Results 1-20 of 27,519 for speaker:Michael McGrath

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. ...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: Good man.

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: Revenue Commissioners (1 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118, 119, 120, 121 and 122 together. Issuing of a licence, following submission of a certificate of transfer to Revenue, is usually a quick process but can be delayed where further information is required from the court. There is no expiry date specified in current legislation for the certificate of transfer. An ad-interim transfer (temporary transfer) of...

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: Civil servant political activity in my Department is administered in line with Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform 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...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Vehicle Registration Tax (1 May 2024)

Michael McGrath: I am advised by Revenue that full details of the procedures for the registration of vehicles and the calculation of VRT are available on their website: www.revenue.ie/en/vrt/index.aspx. I am further advised that in relation to the specific case you raise the website also provides full details regarding the conversion of vehicles - www.revenue.ie/en/vrt/conversions/index.aspx.

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

Michael McGrath: The Help to Buy (HTB) incentive is a scheme 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...

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 An Leas-Chathaoirleach and colleagues on the committee for the opportunity to come before them today. I thank Deputy Conway-Walsh for raising this issue. It is probably relevant to the first group of amendments as I read it.

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...

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 have not yet given consideration to the level of detail that will go into the letter of expectations. I will consult on that issue within the Department and across the Government. I would be happy to take the views of the Oireachtas on board and perhaps give the committee an opportunity to input into that before I would finalise such a letter. I have an open mind on the level of detail....

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: Environmental, social and governance risks. They are a broad range.

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: What I said was that a letter of expectation would issue from me as Minister to the NTMA as regards its investment strategy, which it would then take on board in finalising the strategy, given that the strategy has to come before the Minister and gets put before the Government for consideration and noting.

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: Because we are not dealing with the individual ESG risks, of which there are many, in the primary legislation. What we are doing here is setting out the overall framework, the investment policy and then the strategy and setting out how the strategy will ultimately be developed and agreed. It will have to take into account the ESG risks that are set out, but there will be the letter of...

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: Yes, we are mirroring the provisions in the ISIF legislation in terms of the text referring to ESG, but it is not intended to be an exhaustive consideration of ESG risks. That will be considered by the NTMA, having regard to the legislation, and then it will devise an investment strategy that will come to the Minister.

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: There is not a statutory review period but our expectation would be for this to happen approximately every three years.