Results 15,421-15,440 of 32,572 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Cross-Border Projects (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 80 and 83 together. Ireland and the UK are currently partners in two EU-funded cross-border Cooperation Programmes – PEACE and INTERREG – with a total value of €550 million over the period 2014-2020. These programmes are 85% funded by the EU through the European Regional Development Fund under the European Union's Cohesion Policy. The...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Facing challenging and legally binding greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, it is imperative that the assessment of public investment projects include an appropriate valuation of the cost that society will bear in dealing with the increased greenhouse gas emissions a project might give rise to. Under the National Mitigation Plan, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am well aware of the coastal erosion at Portrane and I visited the area on the 18thOctober 2018 to view the commencement of the interim works. Local Authorities lead on identifying works to protect the coast in their respective areas and Fingal County Council are continuing to liaise with the OPW regarding a long term solution for the protection of Portrane. The interim works consist of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Stability Agreement (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Sections 3 and 23 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 and Section 5 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act No. 2 of 2009 (as amended) provide, taken together, for accelerated payments only in respect of those public servants who have engaged with and are complying with the Public Service Pay Agreement 2018-2020. Public servants who are members of trade...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Funding (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Strategic policy responsibility for the coast, including coastal erosion, is a matter for the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. Local Authorities are responsible for the management of the coastline, including response to coastal erosion risk within their administrative areas. My Office has responsibility for co-ordinating government policy on flood risk management...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Government Procurement (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Office of Government Procurement on behalf of the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform carried out a competitive tender process for the establishment of a Framework Agreement for the provision of External Workplace Investigation Services (EWIS) available to central government departments and other public bodies. It is Government policy as set out in Circular 16/13 that public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform requires those charged with the delivery of public works projects to comply with the Public Spending Code and the Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF). The Public Spending Code sets out the high level principles which apply in relation to project governance and, in particular, the procedures that must be followed by bodies with...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Private Partnerships Data (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As I have no responsibility for assigning individual roles in other Departments I am unable to provide the Deputy with a breakdown of procurement officials or salary costs in that regard as it would be a matter for the individual Minister concerned. I have made enquiries from the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), which is designated as the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA)...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Programme (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am conscious of the difficulties that the cost of flood insurance cover can cause to homeowners and businesses, and that is one of the reasons the Government has been prioritising investment in flood defences over the last number of years. However, you should be aware that the provision of insurance is a commercial matter for insurance companies, which has to be based on a proper...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Costs (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy is aware, the Cost of Insurance Working Group (CIWG) 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...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Fossil Fuel Divestment Act, 2018 was signed into law by the President on 17 December 2018. It became effective immediately, once enacted and prohibited the ISIF from having direct investment in any company that generates greater than 20% of its revenues from the exploration, extraction or refinement of Fossil Fuels (e.g. oil, natural gas, peat, coal or any derivative thereof intended...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Lending (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The European Union (Consumer Mortgage Credit Agreements) Regulations 2016 (which transpose the 2014 Mortgage Credit Directive into Irish law) sets out, in respect of the credit agreements which fall within the scope of the Regulations, certain particular requirements in relation to "foreign currency loans".  The Regulations define a “foreign currency loan” as a...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Investor Compensation Company Limited (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware this matter is the focus ongoing legal action before the courts. As such it would not be appropriate for me as Minister or for my Department to comment. My officials contacted AIB and received the following response: "Litigation relating to the Belfry property investment funds [the Second Belfry Properties (UK) plc, the third Belfry Properties (UK) plc, the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Brexit Issues (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that there has been a significant increase in registrations for Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) numbers in 2019. An EORI number is a basic requirement for businesses that wish to move goods to, from or through the UK post-Brexit. In the time available, Revenue has provided national level figures for the number of EORI applications. Further...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Credits (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that it has reviewed the person’s tax situation and is satisfied that the position regarding their tax credits and rate band entitlements for 2019 is correct and is not related to the issues that occurred in 2018. The reduction in the person’s tax credits for 2019 was correctly applied to take account of the tax liabilities on a full year...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Flood Risk Insurance Cover Provision (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am conscious of the difficulties that the absence or withdrawal of flood insurance cover can cause to homeowners and businesses, and that is one of the reasons the Government has been prioritising investment in flood defences over the last number of years. However, you should be aware that the provision of insurance is a commercial matter for insurance companies, which has to be based...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Reports (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to inform the Deputy that I received a detailed response from the Office on 30th August 2018.  I am advised further that a copy of the response was also sent by that Office to the Committee of Public Accounts.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, for individuals to qualify for the Contributory State Pension they must be over the age of 66. If an individual is over the age of 66, they are exempt from paying PRSI on their income. However, in relation to the tax treatment of the State Contributory Pension and the taxation of self-employed persons in the context of the question asked by the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Brexit Issues (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am assuming that the question is in reference to occupational pension schemes. In that context I would like to clarify that the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) is responsible for occupational pensions policy. Additionally, the Pensions Authority (PA), which is a body under the aegis of DEASP is responsible for regulating Institutions for Occupational...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Industry Regulation (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: At the outset the Deputy should note that, as the term ‘mutual insurance fund’ is not one which is used within the Irish legal framework as it relates to life and non-life insurance, I am making the assumption for the purpose of this reply that you are referring to the establishment of a mutual insurance company. As the Deputy is aware, as Minister for Finance, I am...