Results 12,681-12,700 of 33,214 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Coronavirus Outbreak (5 Mar 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: At the outset, it must be stressed that it is difficult to quantify the global and domestic economic impacts of the Covid19 outbreak at this stage. This is because the impact will depend on several factors, not least the duration of the epidemic as well as the containment measures put in place to limit its spread. These are simply impossible to estimate and, accordingly, it is extremely...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Compensation Fund (5 Mar 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: Setanta Insurance ("Setanta") was placed into liquidation by the Malta Financial Services Authority on 30 April 2014.  As it was a Maltese incorporated company, the liquidation is being carried out under Maltese law. As the Deputy is aware, neither I nor the Department of Finance have any role in the process including the making of applications to the High Court or payments. ...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Brexit Negotiations (5 Mar 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: In accordance with the requirements of the European Semester, the Stability Programme Update (SPU) will be published and submitted to the European Commission by the end of April. The EU mandate for the negotiations on the future relationship with the United Kingdom, agreed last week, sets out the EU’s clear position, based on the Political Declaration. A close, comprehensive set...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (5 Mar 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: A single person in employment in the State is entitled to an annual Personal Tax Credit of €1,650 (€3,300 for married persons or civil partners) and an annual maximum Employee Tax Credit of €1,650. Persons employed in certain trades or professions can also receive an annual ‘flat rate expenses’ deduction. These entitlements reduce the amount of tax that is...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Economic Growth (5 Mar 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: Growth in the first three quarters of 2019 remained strong, with GDP up 5.9 percent in year-on-year terms over that period, with the full year estimates due for release by the CSO very shortly. Of course, in recent years, GDP has become distorted by the activities of a small number of large multinational firms that often reflect a number of exceptional factors which have limited impact on...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Economic Competitiveness (5 Mar 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: Growth in the first three quarters of 2019 remained strong, with GDP up 5.9 per cent year-on-year over that period, with the full year estimates for 2019 due for release by the CSO very shortly. Of course, in recent years, GDP has become distorted by the activities of a small number of large multinational firms that often reflect a number of exceptional factors which have limited impact...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Credits (5 Mar 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The value of both the personal and employee tax credits has been set at €1,650 since the 2011 tax year following the implementation of Finance Act 2011.  The cumulative rate of consumer price inflation (based on the Harmonised Index of Consumer Price measure) from 2011 to end 2019 was 5.2 per cent.  Over the same period, between 2011 and 2018, the level of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Corporation Tax Regime (5 Mar 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I assume the Deputy is referring to the European Commission's proposals for a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB) which were published in October 2016.  The proposals have been under discussion at Council working party level since that time.  Ireland is actively involved in these ongoing technical discussions.  The re-launched CCCTB is split into two...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service Staff Data (5 Mar 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy is aware, the Civil Service Mobility scheme which comes under the remit of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and is administered through HR Shared Services, National Shared Services Office, offers an opportunity for staff members to apply for mobility through an open and transparent system. The establishment of the scheme fulfils one of the requirements of Action...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Legislation (5 Mar 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: As noted in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 78 of 26 September 2019, as result of a number of issues that have arisen in relation to the pensions benefit cap under section 52(6) and (7) of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and other Provisions) Act 2012, and the implementation of guidance on it, my Department has carried out a review into the operation of those provisions....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Policy (5 Mar 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 136, 139, 140, 142 and 144 together. The improvement in economic conditions over the last number of years has enabled the Government to increase investment in public services. Priority has been given to additional funding in the areas of infrastructure, education, childcare and health. This investment delivers on immediate social and economic needs while...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Policy (5 Mar 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 137, 141 and 145 together. Following a period of consolidation, it has been possible since 2015 to provide for moderate, sustainable expenditure growth on an annual basis. The Government has prioritised spending that mitigates risk, enhances the resilience of the economy and raises our growth capacity whilst making incremental and sustainable improvements in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (5 Mar 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I refer the Deputy to my replies to PQ 46978 of 14 November 2019 and PQ 39967 of 1 October 2019. As the Deputy is aware, to date, salary rates up to €50,000 have been fully restored. By October 2020, salary rates up to €70,000, which accounts for over 90% of the public service, will be fully restored. For public servants who have not achieved full restoration of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Implementation (5 Mar 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the significant reforms in the public sector that the Government has brought about since 2011 continues to deliver improved services and value for money across a range of themes such as governance, accountability, procurement, shared services, organisational reform and property management. The current framework for public service reform and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Standards in Public Office Commission (5 Mar 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: In accordance with section 2 of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 (the Act), I launched the second statutory review of the Act on 12 April 2019 by means of a press release. On the same day, my Department launched a public consultation process, inviting submissions from interested parties by 10 May 2019.  A copy of the public consultation paper is available at the following...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (5 Mar 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: Applications for increases in pension for retired ESB pensioners are normally submitted to the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment for his approval and subsequently sent to this Department for my consent. I can confirm that this Department has not recently received an application for approval of an increase in pension for retired ESB pensioners.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Stability Agreement (5 Mar 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I would advise the Deputy that the pension increase policy that is currently in place in respect of the pre-existing public service pension schemes (i.e. not including the Single Pension Scheme) represents a time-limited, conditions-bound return to the non-statutory, pay-linked method of pension adjustment which prevailed until the onset of the financial emergency. Under that policy,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Appointments Service (5 Mar 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 172 and 173 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Public Appointments Service (PAS) is the independent recruiter of people into the civil service.   I understand from PAS that they recruited and assigned 25 people from dedicated Civil Service panels for those with a competence in both the English and Irish languages in 2019 to various...

Taoiseach a Ainmniú - Nomination of Taoiseach (20 Feb 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: A Cheann Comhairle, I also want to begin by wishing you continued success in your role as re-elected Ceann Comhairle for this Dáil. You were a model of fairness in overseeing the previous Dáil and I am sure you will continue to be the same in this one. I also thank my constituents. I thank the people of Dublin Central for re-electing me on the second occasion. As I do so, I...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Brexit Preparations (18 Dec 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that during 2018, Revenue chaired an interdepartmental group established to consider the adequacy of port and airport infrastructure and facilities post Brexit. The group included representatives from Revenue; the Departments of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Health; the HSE's environmental health service; the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport; the...