Results 12,521-12,540 of 32,547 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Banking Sector Staff (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am aware of reports of ongoing and potential rationalisation within the banking sector, both in Ireland and on a wider European level. Reductions in staffing levels are always a matter of regret, as are branch closures. As Minister, I hope they can be kept to the minimum necessary to ensure the banks can meet their obligations to their customers and the need for them over time to be able...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Budget 2020 (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: It would probably be premature to say investors or large companies might invest elsewhere as a result of the Apple ruling, particularly as regards companies that are already here. However, the loss of the Apple case would pose exceptionally important challenges for our corporate tax policy, requiring deeply serious consideration. I am very conscious of the magnitude of €14 billion...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Costs (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 48 together. I am very conscious of the difficulties referred to by the Deputy. While neither I, nor the Central Bank of Ireland, can interfere in the provision or pricing of insurance products, nor compel insurers to provide cover in the first place the Government, through the work of the cost of insurance working group, has identified the key...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Costs (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am aware of the importance of this issue and I am glad to be able to tell the Deputy how much work has been done on it. The Minister of State and I are very much aware of the many issues being created for small and medium sized businesses and for the leisure sector all over the country. This is why we put in place the Personal Injuries Commission. It is why we enacted the Judicial...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Costs (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Minister of State, Deputy D'Arcy, and I are well aware of the importance of this issue and that is why the Minister of State went to London a couple of weeks ago to meet key insurance underwriters and to press the case for the coverage of the sector. I am aware that the withdrawal of any form of insurance in the sector makes it difficult, if not impossible, for many to provide their...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Code (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Penalties and how they are levied are matters for the Revenue Commissioners. I know the reason Revenue made the decision to make the change for today. It was its determination ensure no taxpayer would be penalised as a result of the systems issue that had developed. As the Deputy knows and has acknowledged, efforts have been made to address and resolve the issue in the operation of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Code (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for the invitation, but I am well aware of how hard the work is for those involved in mining. I am also well aware of their concerns. I assure and inform them that the matter has also been raised with me by the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy McEntee, and the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Budget 2020 (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government decided in September that budget 2020 would be based on the assumption of a disorderly Brexit at the end of October. Given the information available at the time, this was the safest and most appropriate course of action. Since I published budget 2020, the risk of the United Kingdom departing the European Union this year without a deal has been reduced. However, the ultimate...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Budget 2020 (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: While the answer I gave on "Morning Ireland" may have been a preview of the position today, it was a review of the postion yesterday. I went through many of these issues yesterday with the Deputy's colleagues at the Committee on Budgetary Oversight. For the benefit of all colleagues, I will emphasise some of the points I made. They relate to the point the Deputy put to me about other...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Budget Contribution (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Ordinary workers benefit from our membership of the EU. The Deputy asked a question as to the cost consequences of the various scenarios articulated by other member states and I began to outline the answer, the rest of which will be given in written format. If, for example, the ceiling is at 1%, from 2021 the figure will be €2.575 billion, rising to €2.77 billion in 2023. If...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Budget Contribution (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy used the word "burden" in respect of the contribution we will need to make to the EU. It is the case that we will need to make a higher level of payment but this is in the context that Ireland has only recently become a net contributor. For decades, we were a net beneficiary but that has changed, and we now pay in more than we receive. As we look at how we will frame our...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Code (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 50 together. It is a reasonable request. We discussed the matter earlier. I cannot commit on behalf of the Revenue Commissioners as to what they will do or what engagement they will have with the Oireachtas. Nevertheless, as soon as I have absolute clarity on the matter and the Revenue Commissioners respond to me, I will immediately make the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Aid Investigations (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy used the word "deception". On what basis is he making that claim? He asked me how much money is being paid, and I answered him. That €14 billion is a huge amount. As he has a deep understanding of these matters, he knows that in the event of us losing this case, many other countries would immediately challenge Ireland for their perceived share of the €14 billion....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Aid Investigations (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy alleged that I had committed some form of deception. He is only too quick to challenge the Minister of State, Deputy D'Arcy, whenever he raises any issue with him. By making the charge of deception he is alleging that I am concealing something from the House. I was asked a set of questions about cost, which I have answered transparently, as is my duty to the Deputy. He equally...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Aid Investigations (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I believe that in the event of us losing this case, other jurisdictions will look for access to the money. While I do not believe we will lose the case-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Aid Investigations (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: -----the risk of that happening is the very reason the money cannot be spent. This money is not ours. We are not a global tax collector.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Aid Investigations (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: We need to defend against this claim.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Budget Contribution (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The MFF was most recently discussed at the October European Council meeting, where leaders exchanged views on key issues such as the overall level of expenditure, the volumes of expenditure in the main policy area, and financing, including revenues and corrections as well as conditionalities and incentives. In light of the discussion, the Council...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Insurance Costs (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I will come in on this matter because a number of the questions were directed at me. Deputy Michael McGrath was good enough to confirm that the measure of my engagement on any particular issue cannot be measured solely on the number of meetings I have. I confirm to the House that I have been directly involved in the completion of each of the steps to which the Minister of State, Deputy...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Insurance Costs (13 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: With regard to Deputy Pearse Doherty's point, key figures within the insurance industry have given a commitment as to how they will respond when this work is under way. The Government and I intend to hold them to account in that respect.