Results 141-160 of 6,241 for at speaker:Michael McGrath

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: The purpose of the infrastructure, climate and nature fund, as stated in the Bill, is to support State expenditure during a deterioration in the fiscal or economic position of State and on specific climate and nature matters. The climate and nature element recognises there is a need for additional investment to help Ireland deal with the transition to climate neutrality and the ongoing...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputies for their contributions. First, I wish to make the point that the area of housing will benefit from the infrastructure, climate and nature fund. We have to learn the lessons from what happened in recent decades, when investment in housing and other areas of critical public infrastructure was cut from peak to trough by approximately 60% because the funding was not there....

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Data (8 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: I am advised by Revenue that, based on stamp duty returns for 2023, the latest year for which fully analysed data is available, the estimated cost of abolishing stamp duty for first-time buyers of residential properties valued at less than €400,000 is in the order of €33 million. It is not possible to extract an estimate for houses only as apartments and houses are not...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Illicit Trade (8 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: I am advised by Revenue that electronic cigarettes, vapes and electronic liquids are not excisable products within the meaning of section 97 of Finance Act 2001 and section 71 of Finance Act 2005. The European Union (Manufacture, Presentation and Sale of Tobacco and Related Products) Regulations 2016 (S.I. No. 271 of 2016) is the primary source of regulation of such products, in respect of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Data (8 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 157 together. The Universal Social Charge (USC) was designed and incorporated into the Irish taxation system in 2011 to replace the Health and Income Levies. Its primary purpose was to widen the tax base and to provide a steady income to the Exchequer to provide funding for public services. It is a more sustainable charge than those it replaced and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (8 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: I am advised by Revenue that the VAT rating of goods and services is subject to EU VAT law, with which Irish VAT law must comply. In general, the VAT Directive provides that all goods and services are liable to VAT at the standard rate unless they are exempt from VAT or fall within Annex III of the Directive, in which case lower VAT rates may apply subject to certain rules. Currently Ireland...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: Section 33 provides for the amendment of the National Treasury Management Agency Act 1990. That Act is a foundation for the NTMA. It does two things. It increases the size of the board of the NTMA by two members and enables the establishment and dissolution of subcommittees by relevant committees of the NTMA. These changes expand the governance capacity of the NTMA, ensuring increased...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Motor Industry (2 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: I am advised by Revenue that the average wait times as provided are correct and that as of 29 April 2024, appointment dates were available for 30 April at the Kells NCTS centre and 6 May at Northpoint/Dundalk NCTS centres. In addition, appointments may become available sooner, due to cancellations which the NCTS booking helpline team allocate in consultation with customers. Online...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Primary Medical Certificates (2 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: The Deputy should note at the outset that whilst my Department has oversight of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme, I do not have responsibility for disability policy. Consequently, I am not in a position to comment on your question about the revision of a previous support scheme, as my understanding is that such a scheme did not fall within the remit of my Department. ...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Housing Schemes (1 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: I am advised by Revenue that taxpayers availing of the Home Renovation Incentive (HRI), which ended in 2018, were required to provide details of the value of the work and the category/type of work being completed. Other information was also collected, such as the Local Authority area of the property which underwent the works. These data were compiled and published on the Revenue website and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Customs and Excise (1 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 126 together. The Finance Act 1999 provides for the application of excise duty, in the form of Mineral Oil Tax (MOT), to liquid fuels used for motor or heating purposes. MOT comprises a carbon component, or carbon charge, which is usually referred to as carbon tax. MOT also comprises a non-carbon component which is often referred to as...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Staff (1 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: ...Circular 09/2009 “Civil Servants and Political Activity”. Civil servants who are members of Local Authorities may be given special leave without pay, up to a maximum of 12 days per annum, to attend full meetings of the Local Authorities where the meetings are held during normal business hours. In addition, civil servants who are members of Local Authorities may be given...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Housing Schemes (1 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: ...to assist first-time purchasers with the deposit they need to buy or build a new house or apartment. The incentive gives a refund on Income Tax and Deposit Interest Retention Tax paid in the State over the previous four years, subject to limits outlined in the legislation. Section 477C Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 outlines the definitions and conditions that apply to the scheme. ...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (1 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: We have amendments Nos. 2 and 3. Deputy Conway-Walsh's colleague, Deputy Doherty, has an amendment, namely, amendment No. 3, which is around the strategy having regard to the promotion and the economic development and stability of the State, across sectors including housing, infrastructure, energy and water. They come under section 7 but we are on section 6 at this point.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (1 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: I thank both Deputies for their contributions to the debate on the investment strategy of the future Ireland fund and their proposed amendments to section 7 of the Bill. As I understand, Deputy Nash’s proposal is to provide for the NTMA, in consultation with a member of Government, to develop proposals for investment of the resources of the fund in that sector in order to support...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (1 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputies. I want to give the NTMA the capacity to earn the best possible financial return for the State from the investment of the funds we will entrust it with. We have to go back to the primary purpose of setting up this fund. I have looked at the trends and data and the challenges we will face in coming years. In the absence of these funds, and to a lesser extent even with...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (1 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: I will set out the approach to dealing with ESG in the context of the two funds. In the investment strategy, the NTMA will be required to describe how it proposes to manage ESG risks - in effect, how it will identify and assess such risks as part of its investment process. In addition, the NTMA will be required to set out in the strategy the basis on which it identifies categories of...

Petrol and Diesel Excise Rate Increases: Motion [Private Members] (30 Apr 2024)

Michael McGrath: I move: To delete all the words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes that: — the volatility in fuel prices experienced now and over the last two years is due to a variety of geopolitical issues, including conflict in the Middle East and Ukraine, none of which the Government has control or influence over; — crude oil is an internationally...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Ports Policy (30 Apr 2024)

Michael McGrath: I am advised by Revenue that x-ray scanners, which are an integral component of its response framework targeting fraud, illicit trade, smuggling and organised crime, are just one component of a suite of resources, detection equipment and technologies deployed by them, in addition to the application of the comprehensive legal framework as set out in relevant tax and customs legislation....

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Pension Provisions (30 Apr 2024)

Michael McGrath: The Deputy has raised the important matter of plans designed to incentive young people to invest in retirement. Supplementary pensions have their own special treatment within the tax system to encourage these preparations, referred to as an exempt-exempt-taxed or EET system. Contributions to pensions, within certain limits, are exempted from income tax, pension fund gains are exempted from...