Results 14,681-14,700 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Promotion (2 Nov 2016)

Michael McGrath: 467. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will enable Enterprise Ireland to provide support to Irish retailers investing in their online sales capacity with a view to developing and expanding their sales to markets outside of Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32755/16]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Rate Application (27 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: 64. To ask the Minister for Finance the Revenue Commissioners' view of the VAT classification of the provision of gymnastics lessons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32434/16]

Finance Bill 2016: Second Stage (25 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: It is totally different.

Finance Bill 2016: Second Stage (25 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Finance Bill 2016. When we reflect on the results of the general election earlier this year we can see the Irish people wanted to see a new direction in Irish politics. It was clear they wanted a move away from the budgets of the previous Government. They wanted a fairer, less divided and more inclusive Ireland. The core message of our party's...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (25 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: 139. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will address matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) concerning the direct provision system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31775/16]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Help-To-Buy Scheme (25 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: 176. To ask the Minister for Finance to outline the way the help-to-buy tax rebate for first time buyers will be reckoned in full in the calculation of the deposit required in view of the fact that one of the requirements laid down by the Revenue Commissioners is that mortgage approval details are made available, including loan-to-value ratio, in order to obtain the rebate; and if he will...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Help-To-Buy Scheme (25 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: 177. To ask the Minister for Finance when, in the process of buying a newly built house, a first time buyer will receive the help-to-buy tax rebate; if it will be when the deposit is placed or when the contract to buy the home is signed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31747/16]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Data (25 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: 251. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount of money actually collected in respect of domestic water charges for 2015 and separately for 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31659/16]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Flood Relief Schemes (25 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: 277. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if there is a national policy in relation to the granting of planning permission for developments in towns and villages where OPW flood relief schemes have been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31947/16]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Water Conservation Grant Expenditure (25 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: 316. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the amount of money actually paid out in respect of the €100 water conservation grant for 2015 and separately for 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31660/16]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Lansdowne Road Agreement (25 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: 368. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details, including dates, of restoration of public pay and reductions in the public sector pension levy for public sector employees in different salary bands that has already taken place and is planned to take place under the Haddington Road agreement and the Lansdowne Road agreement in tabular form. [31904/16]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (25 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: 490. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to adjust the income limits for the over 70s medical card to ensure that pensioners do not lose their entitlement to the card due to the €5 increase in the State pension in budget 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32022/16]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016: Discussion (20 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: I am delighted the finance committee is now examining this legislation on pre-legislative scrutiny stage. Pre-legislative scrutiny of this Bill was not a requirement but I agreed to it because it may be helpful and result in the Bill being improved over the coming weeks. The other relevant point is that the Bill is currently with the European Central Bank as part of the consultation we are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016: Discussion (20 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: I will be responding to questions about the Bill but the Deputy is equally free to put questions to the Minister about policy, etc.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016: Discussion (20 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: I have read the report, which goes through all the key elements of pricing in terms of interest rates, the cost of funds, the cost of credit risk associated with the lending, the operational costs of running the bank, the cost of capital and the competitive environment faced by the banks. The Central Bank position is well known. There are some interesting points in the report. For example,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016: Discussion (20 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: Before we move on, I want to respond to the suggestion that the publication of the Bill directly led to a 10% fall in bank share prices. There is no evidence whatsoever to back that up. I looked at that claim in some detail at the time and it was not borne out by the facts. On 11 May there was a trading statement by Permanent TSB and immediately following that there was an 11% drop in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016: Discussion (20 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: The facts have moved on - that is the Minister's problem.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016: Discussion (20 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: Is the Minister denying that the Permanent TSB share price fell by 11% immediately following the publication of its trading statement on 11 May, which made no reference to mortgage pricing? Is the Minister denying that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016: Discussion (20 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: It was not. That is nonsense.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016: Discussion (20 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: Banks are commercial organisations and they have to be profitable. What Deputy Paul Murphy is suggesting is that the State would set up a mortgage lender. Credit unions in Ireland can lend but are constrained by regulatory limits on the proportion of their loan books that can be lent out over a long period. Some of them want to invest much more in that side of their business. Some people...