Results 15,721-15,740 of 32,864 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

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...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Home Renovation Incentive Scheme (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Section 477B of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provided for the Home Renovation Incentive (HRI), which was introduced in Budget 2014 and terminated in accordance with its sunset clause on 31 December 2018. I currently have no plans to re-open the scheme. Under my Department's Tax Expenditure Guidelines, the introduction of new tax incentive measures should...

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

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that taxpayers are not required to declare their citizenship on Income Tax returns, therefore statistics relating specifically to Irish citizens are unavailable. The overall numbers of taxpayers paying at each Income Tax rate, and those who are exempt from paying Income Tax, are available at link: . The same information for USC is available at link: . The information...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Rate Increases (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the standard rate of VAT applies to food supplements in general while a concession allows the zero rate to be applied to certain types of vitamins, minerals and fish oils.  The operation of this concession became extremely problematic as a result of efforts by certain businesses in the industry to extend the concession beyond the scope...

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

Paschal Donohoe: The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs has primary responsibility for Government policy in relation to childcare. As the Deputy may be aware, parents are exempted from any income tax liability in respect of direct payments to childcare providers under the Single Affordable Childcare Scheme as operated by that Minister’s Department.  The tax code also provides...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Stamp Duty (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that, in the normal course of events, stamp duty is chargeable on the purchase of agricultural land at the rate of 6%. Land valued at €150,000 would therefore be liable to stamp duty of €9,000. However, in the absence of any specific details of the purchase involved, including any other acquisitions of land, it isn’t possible to say whether any...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Levy (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Pension Related Deduction (PRD) was introduced in March 2009 under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009 (as amended) and was a temporary deduction from the salary of any servingpublic service employee having a public service pension entitlement as defined in the legislation.  PRD did not apply to pensioners and therefore should not be applied to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act 2018 provides for an increase to age 70 in the compulsory retirement age of most public servants recruited before 1 April 2004.  Public servants who reached the compulsory retirement age of 65 before the new legislation was enacted were required to retire in accordance with the statutory compulsory retirement age in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Expenditure Programme (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 151 and 162 to 164, inclusive, together. My Government colleagues and I have examined all projects and programmes across government in order to meet the funding pressures accruing on the National Children’s Hospital project.  This has allowed us to reschedule €75 million from projects such as in the case of the A5 Motorway in Northern...