Results 13,061-13,080 of 33,280 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Funding (26 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: At the outset it is important to remind the Deputy that Ireland’s allocation of European Regional Development Funds have in the past, and will continue in the future, to support projects in all parts of Ireland. Moreover, in accordance with the EU Regulatory requirement, stakeholders at local, regional and national level will continue to have a key role in the planning,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (26 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As stated previously this appeal case relates to the awarding of pension increases by the company concerned. A request from the company seeking a pension increase is being considered at present by my Department. The outcome of this request may feed into the deliberations on the determination in this case. Accordingly, a determination on this case will be made as soon as possible...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Ministerial Meetings (21 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy is aware, as Minister for Finance, I am responsible for the development of the legal framework governing financial regulation, which includes insurance. In this regard, both I and my predecessor, Mr Michael Noonan T.D. as Ministers for Finance, have always recognised insurance reform as a key priority for this Government. However, we have been consistently clear that there is...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Revenue Commissioners Powers (21 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a number of additional staff and increased use of the Revenue drug detector dog teams including a new drug detector dog, have been deployed in the mail centres. These measures together with detection technology, such as scanners, currently used in the mailing centres have led to the increased rate of detection. Revenue constantly reviews its...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Budget Submissions (21 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Taxation Division of my Department received in excess of 300 pre-budget submissions in relation to Budget 2020 and the Finance Bill. Some of these are duplicates sent in by different public representatives on behalf of the same organisation. All submissions are acknowledged by the Department on receipt. The relevant officials in the Division consider all pre-budget submissions in the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Help-To-Buy Scheme Eligibility (21 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, Finance Bill 2019 proposes a two-year extension to the Help to Buy (HTB) scheme. The definition of first time buyer in HTB is as follows: 'first-time purchaser' means an individual who, at the time of a claim under subsection (3) has not, either individually or jointly with any other person, previously purchased or previously built, directly or indirectly, on his...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector Investigations (21 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy is aware I have no role in the day to day operations of any bank operating in the market. The bank concerned, AIB, has provided me with the following statement in relation to this matter: "AIB can confirm that the issue has been notified to the Central Bank of Ireland. "This issue relates to certain EBS mortgage customers where their insurance premium is collected with...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Meetings (21 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to advise the Deputy that I have not met with any insurance companies or Insurance Ireland in my role as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform since my appointment to that role on 6thMay 2016. I am providing a separate reply to the Deputy in response to his question to me in my role as Minister for Finance.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Spending Code (21 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As part of the ongoing reform of Ireland’s public investment management systems, my Department has undertaken extensive work on the updating of the Public Spending Code. The purpose of this update is to strengthen the existing guidance to better align with the realities of project delivery and with a particular focus on improved appraisal, cost estimation and management. I anticipate...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Shared Services (21 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 to 68, inclusive, together. The Financial Management Shared Service Programme will see the migration and upgrade of 31 separate Financial Management Systems (FMS) to a single FMS, with a single common Chart of Accounts, and standardised accounting processes for all of Central Government. This Programme is necessary, not only to address the upgrade...

Finance Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The tax division of my Department provided the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach with an estimate of costs in respect of this measure that was based on specific assumptions. The report provided also noted that the capital taxes route was not the only means of providing an incentive to landlords to retain tenants and that it might also be possible to do...

Finance Bill 2019: Order for Fifth Stage (20 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Now.

Finance Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank Deputy Boyd Barrett. I want to acknowledge the significant interest that Deputy Boyd Barrett has in this sector and the work that he is doing. I listened over a number of years to the different debates and contributions that were raised in this sector by Deputy Boyd Barrett. In the aftermath of the debate that happened here two years ago, my Department did work on last year's...

Finance Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: If there are, I want to understand them. In the run-up to next year's Finance Bill, the Department of Finance and I are looking forward to understanding why this is happening and how and why tax credits are being drawn down.

Finance Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I will make two points. It may well be the case that the uncertain and transitory nature of the industry is beyond the ability of tax policy to influence. However, the Government will soon produce an action plan on the further development of the audiovisual sector in Ireland. As I said, we make a valuable tax credit available. There are certain criteria for that tax credit and we expect...

Finance Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Local authorities have development levies and those levies are there to try to ensure that development activity is taxed. I do not think Deputy Boyd Barrett's argument holds up. He has drawn a distinction between a wealth asset and a wealth-producing asset. Somebody's house is their home, for nearly all people, and I respect that. I am very sensitive to how people feel about the local...

Finance Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Deputy Boyd Barrett and I have debated this issue on many occasions and he is correct that I have deferred the revaluation date for the local property tax to 1 November 2020. Significant work needs to be delivered next year. It can be delivered, but it will require consensus in the House for that to happen. I differ with the Deputy in that I believe that the local property tax is an...

Finance Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I take the Deputy's point that in the context of climate change, there is much change we will need to make to incentivise the sector through the kinds of reliefs we are discussing and the greater role of training, and to ensure that those involved in running farms have the best knowledge and support available to them. Perhaps to move the issue forward and address the issue Deputies...

Finance Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The refundable rate will continue to be 2%. The stamp duty rate will increase from 6% to 7.5% but the refundable rate of 2% will remain unchanged. That is dealt with in section 55. On the question about the impact of the scheme, early indications are that it is working well and as expected. Of the applications thus far received, 911 have been successful, of which 839 related to the...

Finance Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The young trained farmer stamp duty relief provides for full exemption from stamp duty on transfers of farm land to certain young trained farmers. To qualify, the farmer receiving the transfer must be less than 35 years of age on the date of execution of the deed of transfer; must have attained a minimum agricultural education from a list set out in legislation; must for a period of five...