Results 15,301-15,320 of 32,572 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Insurance Costs (12 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy is aware, the Cost of Insurance Working Group is chaired by the Minister of State for Financial Services and Insurance, Mr. Michael D’Arcy T.D., and has produced two primary reports, the 2017 Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance (“Motor Report”) and the 2018 Report on the Cost of Employer and Public Liability Insurance (“EL/PL Report”). Work...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Personal Injury Claims (12 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Allegations of companies engaging in what has been termed as ‘claims harvesting’ practices were brought up during the Cost of Insurance Working Group’s consultation process, as well as through representations and Parliamentary Questions submitted by, for instance, the Alliance for Insurance Reform and the Deputy himself previously. The Department’s Insurance...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Revenue Commissioners (12 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that, in relation to tax reliefs for ‘young trained farmers’, different verification procedures may be applied depending on whether the particular course is a course approved by Teagasc, with qualifications awarded by the Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland, or a course with qualifications awarded directly by third-level...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Tax Code (12 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 to 96, inclusive, together. Sugar Sweetened Drinks Tax (SSDT) was introduced on 1 May 2018 and applies when sugar sweetened drinks are first supplied in the State. SSDT applies on a volumetric basis at one of two rates, dependent on the total sugar content of the ‘ready to consume’ form of the sugar sweetened drink: €16.26 per...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: VAT Rate Application (12 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 98 together. VAT is governed by the EU VAT Directive, with which Irish VAT law must comply. The VAT treatment of food and drink in Ireland is varied and has developed over time. Most basic foods apply at the zero rate under an historical derogation from the normal VAT rules. Catered food primarily applies at the 13.5% reduced rate, including hot...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Tax Code (12 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy is aware, there are, in all, three separate lifetime CAT Group thresholds based on the relationship of the beneficiary to the disponer. I would say that there has been changes to the three threholds in recent times. In Budget 2017, the Group A threshold which generally applies to gifts to or ineritances by children, adopted children and some foster children, was increased...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Motor Insurance Data (12 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 101 together. As Minister for Finance, I am responsible for the development of the legal framework governing financial regulation. My Department does not collect the type of information being sought by the Deputy. As the day to day supervision of insurance undertakings is a matter for the Central Bank of Ireland, my officials consulted with the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Motor Insurance Data (12 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As Minister for Finance, I am responsible for the development of the legal framework governing financial regulation. My Department does not collect the type of information being sought by the Deputy. As the day to day supervision of insurance undertakings is a matter for the Central Bank of Ireland, my officials consulted with he Bank in respect of the information sought and it has...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Motor Insurance Data (12 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As Minister for Finance, I am responsible for the development of the legal framework governing financial regulation. My Department does not collect the type of information being sought by the Deputy. As the day to day supervision of insurance undertakings is a matter for the Central Bank of Ireland, my officials have consulted with the Central Bank in respect of the information sought and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears (12 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by the Central Bank of Ireland that within the remit of their responsibilities for safeguarding stability and protecting consumers, its approach to mortgage arrears resolution is focused on ensuring the fair treatment of borrowers through a strong consumer protection framework and ensuring that lenders have appropriate arrears resolution strategies and operations in place. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Budget Contribution (12 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: For the years 2020 to 2023, as part of Budget 2019, my Department has forecasted contributions of €2.9bn, €3.1bn, €3.2bn and €3.4bn respectively. Further to this, for the year 2024, my Department has forecasted a contribution of €3.5bn. As part of the Stability Programme Update, these forecasts will be updated in the coming weeks. However, it is worth noting...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Insurance Compensation Fund (12 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Setanta Insurance ("Setanta") was placed into liquidation by the Malta Financial Services Authority on 30 April 2014. As it was a Maltese incorporated company, the liquidation is being carried out under Maltese law. The Deputy will be aware that the Insurance (Amendment) Act 2018 (Act 21 of 2018) was enacted in July 2018. The Act inter alia provides for revised arrangements for the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Directives (12 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As Minister for Finance, my Department's role in relation to pensions policy primarily relates to the use of tax policy to incentivise retirement savings. In addition, I have responsibility for overall macroeconomic policy and fiscal sustainability. I think it's important to point out that individuals are incentivised to save for retirement through tax policy measures. The Taxes Consolidation...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Home Loan Scheme (12 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 116 together. I understand the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government is presently carrying out an internal review of the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan scheme. As part of this review there are discussions ongoing between the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and the Departments of Public Expenditure and Reform, and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Revenue Commissioners Resources (12 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that it currently has three mobile x-ray scanners, a ‘backscatter van’ scanner, and a specialist vehicle that contains both x-ray and radiation detection technology. All of the scanners are mobile and can be deployed to both frontier and internal operations. The ‘backscatter van’ scanner is Revenue’s most recent acquisition and became...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (12 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I regularly meet with my Italian colleague, Minister Tria, at Eurogroup and ECOFIN Council meetings. The next meetings will be held on 11 and 12 March, in Brussels, while an informal meeting of Economic and Financial Affairs Ministers is scheduled for 5-6 April, in Bucharest. At present, there are no arrangements in place for a bilateral meeting with Minister Tria.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Interest Directors Data (12 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, in 2016 the Government announced it would cease the appointment of new public interest directors, PIDS, in the banks in which the State holds a shareholding and reform the process by which State nominees were appointed to the board of the banks. The date of appointment and date of resignation/cessation of office for each of the public interest directors appointed...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Insurance Costs (12 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, Recommendation 11 of the Cost of Insurance Working Group’s Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance recommended the establishment of a National Claims Information Database to increase transparency in the insurance sector. The Central Bank (National Claims Information Database) Act 2018 provides the Central Bank with the necessary powers to establish and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Insurance Costs (12 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Both I and the Minister of State for Financial Services and Insurance, Mr. Michael D’Arcy T.D., are very conscious of the difficulties that increased insurance costs generally are having on many small businesses in this country. Consequently, following the publication of its Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance in 2017, the Cost of Insurance Working Group undertook an examination...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Insurance Coverage (12 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As Minister for Finance, I am responsible for the development of the legal framework governing financial regulation. Neither I nor the Central Bank of Ireland can interfere in the provision or pricing of insurance products, as these matters are of a commercial nature, and are determined by insurance companies based on an assessment of the risks they are willing to accept. Consequently, I am...