Parliamentary questions

Departmental Schemes

Brendan Howlin

179. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance when the revised disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme will be introduced; when the criteria for issuing a primary medical certificate for his scheme will be revised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7180/24]

Rental Sector

Brendan Howlin

327. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if he will review the application of the rental tax credit, to ensure that the children of a property owner who are registered tenants in the property with the RTB paying a market rent, can avail of this credit on the same basis as any other renter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13140/23]

Tax Credits

Brendan Howlin

388. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance in relation to the new rent relief scheme for parents who are paying their children’s rent while studying at third level, if he will extend the scheme to cover parents of students who are paying for ‘digs’-type accommodation or ‘rent a room’ accommodation; if he will ensure that the parents of students studying in the EU and UK whose course fees are eligible for tax relief will also be entitled to tax relief for accommodation paid for these students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2407/23]

Insurance Coverage

Brendan Howlin

210. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the options available a couple in full-time employment with the clear expectation of being able to repay the mortgage over a lifetime of work in circumstances in which they require life insurance to secure a mortgage for a home loan and such insurance is unavailable due to a congenital illness; if there is a requirement for the insurance industry to offer life insurance in these circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55495/21]

Banking Sector

Brendan Howlin

163. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the options available to an Irish company that has been refused by the two largest banking companies in Ireland to open a business bank account; if his Department or any other State agency offers assistance in such cases to new companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47599/21]

Tax Reliefs

Brendan Howlin

278. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if he plans to make adjustments in the tax saver rail ticket system to facilitate workers who are returning to the workplace on a two day or three-day work basis rather than a five-day commute; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46022/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Howlin

180. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if he will review the repayment of the employment wage subsidy scheme to a person (details supplied); his views on whether this was a bona fide application that would have serious knock-on effects for apprenticeships if the payment was disallowed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27524/21]

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Brendan Howlin

491. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered the admission of the events industry to supports and schemes (details supplied) until six months after mass gatherings are permitted again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15395/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Howlin

227. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if he will review the supports available under the Covid restrictions support scheme particularly regarding wholesalers that cater for the hospitality industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4316/21]

Living City Initiative

Brendan Howlin

47. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance his plans to extend the Living City Initiative to further large towns such as Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32113/20]

Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme

Brendan Howlin

57. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the timeline for the recommencement of processing of applications under the disabled drivers tax concessions scheme following the Supreme Court decision on 18 June 2020; the number of applications under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29090/20]

Tax Code

Brendan Howlin

289. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance his plans to review the taxation of index funds and ETFs; if the periodic taxation of ETFs is to be maintained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21807/20]

Mortgage Lending

Brendan Howlin

63. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if he has an agreement from the banks that persons with mortgage approval and who subsequently went on the temporary wage subsidy scheme payment will not have their mortgage approval withdrawn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10611/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Howlin

88. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if further consideration will be given to the application for the temporary wage subsidy scheme by a business (details supplied); the reason the business has been excluded from the scheme due to the fact it was closed for renovations on the designated date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11140/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Howlin

64. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if a similar mechanism could be found to assist businesses which are seasonal by nature such as a company (details supplied) and that were not in operation on the designated day in view of the commitment to find a solution to the issue of women returning to the workforce at the end of maternity leave and their entitlement to be brought within the terms of the temporary wage subsidy scheme. [8610/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Howlin

68. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if a person (details supplied) is eligible to avail of the wage subsidy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7669/20]

VAT Rate Application

Brendan Howlin

126. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the expected yield from increasing VAT on food supplements from 0% to 13.5%; the reason this policy change was not announced or included on the documentation published on budget day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44509/19]

VAT Rate Application

Brendan Howlin

127. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if his decision to apply VAT to food supplements will be irreversible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44510/19]

Budget Measures

Brendan Howlin

128. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the measures included in the Finance Bill 2019 that will result in additional revenue for the Exchequer in 2020 that were not announced on budget day, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44511/19]

Dormant Accounts Fund

Brendan Howlin

39. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the value of the dormant accounts fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40726/19]

National Economic Dialogue

Brendan Howlin

168. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on his attendance at the National Economic Dialogue. [29289/19]

Revenue Commissioners

Brendan Howlin

52. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if the attention of the Revenue Commissioners has been drawn to the delays experienced by customers using the contact number it has provided in order to access appointments; his plans to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22323/19]

Financial Transactions Tax

Brendan Howlin

149. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the position of Ireland with regard to the financial transaction tax proposed by France and Germany as a measure to bridge the EU budget gap due to Brexit and to provide for a specific eurozone budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16170/19]

Financial Transactions Tax

Brendan Howlin

150. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the yield that would arise from a financial transaction tax based on the French model on Irish transactions levied at a rate of 0.1% on share and bond transactions and 0.01% on derivative products; the way in which the French proposal differs from the Irish stamp duty regime that applies only to share transactions on Irish incorporated companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16171/19]

Departmental Advertising Campaigns

Brendan Howlin

118. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the amount spent by his Department on public advertising and the purchase of external communications and publicity in 2018 by advertising campaign including specific amounts on social media campaigns (details supplied) or other digital platforms; the amount spent on public relations or other communications support in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53576/18]

Prize Bonds

Brendan Howlin

160. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the prize fund available under the national prize bond scheme; his plans to increase the prize fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50755/18]

VAT Rate Application

Brendan Howlin

175. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance his plans for the VAT regime on food supplements which have been zero rated for tax purposes to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49398/18]

Departmental Advertising Campaigns

Brendan Howlin

180. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has carried out advertising campaigns to promote policies or programmes being implemented by his Department; the campaign or relevant programme; the cost of advertising in publications, broadcast advertising, outdoor advertising and other consultancy or production costs for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48299/18]

VAT Rate Application

Brendan Howlin

230. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance his plans to alter the VAT regime on health supplements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43963/18]

Budget 2019

Brendan Howlin

166. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the additional carry-over cost in 2020 of the tax measures introduced in budget 2019; the cost by tax measure, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42271/18]

Tax Data

Brendan Howlin

167. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the amount of revenue paid in each of the past five years as a result of the CGT exit tax rate of 33%; the number of companies it applied to as previously provided for in sections 627 and 628 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997; the estimated revenue which would be raised if the new regime was applied at 33% rather than 12.5%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42272/18]

Departmental Budgets

Brendan Howlin

387. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the breakdown by project for the capital allocation of €26 million in 2018 to his Vote group; the breakdown by project for the proposed allocation of €25 million in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35283/18]

European Investment Bank Loans

Brendan Howlin

131. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the average interest rate applying to EIB loans initiated in each of the years 2016 and 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17940/18]

Brexit Issues

Brendan Howlin

83. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the economic impact assessments his Department has commissioned on Brexit. [5754/18]

European Central Bank

Brendan Howlin

119. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the engagements and discussions he has had with other EU leaders on vacancies at the European Central Bank. [9660/18]

Tax Compliance

Brendan Howlin

182. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the reason the Revenue Commissioners have audited only five section 110 companies for tax purposes; the action he has taken in ensuring they fulfil all their obligations in respect of Irish and European money laundering and terrorist financing; the mechanisms in place to review this and key persons in such organisations such as directors, senior managers and so on, on a yearly, monthly and quarterly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13622/18]

Tax Avoidance

Brendan Howlin

183. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if the issue of tax avoidance by so-called vulture funds has been further examined; if such entities are subject to corporation tax in respect of interest earned and other banking activities here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13623/18]

State Debt

Brendan Howlin

55. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the gross and net debt-to-GDP and GNI ratios following the publication of the 2017 national accounts by the CSO on 8 March 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13405/18]

Departmental Staff Data

Brendan Howlin

79. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the number of staff assigned in his Department to the press office, public relations or communications roles in each year since 2015; the positions by staffing grade and designated role; when each new position came into existence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11703/18]

Departmental Staff Recruitment

Brendan Howlin

80. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if a panel has been established in his Department for communications officers; if a Civil Service position of head of communications or similar role or description has been appointed in his Department; if so, when the appointment occurred; the grade at which it occurred; the reason for same; the policy basis for same; the person that approved the appointment; his plans to make such an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11719/18]

World Economic Forum

Brendan Howlin

179. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the cost to his Department of attending the World Economic Forum at Davos in 2018; the costs incurred by travel, accommodation, attendance fees and other items; the names of those that attended paid for by his Department; the individual costs attached to each and all other sundry costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9804/18]

Brexit Data

Brendan Howlin

98. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has commissioned economic or regulatory impact assessments of the risks to sectors under the purview of his Department following the decision of the UK to exit the EU and the various types of future relationships that might result; if he will provide a copy of such studies conducted; the persons or body commissioned to conduct this research; the cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6305/18]

Brexit Data

Brendan Howlin

99. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the additional budget for 2018 or other years, provided to his Department and all agencies and bodies within his remit to plan or prepare for Brexit; the number of additional staff that have been recruited to work on this policy area in each body, agency and his Department; the number of dedicated staff planning and working on Brexit matters in each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6322/18]

European Investment Bank

Brendan Howlin

188. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the extent of State borrowing from the European Investment Bank; the average rate and duration of such borrowing; the advantage to the State of such borrowing over direct Exchequer financing; the projects that have received funding to date and on which there are outstanding amounts, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54538/17]

Legislative Programme

Brendan Howlin

69. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the Acts, or parts of Acts, awaiting commencement within his area of statutory responsibility; the reason for the delay in the commencement of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53568/17]

European Banking Authority

Brendan Howlin

53. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the role his Department had in Ireland's bid for the European Banking Authority and his engagements with other European leaders on Ireland's bid. [50203/17]

Departmental Reports

Brendan Howlin

146. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance when the report of the working group on the tax and fiscal treatment of rental accommodation providers, expected to be submitted to him in July 2017, will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48924/17]

Fiscal Data

Brendan Howlin

91. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the estimated fiscal space available in 2019 to 2021 following budget 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44806/17]

Tax Data

Brendan Howlin

88. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the estimated yield from a 1% levy on online digital advertising to be charged on advertising carried on an Internet or mobile platform here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36792/17]

Departmental Staff Data

Brendan Howlin

105. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the number of political staff employed in his Department, including parliamentary assistants, secretarial assistants, special advisors, drivers and other relevant positions; the number of public or Civil Service staff seconded to work within his Department or constituency offices; the salaries and job titles of each such person; the duty or role of each in each of the years 2015 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36953/17]