Parliamentary questions

Tax Code

Paul Murphy

23. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance his plans to introduce a tax on net wealth exceeding €1 million in order to fund public investment. [16312/20]

Legal Costs

Paul Murphy

24. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the amount that has been spent on a case (details supplied) to date. [16313/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Peter Fitzpatrick

25. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider measures such as a VAT reduction for the hospitality sector to 5% and the inclusion of seasonal workers in the temporary wage subsidy scheme until at least April 2021. [15750/20]

Credit Unions

Pa Daly

26. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Finance his views on the crisis many credit unions are facing in terms of increased regulation, levy charges, large restrictions on lending and onerous capital requirements; his plans for new legislation governing the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16245/20]

Mortgage Interest Rates

James Lawless

27. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether claims by banks here that they must charge interest on 80,000 mortgage loans during payment holidays has been undermined by new guidance from European regulators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16315/20]

Economic Growth Rate

Mick Barry

28. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Finance his views on the latest IMF World Economic Outlook forecasts and the implications for the fiscal position of the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16228/20]

Economic Policy

Ged Nash

29. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on the projected deficit figure of €23 billion to €30 billion for 2020 based on the stability programme update in April 2020 in view of recent positive corporation tax and income tax revenue receipts; the breakdown of the projected deficit figure for 2020 based on updated figures for general government expenditure and general government revenue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16293/20]

Bond Markets

Cormac Devlin

30. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Finance if measures are being taken to refinance the outstanding obligations into long-term debt of the State in view of the historically low borrowing costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16279/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Griffin

31. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding his options for the reduction of the 13% rate of VAT currently applicable to the hospitality sector; if he cannot lower this rate below 5%, the reason therefor; if he has had contact with the European Commission regarding potential VAT reductions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16306/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Griffin

32. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered reducing the VAT rate to stimulate business, particularly in the hospitality sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16307/20]

Tax Reliefs

Denis Naughten

33. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider providing income tax relief for the long-term lease of residential homes to address security of tenure in view of the success of a similar measure in the agricultural sector under section 664 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 as amended by the Finance Act 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16288/20]

Mortgage Interest Rates

Ged Nash

34. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the action he plans to take to address the accrual of interest on mortgage payment breaks; his views on the Central Bank and European Banking Authority advice relating to the charging of interest on mortgage payment breaks; if he plans to pass legislation to prevent the charging of interest during mortgage payment breaks in line with other EU countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16289/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Smith

35. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if measures will be implemented through an easing of the taxation burden on the tourism and hospitality sector in view of its importance as a provider of employment taking in to account the particular difficulties arising from the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16302/20]

Ministerial Priorities

John Lahart

36. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Finance his priorities following his election as chairperson of the Eurogroup of EU finance ministers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16284/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Smith

37. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if measures will be implemented as a matter of urgency from a VAT reduction and taxation perspective to assist the tourism and hospitality sector through the serious difficulties that have arisen due to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16303/20]

Ministerial Priorities

Ged Nash

38. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his plans to use his new position as Eurogroup President to seek a mutualisation of debt and the creation of perpetual bonds to fund the post-Covid-19 EU recovery; if he will seek an expansion of the European recovery fund; the current EU funding streams available for draw down; the amount drawn down to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16290/20]

Corporation Tax

Mairéad Farrell

39. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the recent OECD report on corporate tax statistics published 8 July 2020 (details supplied); his plans to enact measures to stop businesses registered here that are engaging in corporate tax abuse from availing of Covid-19 financial supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16145/20]

Rainy Day Fund

Catherine Connolly

40. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance the current balance of the rainy day fund; the ways in which it is intended to use the fund to deal with the costs and consequences arising from Covid-19; the ways in which the fund has been used to deal with the consequences of Covid-19 to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16305/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Éamon Ó Cuív

41. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance if he plans to reduce the VAT rate on certain services in 2020 to stabilise vulnerable sectors due to the Covid-19 crisis; if so, when an announcement will be made in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15668/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Bríd Smith

42. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will be introducing criteria for companies that avail of the temporary wage subsidy scheme and other State supports during the Covid-19 crisis such as clawback mechanisms in the event of them returning to profit, a bar on bonuses and dividends and so on for CEOs or shareholders and tax compliance criteria including restrictions on companies availing of tax avoidance measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16301/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Pearse Doherty

43. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if the temporary wage subsidy scheme will be amended to ensure that employers will not lose a portion or all of the wage subsidy in cases in which an employee works additional hours in comparison to those worked and reflected in January and February payroll submissions, particularly in terms of seasonal work; if he will consider allowing the calculation of subsidy based on payroll submissions in 2019 to reflect the seasonal variation in pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16297/20]

Banking Sector

Martin Browne

61. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Finance the consequences for banks found to be making additional profits from the Covid-19 crisis; if those banks have been informed of the sanctions they will be subject to; and the sanctions that have been implemented to date. [16413/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

James Browne

62. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Finance if the operation of the temporary wage subsidy scheme will be examined in order that it is available to persons whose work is seasonal and increases in the summer months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16275/20]

Value Added Tax

Brendan Smith

63. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he is considering a reduction in VAT on the hospitality and tourism sector in view of the adverse impact of Covid-19 on the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16278/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Pearse Doherty

64. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if the temporary wage subsidy scheme will be modified to allow employers to avail of same for seasonal workers moving from part-time to full-time hours during peak season (details supplied). [15815/20]

Mortgage Lending

Richard Boyd Barrett

65. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the actions he will take to prevent the practice of the banks to not let persons who are in receipt of the temporary wage subsidy scheme draw down already agreed mortgages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16317/20]

Mortgage Interest Rates

Richard Boyd Barrett

66. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the actions he will take to stop banks charging interest on Covid-19 mortgage breaks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16318/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Bernard Durkan

68. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which he expects the proposed European Covid-19 rescue fund to be applied across the European Union; if it will be proportional to the extent to which each country has been affected by the virus in terms of economic and financial cost or by another mechanism; the degree to which this is likely to affect the case of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16429/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Bernard Durkan

69. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which the mutualisation of debt arising from the Covid-19 crisis is likely to occur throughout Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16430/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Bernard Durkan

70. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which he expects to be in a position to improve the case of Ireland in the context of likely benefit from the multibillion euro Covid-19 related rescue fund of the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16431/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bernard Durkan

71. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which he expects the economy here to recover from the Covid-19 crisis, with particular reference to those sectors most severely impacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16432/20]

State Aid

Bernard Durkan

72. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which he expects European state aid rules to be relaxed to facilitate the provision of vital infrastructure such as housing, health and education facilities and support services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16444/20]

Brexit Issues

Bernard Durkan

73. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which he continues to review the impact of Brexit on various aspects of the economy here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16446/20]

Interest Rates

Bernard Durkan

74. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the degree to which lending rates of interest here can be brought in line with those applicable in other eurozone countries in view of the commitment by Ireland to the Single Market and the need to ensure that consumers here receive equal treatment to their counterparts throughout Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16447/20]

Financial Services Sector

Bernard Durkan

75. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the degree to which he continues to monitor the activities of investment or vulture funds here with a view to ensuring fair and equitable treatment of consumers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16448/20]

Banking Sector

Bernard Durkan

76. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the degree to which he continues to engage with the pillar banks with a view to ensuring that their customers are treated in accordance with banking rules and regulations here and in the EU, with particular reference to the rates of interest charged to customers and the manner in which repossessions of family homes and-or commercial properties are governed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16449/20]

Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears

Bernard Durkan

77. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the reason the lending agencies are allowed to continue with the applications on their own internal mechanisms when dealing with customers who have arrears and that regularly state that the alternative proposals put forward do not comply with their own instruments, which are totally controlled by the banks without regard for alternatives a person might put forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16450/20]

Economic Competitiveness

Bernard Durkan

78. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the degree to which he expects the economy here to retain or increase its competitiveness on European or world markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16451/20]

Economic Policy

Bernard Durkan

79. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the direction from which he expects to see the greatest challenges to the economy here in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16452/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Mairéad Farrell

80. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Finance the tax treatment of the temporary wage subsidy scheme and the pandemic unemployment payment; the means by which the liability will be calculated; the way in which the Revenue Commissioners plan to collect same; the tax treatment in instances in which liabilities due exceed unused tax credits for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16346/20]

Corporation Tax

Mairéad Farrell

81. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the new OECD report on corporate tax statistics published on 8 July 2020 (details supplied); his plans to enact measures to stop businesses registered here engaging in corporate tax abuse from availing of Covid-19 financial supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16347/20]

Insurance Coverage

Ruairí Ó Murchú

82. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Finance the plans in place to assist companies in the leisure and entertainment industries, community groups and community facilities that cannot obtain public liability insurance or in cases in which they receive a quote, it is prohibitively expensive. [16466/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Michael Fitzmaurice

83. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Finance the funds that can be borrowed from Europe from the Covid-19 fund to bridge the deficit due to the Covid-19 crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16467/20]

Tax Reliefs

Brendan Griffin

90. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance the tax exemption cut-off age for a young farmer (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16222/20]

Tax Code

Fergus O'Dowd

91. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance if matters raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) regarding the reduction or removal of VAT on medical grade masks for the term of the Covid-19 pandemic will receive a response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16150/20]

Banking Sector Staff

Paul McAuliffe

92. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Finance the steps he will take in respect of the situation of persons (details supplied). [16242/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Alan Kelly

275. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Finance if seasonal tourism businesses will be able to avail of the temporary wage subsidy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15202/20]

Tax Code

David Cullinane

276. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Finance his views on the ring-fencing of the sugar tax to tackle obesity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15480/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Imelda Munster

277. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Finance his plans in relation to travel management companies and other business travel companies and the extension of the temporary wage subsidy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15512/20]

Help-To-Buy Scheme

Matt Carthy

278. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Finance his plans to amend the help-to-buy scheme for persons who build their own home in order that the reckonable limits apply to the cost of the home rather than the loan to value, LTV, rate in view of the fact that the current conditions discriminate against rural dwellers who build on their own land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15700/20]