annex III of the Directive, in respect of which Member States may apply either one or two reduced rates of VAT. The “use of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Revenue Commissioners (14 Jul 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) is a vital support to maintaining employment during the public health restrictions necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, the scheme has provided almost €2 billion in support to over 61,000 employers in respect of some 600,000 employees. There are approximately 405,000 employees currently receiving support through the scheme. The TWSS...

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

Paschal Donohoe: The Members of the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland introduced the payment break for their customers on 18 March last to provide relief for people whose income had been affected by the Covid-1 crisis. The EBA guidelines of 2 April stated the following in paragraph 24: "The moratorium changes only the schedule of payments. This condition is consistent with the objective of the...

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

Paschal Donohoe: 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 relationship between employers and employees and minimise the impact on the economy to the greatest extent possible during the public health restrictions necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Payments made under the...

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...