Results 14,741-14,760 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Fiscal Policy (18 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: 202. To ask the Minister for Finance if his Department has a detailed plan on the way to achieve the reduction of the debt to GDP ratio to 45% by the mid-2020s as outlined in budget 2017; if he will provide specific details of the growth and other projections underpinning this objective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30884/16]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Budget Measures (18 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: 203. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to introduce for SMEs generally a loan scheme similar to the €150 million loan fund for the agrisector announced as part of budget 2017; the reasons for his position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30885/16]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Exchequer Returns (18 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: 204. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide details of the gain for the Exchequer in 2017 through the non-indexation of the taxation system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30886/16]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Brexit Issues (18 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: 205. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to explore the possibility of establishing a national hedging strategy, involving the expertise of the NTMA, which may be able to give practical assistance to Irish SMEs dependent on the UK export market which are currently suffering from the fall in sterling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30887/16]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Budget Measures (18 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: 206. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of first-time buyers his Department expects to avail of the help to buy scheme, announced in the budget, in 2016, 2017 and 2018; if he is putting any cap on the maximum cost to the Exchequer in respect of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30888/16]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Budget Measures (18 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: 207. To ask the Minister for Finance the expected outcome if a person availing of the help to buy scheme for first-time buyers announced in the budget does not live in the property for five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30889/16]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Costs (18 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: 269. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if it is his Department's policy and plan to address the disparity in school costs which exists from school to school throughout the country and the inequality faced by parents in having to provide funding for a free primary education system, as costed by a charity (details supplied) at €103 million; and if he will make a statement on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: National Economic Output: Director General, Central Statistics Office (13 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: I welcome Mr. Dalton and his colleagues from the CSO. Like Deputy Pearse Doherty, I commend the organisation on the work it does. The information it provides is an invaluable source and resource for all of us, and I use its website regularly. I thank the CSO for all of the work being done. To start with regulation COM 551, does the CSO envisage this will have an impact on, for example,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: National Economic Output: Director General, Central Statistics Office (13 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: If it is decided to add questions around wealth, for example, we would see a big drop-off in the compliance or the co-operation rates. That is just a reality of life, despite the respect there is for the CSO and the reassurance it gives in terms of confidence reality and so forth. I wish the CSO well in its efforts to engage in the process and, hopefully, there will be a sensible outcome in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: National Economic Output: Director General, Central Statistics Office (13 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: Sure. In the previous month, June, the Department of Finance published its summer economic statement and predicted real GDP growth of 7.8%, at that stage. Given that the CSO had been working behind the scenes for a number of months, is the CSO prohibited from sending any signal or providing any information, albeit in preliminary form, to the Department of Finance to say there is a major...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: National Economic Output: Director General, Central Statistics Office (13 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: National Economic Output: Director General, Central Statistics Office (13 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: So the CSO is simply not allowed under the code, and that is quite clear cut. I think it is important to have that on the record.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: National Economic Output: Director General, Central Statistics Office (13 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: Will Mr. Dalton explain the core objective of the cross sector group established by the CSO? Is it to come up with a new measure on the domestic economy? Is the measure perhaps to be embraced further afield and be a catalyst for changes to measures internationally? The CSO is already publishing a whole host of information which provides a more meaningful measure of the domestic economy,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: National Economic Output: Director General, Central Statistics Office (13 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: Who is the authority on the definition of GDP and the methodology for measuring it - the UN, the IMF or EUROSTAT - and what is the legal basis of it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: National Economic Output: Director General, Central Statistics Office (13 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: Mr. Dalton made reference to the residential property price index. One of the key measures in the budget, as he knows, is the income tax rebate for first-time buyers. There are some concerns that this would lead to an increase in the price of new houses. Would the information on movements in new residential properties, apartments and houses over the next number of months be easily discernible?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: National Economic Output: Director General, Central Statistics Office (13 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: Can it be categorised by new or second hand property?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: National Economic Output: Director General, Central Statistics Office (13 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: Does that apply to the existing data?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: National Economic Output: Director General, Central Statistics Office (13 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Chairman.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Corporation Tax Regime (13 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: 35. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 179 of 27 September 2016, the status of discussions with the Brazilian authorities in relation to their decision to designate Ireland as a tax haven; his views on the implications of the decision for Irish businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30151/16]

Financial Resolutions 2017 - Financial Resolution No. 2: General (Resumed) (12 Oct 2016)

Michael McGrath: Zero for effort.