Results 17,461-17,480 of 32,610 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fiscal Policy (25 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I will make two points in respect of what the Deputy said. First, the rent supplement and housing assistance payments are not being used to supplement landlord profits. They are being used to provide accommodation to citizens who, in the absence of these payments, would be unable to access the accommodation they need and deserve while our social output is increasing. I have a question from...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fiscal Policy (25 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: At what point do we begin to save?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fiscal Policy (25 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: At what point do we being the cycle of trying to save for the challenges we could have in future? I absolutely understand the position, as does the Deputy, because I represent constituents who are dealing with anxiety and trauma in respect of their homes, lack of homes and difficulties in accessing the healthcare services that we all want them to have. That is why, for this year, we have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Credit Union Regulation (25 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: A Programme for a Partnership Government recognises the potential role credit unions can play in dealing with our great housing difficulties. To that end, officials from my Department and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government have met with the credit union representative bodies on several occasions to examine how credit unions can assist in the area of social housing. ...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Credit Union Regulation (25 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: That is wrong. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that one of the credit union representative bodies has now completed all the preparatory work for establishing a SPV. There were several things that I needed to do and that the Central Bank needed to do. They are now done. Those responsible within the credit union movement have a level of commitment to being involved in this. It is now up...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tax Code (25 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I fully understand the point the Deputy is making. I understand that for many of his constituents, the car is the only form of transport available to them. I understand that public transport is not always the option it would be for those in our larger cities and towns, whether it be the bus or the train. I know that is not always available. I also acknowledge that our total tax take from...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tax Code (25 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: It is indeed the Deputy's duty to represent his constituents and it is in cognisance of the points he is making that I made the decision to make no further change to the tax rates that are applicable to the price of fuel. A general point I would make in the debate on carbon taxation that I know is going to ensue from decisions I made on budget day is that if the contention is - and I accept...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fiscal Policy (25 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I want to inform the Deputy that this week I brought the National Surplus (Reserve Fund for Exceptional Contingencies) Bill 2018 to Government and this Bill has now been published. It will be circulated to Deputies in the coming days. It provides the legislative underpinning for the rainy day fund, which will formally be known as the National Surplus (Exceptional Contingencies) Reserve...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Banking Sector Reform (25 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy. I have also considered how Holland has been implementing the regime in question. Regarding redress and compensation, a total of €580 million had been provided to impacted customers up to the end of August. That amount was their money and it required a large amount of effort from the Central Bank to get to this point. As to sanctions to date and as the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Banking Sector Reform (25 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Those customers and citizens who are concerned - I share that concern - about the need for accountability and redress should be cognisant of the amount of money that has now been correctly returned to customers who were wronged. The inquiry is being led by the director general of the Central Bank. The Deputy mentioned his hope that there would be a single and clear answer. My...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tax Code (25 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for his question. The point he is making to me about the rising cost of fuel gives a different perspective to the debate that is under way on carbon taxation. The reality is that some forms of fuel are increasing in price. Between January and September of this year, the average prices per litre of petrol and diesel rose by approximately 7 cent and 12 cent, respectively....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Staff (25 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: As already mentioned, we are providing staff and resourcing in line with the central scenario and the request that has been placed on me. We are engaging in evaluation of what could happen in a no deal scenario. The consequences of being in that place stretch beyond resourcing for all of the European Union. In that place and contingency the provisions that are open to us regarding use...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tax Avoidance (25 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware wealth is already taxed in a range of ways. The local property tax is based on the market value of residential properties. Capital acquisitions tax and capital gains tax are levied at 33% on the sale of assets. Bank interest in most cases is subject to deposit interest retention tax and the stamp duty levy on the transfer of shares yielded a net total of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tax Avoidance (25 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Any input I get from the Revenue Commissioners in relation to anti-avoidance rules or anything that needs to be done to deal with tax evasion on an individual or a systemic basis I act on. The policies that we have in place now, I believe, are effective and proportionate. The reason for this belief is backed up by the figures on those, for example, earning more than €400,000. In...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Banking Sector Reform (25 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, I have long been on record as stating that there are cultural failings in the banking sector that must be addressed. I want to acknowledge the Deputy's role in addressing all of this, particularly in relation to the tracker mortgage scandal. The Deputy pursued the issue forensically at the Oireachtas finance committee. The Central Bank section 6A report on the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Staff (25 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for raising this question. I am advised by Revenue that its Brexit contingency plans are progressing well. Revenue's priority to date has been on upgrading relevant IT systems to have the most advanced systems possible to support and facilitate smooth and efficient trade flows. Performance testing is now well advanced and I am assured by Revenue that based on the work...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Staff (25 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I will answer the different questions the Deputy has put to me. The staff the Government will make available to the Revenue Commissioners is in line with what they have requested, namely, 200 staff to be in place by that point in March next year. Our aim then would be to recruit the balance of the staff in the period after that across a transitionary period. The objective of the European...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Motor Insurance Costs (25 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 43 together. The Cost of Insurance Working Group’s Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance was published in January 2017 and makes 33 recommendations with 71 associated actions to be carried out in agreed timeframes, set out in an Action Plan. In line with the commitment to publish quarterly update reports on the implementation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Strategy Group (25 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I have always been clear that the amalgamation of USC and PRSI is a medium term plan and, as a result, the matter is being progressed on a separate track from the Budget and Finance Bill process. The Working Group have now completed their work, in line with their terms of reference. Their Report was submitted to me in recent weeks and I am now considering the contents. The Report addresses a...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Central Bank of Ireland Reports (25 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The Central Bank Section 6A Report on the culture and behaviour of the main retail banks was drafted by the Central Bank in response to my request in November 2017, on foot of the serious cultural failings in banks brought to light in the Tracker Mortgage Examination. My Department’s analysis of the report found that it is a detailed, qualitative and considered analysis of...