Results 1-20 of 5,944 for in 'Dáil debates' speaker:Michael McGrath

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

Michael McGrath: Good man.

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...

Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Second Stage (10 Apr 2024)

Michael McGrath: I move: “That the Bill be now read a Second Time.” As announced at budget 2024, this Bill will provide the basis for two new funds: the future Ireland fund and the infrastructure, climate and nature fund. It will also provide for the dissolution of the National Reserve Fund. The Government’s approach to developing these two funds is based on the assumption that a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Reviews (10 Apr 2024)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputies. I got the appeals board back up and running. It is now working its way through the backlog. The latest information I have from the secretary of the board is that 834 appellants were on the waiting list as of 21 February. As I said, since the appeals process was reconstituted, 334 appeals have been assessed. The board has prioritised the waiting list using clinically...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Code (10 Apr 2024)

Michael McGrath: I understand that the Deputy is referring to the film industry stakeholder forum that took place on 8 February this year, convened by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and in which I am aware the Deputy was a participant, as he said. The forum was attended by a broad range of stakeholders, including representative bodies from the Irish audiovisual sector,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Code (10 Apr 2024)

Michael McGrath: Is that to sign?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Reviews (10 Apr 2024)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 18 and 40 together. The Deputies will be aware that the final report of the national disability inclusion strategy, NDIS, transport working group's review of mobility and transport supports, including the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme, DDS, endorsed proposals for a modern, fit-for-purpose vehicle adaptation scheme in line with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Reviews (10 Apr 2024)

Michael McGrath: While I do not have data on the rate of success in the appeals, I can say the volume of activity is much improved and 334 appellants have been assessed since the appeals process recommenced in December. I do not have the split - I am sure it can be provided through parliamentary questions and so on - but it represents a lot of progress. I think well over 1,000 people were on the waiting...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defective Building Materials (10 Apr 2024)

Michael McGrath: I want to find a way of getting progress for the homeowners as quickly as possible. I know the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are examining the very issue Deputy Doherty raises about the nature of the payments and the early payments, the speed of them and so on. We could go down the road of a State guarantee and all that comes...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Reliefs (10 Apr 2024)

Michael McGrath: Section 22 of the Finance Act 2022 removed the difference in treatment between PRSAs and occupational pension schemes in relation to the funding rules, by abolishing the BIK charge on employer contributions to an employee's PRSA. In addition, employer contributions to an employee's PRSA are no longer counted towards an employee's age related and salary percentage limits on tax deductible...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Reliefs (10 Apr 2024)

Michael McGrath: This was a policy decision that was taken following careful examination by the interdepartmental group. The final conclusion of the report was that the differential treatment of the PRSAs for funding purposes should be abolished and employer contributions to PRSAs should not be subject to BIK. The interdepartmental report was subject to a public consultation. The responses to the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Reliefs (10 Apr 2024)

Michael McGrath: I am aware of the proposal made by the society at the time. That was considered. A number of alternative options were explored, including an additional separate BIK limit for employer contributions to PRSAs and the new PRSA product mimicking the salary-based limits on occupational pension schemes to be used where an employer wished to make contributions to an employees PRSA. However,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fuel Prices (10 Apr 2024)

Michael McGrath: I acknowledge the points that Deputies Nash, Harkin, Pádraig O'Sullivan, Doherty and Danny Healy-Rae have made in respect of this issue. I have given a commitment to keep it under review, in particular as we move through the month of July. I acknowledge and accept that this is a significant issue for forecourt retailers in Border counties. I also acknowledge that there is a wider...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defective Building Materials (10 Apr 2024)

Michael McGrath: I thank Deputy Doherty for raising this issue again. As the Deputy will be aware, the overall Government response on the problems associated with defective concrete blocks is being led by my colleague, the Minister for housing. His Department is engaging with impacted householders and relevant stakeholders and has put in place a scheme of financial support to help affected homeowners. ...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defective Building Materials (10 Apr 2024)

Michael McGrath: There is no reason banks today cannot step in and provide bridging finance to the homeowners concerned. The Ministers, Deputies McConalogue and Darragh O'Brien, and I have discussed this issue again in recent days. As Deputy Doherty knows, the issue with a State guarantee is that it will require legislation and there are potential state-aid issues so I want to find a faster way of getting...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Code (10 Apr 2024)

Michael McGrath: When it comes to employment, we have made important progress. There are complexities where you have an existing contract of employment in place in the private sector that specifies a retirement age that is mandatory in nature at a certain point in time. However, beyond the existing contracts, it will be possible to make change and I know that is a policy area the Department of Enterprise,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fuel Prices (10 Apr 2024)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 31 together. At the outset, the Deputies should note that the Government and I are conscious of the implications of fuel costs for all sectors of society. This is reflected, as I said earlier, in the fact that, in 2022, in light of the acute impact rising prices were having on households and business, the Government provided for excise rate...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fuel Prices (10 Apr 2024)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputies for their comments. Deputy Nash can certainly use the language he has used about it being a Government-imposed planned increase. He should also acknowledge that a Government cut the excise, and what is at play on 1 April and 1 August is a restoration of that reduction. However, I have acknowledged that the situation is volatile. Deputy Doherty raised the case...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mortgage Interest Rates (10 Apr 2024)

Michael McGrath: As I said, more than 17,000 taxpayer units have made a claim for this credit so far. In excess of €14 million has been paid out and that number is increasing all the time. It is relatively straightforward to make a claim. I encourage all those who are eligible for this credit to make a claim through the PAYE Anytime system online as quickly as they can. It is a non-refundable...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mortgage Interest Rates (10 Apr 2024)

Michael McGrath: The system that has been put in place is straightforward. Many thousands of mortgage holders have been in a position to claim this credit so far. Many more are eligible to do so and I encourage them to make their claim. People have up to four years to make the claim, but I expect the number will continue to grow. The Deputy's fundamental point is the tax credit is not refundable in...