Results 16,321-16,340 of 32,593 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services Regulation (30 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 97 together. The revised Payment Services Directive (PSD2) opens the EU payments market to regulated entities offering consumer or business-oriented payment services based on access to payment accounts. It requires account servicing payment service providers (normally banks) to grant access to payment accounts to these regulated third party providers,...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Brexit Issues (30 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: On 8 February last year the European Commission issued a notice to stakeholders on the “Withdrawal of the United Kingdom and EU rules in the field of Banking and Payment Services”. The notice stated that, subject to any transitional arrangement that may be contained in a possible withdrawal agreement, as of the withdrawal date the EU rules in the field of payment services...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Card Interest Rates (30 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Central Bank issues statistical information on cred and debit cards every quarter. The last release, which relates to November 2018 may be found at . The Central Bank has advised that the total value in November 2018 of: - Convenience and extended credit card debt was €1,652,381,000 - Outstanding interest-bearing extended credit card debt was €1,077,775,000 - Convenience...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Operations (30 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Payment Accounts Directive, transposed in September 2016 by the European Union (Payment Accounts) Regulations 2016 (S.I. No. 482 of 2016), contains a right to open a payment account with basic features with a credit institution. This right extends to any person who is legally resident in the European Union, regardless of whether he or she has a fixed address. A payment account with...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Brexit Issues (30 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am informed by Revenue that their preparations do not include any plans for infrastructure at the border and this is in line with the Government’s position that there will be no hard border on the island of Ireland. Revenue Chairman, Niall Cody, set out this position clearly when he and Revenue officials appeared before the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform,...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Staff Data (30 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I can advise the Deputy that the Department of Finance does not directly procure any major public infrastructure projects. The Deputy may wish to note that there are currently three staff working in the procurement section of the Department of Finance and all staff within this area have undertaken accredited training in public procurement. The Department’s Compliance Officer also...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Revenue Commissioners Enforcement Activity (30 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that it always aims to match its intervention options to the compliance behavior exhibited by the taxpayer. The intervention options range from light touch Aspect Queries through to Investigations for cases of suspected serious tax and duty evasion. Full details of Revenue’s suite of compliance interventions are set out in Chapter 2 of the Code of Practice for...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Data (30 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Data provided by the Central Bank of Ireland indicates that switching (defined as loans issued by one lender to refinance an existing mortgage with another lender) of credit institution PDH mortgages for each year since 2003 (data is not readily available prior to that point and the data also includes a certain estimation for the period prior to 2010) is as set out in the table. As the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Reports (30 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Section 3(6) of the Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act 2018 provides that I as Minister shall, within three months of the passing of the Act, prepare and lay before the Oireachtas a report on the public servants who were forced to retire between 6 December 2017 and the commencement of the Act, due to reaching the age of 65 years, and on potential remedies to assist this...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (30 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to advise the Deputy that in January 2018 my Department issued DPER Circular 02/2018 authorizing pension increases to qualifying public service pensions of certain public service pay increases, and giving guidance on the implementation of those pension increases. The pay increases involved are those covering the 2018 to 2020 period under the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA),...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Data (30 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform does not procure any public works projects. However, as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform I have responsibility for public procurement policy. With regards to construction procurement policy, all public works projects that are delivered under the Exchequer-funded element of the Government's capital plan must be procured in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Contracts Data (30 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to advise the Deputy that no capital expenditure projects costing €10 million or more have been entered into by my Department since its establishment in 2011.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Retirements (30 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act 2018 came into effect on 26 December 2018. The Act provides for an increase in the compulsory retirement age to 70, for public servants recruited prior to 1 April 2004. Any public servant covered by the Act now has the choice to work to age 70 on existing terms and conditions, subject to the normal standards of health and performance....

No Consent, No Sale Bill 2019: Second Stage [Private Members] (29 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As others have said, Deputy Doherty and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle represent a county that is currently grappling with a terrible tragedy. I also want to extend my condolences and I know that, given the kinds of communities that both Deputies represent, they may know the families personally. I am conscious of the deep sadness that their county is grappling with at the moment.

No Consent, No Sale Bill 2019: Second Stage [Private Members] (29 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Having said that and genuinely meant it, I want to tackle the self-serving illusion that has been put forward by some speakers this evening, namely that they are the only people who care about citizens who find themselves in great mortgage difficulty, at risk of losing their homes or with debts that have become unsustainable. These are citizens of our country whom I know. They are in my...

No Consent, No Sale Bill 2019: Second Stage [Private Members] (29 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I did not hear a single Opposition Deputy make reference to the Insolvency Service of Ireland or speak of the difference it makes to citizens, as highlighted earlier this week. That service plays an important role in ensuring that citizens can stay in their homes while dealing with their financial difficulties. I did not hear a single Opposition Deputy refer to the insolvency legislation...

No Consent, No Sale Bill 2019: Second Stage [Private Members] (29 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: It does.

National Surplus (Reserve Fund for Exceptional Contingencies) Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I will continue from where the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, concluded. She was taking the House through the different sections of the Bill. Section 1 is a straightforward definitions section. Section 2 sets out that the "National Surplus (Exceptional Contingencies) Reserve Fund" will be established on its commencement and that the fund's purpose is to hold assets for purposes specified...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Rebates (29 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that many taxpayers prefer to do their business online and at a time of their convenience. To meet that need, Revenue has in place modern, high-quality, accessible and user-friendly online services for taxpayers to manage their tax affairs at a time that best suits them. The Revenue Commissioners continues to enhance those services and, inline with...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Collection (29 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that it has already reviewed the person’s tax situation across their various income sources and is satisfied that the applied credits and rate band are correct. The person was issued with an updated tax credit certificate (TCC) on 15 January 2019 which set out the tax credits that are available to her for this year. Revenue has confirmed that it will make...