Results 13,461-13,480 of 32,547 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Stability Agreement (19 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 The cost of the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA) was estimated at €339m in 2020 with carryover costs of €227m in 2021. In addition a number of other costs have arisen in respect of the PSSA including the following: New Entrants under the PSSA Under section 4 of the PSSA there was a commitment to examine remaining salary scale...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Data (19 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 85 together. The Regulation of Lobbying Act was enacted in 2015. Section 22 of the Act provides that specific categories of Designated Public Officials (“DPOs”) are subject to a one-year “cooling-off” period, during which they cannot engage in lobbying activities in specific circumstances, or be employed by, or provide...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Spending Code (19 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As part of the ongoing reform of Ireland’s public investment management systems, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is updating 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.  The...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council Reports (18 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I can confirm that I have received a copy of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council’s Pre-Budget 2020 Statement, as published on Wednesday, 11thSeptember. I have reviewed the Statement, along with my officials, and would make the following observations. Firstly, I would welcome the Council’s assessment that Government revenues continue to perform well this year to date. With tax...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Property Tax Exemptions (18 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The pyrite exemption is intended to apply to those properties that have a significant level of pyrite damage. This means that not all properties that are affected by pyrite are eligible for the exemption. Under the relevant legislation, a  property that has been damaged by pyrite is eligible for the LPT exemption where any one of the following conditions is met: 1. A...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Property Tax Exemptions (18 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that Local Property Tax (LPT) exemptions are claimed on a self-assessment basis meaning that the onus is on property owners to correctly claim exemptions in accordance with the legislation as set down in the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 (as amended) (LPT Act). In respect of the household charge (HHC), this was governed by the Local...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (18 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: In accordance with the Department of Finance Tax Expenditure Guidelines, SARP is currently the subject of an independent review, carried out by Indecon Economic Consultants. The review exercise affords an opportunity to look at all elements of the relief and it also includes consultation with stakeholders.   I understand that the report is currently being...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Motor Tax Rates (18 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 95 together. My officials give due consideration to submissions made in the context of the Budget.  As the Deputy will be aware, it is a long-standing practice of the Minister for Finance not to comment, in advance of the Budget, on any tax matters that might be the subject of Budget decisions.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Circulars (18 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Circular 15/2016 was issued by my Department on 27 April 2016 to give guidance on the operation of Section 52 subsections (6) and (7) of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and other Provisions) Act 2012, which imposes a limit, or ‘benefit cap’, on the total amount of pension benefits that can accrue where an individual has been a member of more than one public service...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Property Tax Assessments (17 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that under the relevant legislation any self-contained dwelling, such as a granny flat, should be treated as a separate residential property that incurs a separate local property tax (LPT) liability. However, Revenue recognises that certain types of dwelling that are an integral part of a larger building may be difficult to value and sell on the open market....

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs Data (17 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Section 50 of Finance Act 1999 provided for a student accommodation scheme whereby expenditure incurred on student rental accommodation can be set against the rental income from the property and against other Irish rental income, thus reducing the taxable income of the person incurring the expenditure. The relevant provisions in the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 are contained in Part 10,...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (17 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The basis for the current tax treatment of married couples derives from the Supreme Court decision in Murphy vs. Attorney General (1980). This decision was based on Article 41.3.1 of the Constitution where the State pledges to protect the institution of marriage. The decision held that it was contrary to the Constitution for a married couple, both of whom are working, to pay more tax than two...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Revenue Commissioners Investigations (17 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Section 851A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 requires Revenue to uphold taxpayer confidentiality and prohibits the release of any information that could lead to the identification of taxpayers. The Deputies will also be aware that I am precluded from being involved in individual tax cases. Revenue has however assured me that it carries out a full range of interventions to combat all types...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: IBRC Legal Cases (17 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by the Special Liquidators of IBRC that a settlement agreement was entered into between the parties to the proceedings to which the Deputy has referred to and, due to the confidentiality provisions in the settlement agreement, its terms cannot be disclosed. In respect of investors other than the individual who brought the aforementioned proceedings, no...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Motor Insurance Data (17 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 113 together. As the Deputy is aware, the National Claims Information Database (NCID) is intended to facilitate a more in-depth analysis of annual trends in motor insurance claims.  This was seen as key to developing an understanding of how claims costs are impacting premiums, in particular understanding the relationship between the price paid...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs Data (17 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy will be aware that the relief cost €18.1 million in 2016.  It is not possible to estimate with any degree of reliability the likely savings that would accrue to the Exchequer in 2020 or in the years beyond that if the SARP were abolished. The reason for this is that there are currently no data available that would enable such a calculation to be made. The...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Property Tax Review (17 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The review I initiated of the Local property Tax (LPT) has been completed by the Department of Finance in conjunction with the Departments of the Taoiseach, Public Expenditure & Reform and Housing, Planning & Local Government and the Revenue Commissioners, and was published in April (available at www.gov.ie/en/publication/1e5c76-review-of-local-property-ta x/).  In...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Protection Policies (17 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by the Central Bank of Ireland that its Consumer Protection Code 2012 (the CPC) contains a number of protections for mortgage holders, including buy-to-let mortgage holders. The CPC sets out requirements around information which must be provided to a mortgage borrower prior to taking out the mortgage, and establishes timeframes for assessing mortgage applications. The CPC...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Register Data (17 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Central Credit Register (CCR) is established by the Central Bank under the Credit Reporting Act 2013. The CCR is a database of credit information based on credit applications and agreements, and its primary purpose is to assist lenders to make more informed decisions on applications for credit. Under the Act a lender is required to access information held on the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Rate Application (17 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law, with which Irish VAT law must comply. Under domestic legislation, professional medical care services recognised as such by the Department of Health and Children are exempt from VAT. Professional medical care services recognised by the Department of Health and Children are generally those medical care services...