Results 13,661-13,680 of 32,547 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services Regulation (6 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Both the Government and the Central Bank of Ireland (Central Bank) are both strongly of the view that the current regulatory framework provides sufficient protections to consumers.  The Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears 2013 (CCMA) provides a strong consumer protection framework, aimed specifically at the process to be followed by relevant firms, to ensure borrowers in...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Stamp Duty (6 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 168 together. I am advised by Revenue that a Ready Reckoner providing estimated impacts for potential changes to a wide range of taxes and duties  is available on the Revenue website at . On page 19 of the Ready Reckoner, a wide range of detailed information is shown on changing the Stamp Duty rate applicable to properties transferred in...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Data (6 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that a 1% increase in the average effective rate of income tax on taxpayer units with gross incomes in excess of €400,000 would raise an estimated €37m and €49m on a first and full year basis respectively. This estimate is based on actual data for 2017, the latest year for which data are currently available. Taxpayers who are married or in a...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Data (6 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The matter of refundable tax credits was looked at in some detail in 2002 by the Working Group established under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. The Group was chaired by the Department of Finance and included representatives from ICTU, IBEC, the various farming organisations, the Community and Voluntary Pillar, relevant Government Departments and the Office of the Revenue...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Data (6 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that the full year estimated yields from standard-rating discretionary tax reliefs and expenditures, which currently apply at the marginal rate, and cost in excess of €10 million per annum in revenue foregone, are as follows. Reliefs and Expenditures Full Year Yield (€m) Approved Profit-Sharing Schemes 24 Dispositions (including Maintenance Payments)...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Credits (6 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: It is assumed the Deputy is referring to the tax cost of the research and development tax credit. I am advised by Revenue that information in respect of the research and development tax credit, including the tax cost up to 2017 (the most recent year for which comprehensive data are available), can found in the research and development tax credits area of their website at:...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Equality Proofing of Budgets (6 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The ongoing work regarding Equality Budgeting in Ireland follows the Programme for a Partnership Government commitment to ‘develop the process of budget and policy proofing as a means of advancing equality, reducing poverty and strengthening economic and social rights’. The National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020 also contains a related commitment.   The...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Retirements (6 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 228 together. As the Deputies are aware, on 5 December 2017, the Government made the decision to increase the compulsory retirement age to 70, for public servants recruited prior to 1 April 2004. Primary legislation was necessary in order to bring that change into effect. It was made clear at the time that until such legislation was enacted, the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Legislation (6 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Financial Emergency Measures in Public Interests (FEMPI) Act 2015 and the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 (the 2017 Act) substantially lessened the impact of the public service pension reduction (PSPR) by way of changes which have occurred or are due to occur on 1 January in each of the years 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. These changes mean that, as of 1 January 2018, most...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (6 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government recognises the importance of the SME sector and continues to enhance the already substantial measures to support SMEs in accessing the public procurement market. Significant work has been undertaken by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) to ensure that public procurement is accessible by all businesses, including SMEs. My colleague, Minister of State Patrick...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (6 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to former Ministers is contained in the 2011 Finance Accounts as published at the following link; It should be noted that severance payments for Ministers were abolished under the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) Amendment Act 2014 and no members of the current Government will receive such payments.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Advisers Data (6 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to inform the Deputy that Ministerial appointments in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform are made in line with “Instructions to Personnel Officers - Ministerial Appointments for the 32nd Dáil”, which include “Guidelines on staffing of Ministerial offices” issued by my Department. The details requested by the Deputy on Special Advisers in my...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Equality Proofing of Budgets (6 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The ongoing work regarding Equality Budgeting in Ireland follows the Programme for a Partnership Government commitment to ‘develop the process of budget and policy proofing as a means of advancing equality, reducing poverty and strengthening economic and social rights’. The National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020 also contains a related commitment.   The...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (6 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Civil Service Spouses’ and Children’s Contributory Pension Scheme provides pensions to the spouse and children of members who die in service, or after they have qualified for pension (or preserved pension). Membership of the Scheme was made compulsory for male established civil servants appointed on or after 1 January 1969 and for female established civil servants appointed...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (6 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: It is not possible to provide a precise response to the Deputy’s question.  Based on the information provided, the situation potentially involves a number of measures to which different rules and policies apply. Insofar as the potentially relevant measures may apply, the position is as follows: 1. In general, a person employed in the public service in the period in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Websites (6 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Government department websites are currently undergoing a significant change in how they present online content to citizens and businesses, with a view to making them easier to use and more accessible to all members of society.  Over time, department websites are being moved to one single website, gov.ie, giving people a one stop shop for accessing information on government...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (6 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department uses Lotus Notes for a small number of legacy systems for which perpetual licences were purchased prior to 2009.  Accordingly, the Lotus Notes licences held by my Deparment have not been renewed in the period 2009 to date.  Therefore no expenditure on licences has been incurred during this time, nor are there currently any plans to do so. 

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Schemes (6 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Responsibility for the deep retrofit scheme rests with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action & Environment. There was no consultation with my Department regarding the closure of the scheme.  In June of this year, officials in my Department provided sanction to allow the Department of Communications, Climate Action & Environment to allocate an...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Consultancy Contracts Data (6 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. 2017 Data Protection Training Allone €700.00 Data Protection Training Allone €675.00 Data Protection Training - GDPR Public Affairs Ireland €1,030.00 2018 Certificate in Data Protection Course UCD €1,600.00 GDPR Essential - Level 1 Public Affairs Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (6 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I understand that when the Deputy refers to pension restoration, he is referring to the amelioration or reversal of the public service pension reduction (PSPR), the progressive reduction affecting certain public service pensions above specified amounts which was introduced on 1 January 2011 as part of the Government’s response to the financial emergency.  The Financial...