Results 19,501-19,520 of 32,924 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Criminal Prosecutions (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to advise the Deputy that the DPP is entirely independent in carrying out her functions and neither I nor the Department of Finance are privy to her decisions. It would not be appropriate for me to question or query any action taken by the DPP in relation to these proceedings, and I did not discuss this matter with the chairman or CEO of NAMA. However, I am aware from recent...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Criminal Prosecutions (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: A Leas-Chathaoirligh, we have just heard a number of allegations there-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Criminal Prosecutions (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: -----levelled against individuals who are not present to defend themselves.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Criminal Prosecutions (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: When he responds, the Deputy might explain what a fact is, as he understands it, and what is an allegation. The Deputy knows that I cannot intervene in any decision that is made by either the Director of Public Prosecutions or the Data Protection Commissioner. He also knows that it would be entirely inappropriate and wrong for me to engage in any matter which NAMA is dealing with while it...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Criminal Prosecutions (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Any investigation that is under way on the part of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner of any matter that it is raising with NAMA is a matter for that body. If it has any concerns that information is not being fully shared with them, or any issues in relation to the investigation, it has significant power under law to deal with that matter. I am sure if there were any such...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Budget Targets (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I am happy to supply a table to the Deputy which lays all of this out. I have supplied it previously in a number of replies to parliamentary questions. The €400 million figure for demographics is unchanged. That is taking account of the move from gross fiscal space to net fiscal space.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Budget Targets (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: No, and I will provide a table to show that. I will also outline to the Committee on Budgetary Oversight, in a further note if necessary, the difference between the net fiscal space of last year, which is going to change again, and the carryover costs we have from last year's budget in respect of capital and current expenditure. It is very clear.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Budget Targets (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: More broadly, when we put together the summer economic statement, I will not be using the concept of fiscal space as a key way of putting our budget together.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Budget Targets (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: No, it is part of it.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Budget Targets (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I will lay out in the summer economic statement the figures that I am required to provide. Before we make decisions about how to spend resources, however, we must be clear that we have those resources in the first place. We must raise the taxes to provide them and we must ensure that by spending the resources we are making proper use of them. I wish to be clear about the demographics....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Budget Targets (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: It is not. I have answered that question. The difference between moving from the gross fiscal space of €3.6 billion to the net fiscal space of €3.2 billion takes account of demographics. It is very clear. We have precommitted expenditure next year of the figure I have outlined and we have to find the money to pay for it.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Budget Targets (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: When we put the economic statement together, we will be explaining what resources we have available for budget 2019 but making crystal clear that we must ensure that it is correct to spend those resources.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Budget Targets (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I am happy to answer all the questions. The difference between the figure of €3.6 billion for last year in moving to the figure of €3.2 billion takes account of €400 million in demographics-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Budget Targets (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: -----which I have just explained. In addition, we have public capital plan commitments and Irish Water commitments which will take up fiscal space of €300 million. That takes us to the €3.2 billion figure. In addition to that, we have further expenditure commitments that were made after last year's summer economic statement. They consist of €700 million of fiscal...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Corporation Tax Regime (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy’s question is quite wide-ranging and it is not possible in the time allowed to address in detail each of the categories listed, so I will focus on the significant work undertaken in recent years, which is still ongoing, to address tax avoidance at domestic and international levels. Corporation tax is a significant element of Exchequer tax revenue. Projected corporation...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Corporation Tax Regime (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I am committed to taking on board all the input I have received from the consultation on the Coffey report to ensure we can continue to have a tax code that is both competitive and deals with issues of international concern. However, where I differ with the Deputy very strongly is in noting that a deduction is not the same as a loophole. Companies of all natures are entitled and are able to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Budget Targets (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I have answered all the questions put to me on the matter in written format. I have answered the question the Deputy put to me in writing and which was made available to my Department in advance of questions in the Dáil. To answer directly the question the Deputy has subsequently put to me, he is correct. If one looks at the amount of last year's fiscal space which was pre-committed,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Budget Targets (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The first question put to me was on a decision in relation to the rainy day fund. It is my view that we need to set up a rainy day fund and I have already indicated my belief that the appropriate deposit in its first year would be €500 million. That figure comes from the €1.8 billion. That is the answer to the first question. On the second question, the convention I have...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Budget Targets (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Table 3 on page 22 of the summer economic statement 2017 sets out an indicative amount of €3.2 billion based on the parameters available at that time in respect of the estimate of net fiscal space for 2019. In arriving at the net amount, the fiscal space impact of certain pre-committed voted expenditure was deducted from gross fiscal space. The nominal amounts relating to these...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Budget Targets (16 May 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The 2018 summer economic statement will update the parameters for budget 2019 taking into account the publication by the European Commission of the important inputs in its spring economic forecast. The forecasts will take account of all policy changes announced since budget 2018. I am not in a position to comment on the resources that will be available in budget 2019 ahead of the statement....