Results 13,221-13,240 of 33,280 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (14 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, the Irish Language is an important area for the Government.  The Public Appointments Service (PAS) is an independent, statutory body which provides professional recruitment and selection services to the civil and public service.  PAS is also responsible for the recruitment and selection of candidates with proficiency in Irish to meet the needs of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Rate Application (14 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I can confirm to the Deputy that I have received two items of correspondence, the first in January 2018 and the second in September 2019 that referenced the flat rate VAT on feedlots and raised questions about possible excess flat-rate payments to farmers involved in the rearing of livestock for the beef sector. However, to date Revenue has not established that business models and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Rebates (14 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that the persons in question initially applied for a VAT refund on 23 July 2019. Revenue subsequently requested supporting invoices from the persons on 31 July 2019, which were received on 31 October 2019. Revenue has now completed its review of the invoices and the refund will issue in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Rebates (14 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 to 46, inclusive, together. The Retail Export Scheme allows persons who are resident outside the EU and who make purchases of goods in the EU to avail of a refund of the VAT charged on these goods where the goods are exported from the EU by the tourist or traveller within three months of purchase. The UK will become a 3rd country and UK residents will...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Data (14 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that information sought by the Deputy is not available on tax returns, or other information sources, in respect of third-party equity investors who could avail of the proposed extension to the existing Entrepreneur Relief. Therefore, it is not possible to accurately estimate the cost of the proposals.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Unions (14 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Firstly, it would not be appropriate for me make comment on a specific case. It is also important to note that the Probate Office of the High Court deals with matters relating to probate and as such is the responsibility of the Minister for Justice and Equality. However, the Deputy may wish to note that under section 21 of the Credit Union Act 1997 (1997 Act) as amended, a credit...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Ireland Strategic Investment Fund Investments (14 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) has informed me that many of the questions raised by the Deputy are commercial matters relating to Activate Capital, therefore it is not appropriate for me to comment on them as Minister for Finance. However, the ISIF has committed €500m to Activate Capital, a senior stretch lending platform which will fund residential development projects...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Proposed Legislation (14 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: My officials are continuing to work on the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill which, among other measures, will increase individual accountability in the financial sector. As I am sure the Deputy will appreciate, this is a complex piece of legislation and the Bill's provisions must be constitutionally sound in the event of legal challenge. My Department and the Central Bank...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Carbon Tax Yield (14 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: In Budget 2020 I announced that the revenues from the increase in the carbon tax from €20 to €26 per tonne CO2 would be ring fenced and the funds used to: - Protect the most vulnerable in society; - A Just Transition; and - Investing in low carbon transition On 9 October 2019, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Expenditure (14 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: In preparing Budget 2020, I set out that a disorderly Brexit was the baseline scenario for budget planning purposes, and therefore a Budget deficit was in prospect. On that basis, I decided that there would be no transfer of €500 million from the Exchequer in 2019 to the Rainy Day Fund. Since I published Budget 2020 on 8th October, an extension of the EU’s deadline for...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: European Fund for Strategic Investments (14 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 54 together. Since the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI)'s commencement in July 2015, it has been possible for any project promoter, either public or private, to engage with the EIB regarding the possibility of receiving loans or guarantees under EFSI for particular projects. In this way, EFSI is providing an important additional funding...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme (14 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by the EIB and the NTMA (in relation to loans to the Exchequer) that the position is as set out in the following tables. The information relates to public sector projects in Ireland which have been signed during the period specified by the Deputy. I am advised by the EIB that the Bank would not have statistics on applications, as there is not an application process per se. The...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: EU Budget Contribution (14 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) was most recently discussed at the October European Council where Leaders exchanged views on key issues such as the overall level of expenditure, the volumes of expenditure in the main policy areas, the financing - including revenues and corrections - as well as the conditionalities and incentives. In light of this discussion, it called on the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Funding (14 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The PEACE IV Programme (2014-20) supports peace and reconciliation in the border counties of Ireland and Northern Ireland.  The programme has a total funding allocation of €269,610,964, including Irish ERDF of €49,551,086 and Irish national match/exchequer funding of €8,744,309. The INTERREG VA Programme (2014-20) aims to build social and economic cohesion...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Implementation (14 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 59, 61 and 64 together. The programme of reform in the Civil Service supporting the development of high performing organisations continues to be embedded.  A fourth progress report which captures the progress made since the plan was commenced was published in May 2019 and is available on my Department's website at...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Implementation (14 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The significant public service reforms that this Government has undertaken in recent years continue to deliver improved services and value for money across a range of specific areas such as governance, accountability, procurement, shared services, organisational reform and property management. In my own Department, two notable examples are the establishment of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Implementation (14 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 66 together. Taking account of the increases provided for core expenditure, relative to the allocations in the Revised Estimate Volume 2019, spending on day to day public services will increase by 4.3 per cent next year, with capital investment growing by 10.8 per cent. Total gross expenditure will increase by 5 per cent to just over €70...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Implementation (14 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As I have previously informed the Deputy, the significant reforms within the public sector that this Government has put in place since 2011 continue to deliver improved services and value for money across a range of specific areas such as governance, accountability, procurement, shared services, organisational reform and property management. The current framework for public service...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (14 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I refer the Deputy to PQ 39967 of 30 September 2019. The position remains the same. PQRef: 39967/19  The process of unwinding the Financial Emergency (FEMPI) legislation commenced under the Lansdowne Road Agreement 2016 – 2018 and will be completed under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018 – 2020 (PSSA). The PSSA, which was negotiated in 2017, and the provisions of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Equality Proofing of Budgets (14 Nov 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Ensuring equality of opportunity is a key aim for most societies.  Gainful employment is arguably a key metric in this regard and this Government has created thousands of new jobs, with a record 2.3 million people now at work in our economy.  Our income tax system is considered progressive by international standards; our tax revenue funds a wide range of services, with an...