Written Answers Nos. 144-162
144. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of companies that have completed the Brexit scorecard to date in 2017, by company size (details supplied), in tabular form. [30160/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe “Brexit SME Scorecard” launched by Enterprise Ireland (EI) in March 2017, is a new interactive online platform which can be used by Irish companies to self-assess their exposure to Brexit. By completing the online questionnaire, the Brexit SME Scorecard will provide companies with an assessment of their preparedness under six key pillars - Business Strategy, Operations, Innovation, Sales and Marketing, Finance and People Management. The Scorecard then generates an immediate report which contains suggested actions, resources and information on events in order to prepare for Brexit.
The SME Scorecard is available to all companies looking to develop an action plan to help mitigate risks and leverage opportunities which may arise from Brexit.
To date, 1,100 companies have used the EI Brexit Scorecard to help assess their level of preparedness for Brexit. Of these, 350 companies have voluntarily indicated their company size.
Table 1 gives details of these companies.
Version 2 of the Brexit Scorecard was launched on 30 May and this incorporates company size into the Scorecard.
Table 1 :
|
Size of company based on Employees Numbers |
No. of companies |
|
Micro Sized Companies (Less than 10 employees) |
135 |
|
Small Sized Companies (Between 10-49 employees) |
126 |
|
Medium Sized Companies (Between 50-249 employees) |
78 |
|
Large Sized Companies (Over 250 employees) |
11 |
145. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the details of international Enterprise Ireland offices abroad; the location, number of full-time and part-time staff employed in each; and the costs of offices and staffing for each international office on an annual basis, in tabular form. [30161/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnterprise Ireland is the state agency under my aegis with responsibility for helping Irish companies to internationalise and scale. The manufacturing and internationally traded services companies that Enterprise Ireland works with are a critical source of existing employment and job creation in every county in Ireland and are spread across a wide range of sectors.
Enterprise Ireland client exports grew by 6% in 2016 reaching a record high of €21.6bn. Under its Strategy 2017-2020, EI has a target to increase client exports to €26bn, notwithstanding the challenges of Brexit and other global developments.
Enterprise Ireland’s overseas structure through its network of 32 overseas offices and its extended Pathfinder (Trade Consultant) network provides client companies with access to Incubation and Hot-Desking Facilities, local market knowledge on a sectoral basis, introductions to buyers/suppliers/partners, and market intelligence such as competitor analysis, identification of professional services etc.
The activities of Enterprise Ireland’s overseas network are supported by the Market Research Centre and Strategic Marketing Unit based in Dublin along with a range of financial and capability developments supports aimed at helping client companies to compete and win sales in overseas markets.
Table 1 identifies the location and the cost (pay and non-pay) of running Enterprise Ireland’s overseas offices in 2016 and the current number of full time and part time staff employed these offices.
Table 1: Cost (pay and non-pay) of running Enterprise Ireland’s overseas offices in 2016 and the current number of full time and part time staff employed these offices.
|
Office Location |
Total running costs in 2016 (€) |
Full Time Staff as at June 2017 |
Part Time Staff as at June 2017 |
Total Staff Numbers as at June 2017 |
|
LONDON |
2,702,458 |
13 |
1 |
14 |
|
DUSSELDORF |
1,309,755 |
10 |
3 |
13 |
|
STOCKHOLM |
755,659 |
6 |
0 |
6 |
|
PARIS |
964,000 |
7 |
1 |
8 |
|
AMSTERDAM |
531,740 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
BRUSSELS |
320,934 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|
PRAGUE |
256,174 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
BUDAPEST |
50,348 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
WARSAW |
547,863 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
MOSCOW |
374,447 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
MADRID |
344,482 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
MILAN |
584,529 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
|
RIYADH |
482,123 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
DUBAI |
1,318,331 |
7 |
0 |
7 |
|
SOUTH AFRICA |
496,618 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
ISTANBUL |
428,881 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
DOHA |
159,598 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
ABU DHABI |
107,286 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
NEW YORK |
2,642,358 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
|
BOSTON |
652,311 |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
MOUNTAIN VIEW |
1,114,383 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
TORONTO |
400,390 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
BRAZIL |
307,361 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
AUSTIN |
518,927 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
SINGAPORE |
762,702 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
TOKYO |
779,881 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
HONG KONG |
362,595 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
BEIJING |
612,275 |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
SHANGHAI |
1,425,348 |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
SEOUL |
339,480 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
SYDNEY |
859,815 |
7 |
0 |
7 |
|
INDIA |
381,869 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
PERTH* |
17,443 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total |
22,912,365 |
139 |
8 |
147 |
*Note: Enterprise Ireland’s Perth Office closed in 2016 and its activity is now managed out of Enterprise Ireland’s Sydney Office.
146. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will provide a list of each international IDA Ireland office abroad; the location; the number of full-time and part-time staff employed in each; the cost of offices and staffing for each international office on an annual basis, in tabular form. [30162/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following tables set out the total numbers of IDA employees in each overseas location and the total costs associated with the network of offices abroad for 2016.
IDA Ireland does not provide information in relation to the specific cost breakdown of individual offices as these details are sensitive in the context of international competition for foreign direct investment.
|
Office |
Staff No |
|
US |
|
|
New York |
11 |
|
Boston |
3 |
|
Mountainview |
8 |
|
Irvine |
5 |
|
Austin |
2 |
|
Atlanta |
2 |
|
Chicago |
7 |
|
Europe |
|
|
London |
6 |
|
Paris |
3 |
|
Frankfurt |
6 |
|
Asia/PAC |
|
|
Australia |
2 |
|
Korea |
1 |
|
Japan |
3 |
|
Mumbai |
4 |
|
Bangalore |
1 |
|
Taiwan |
1 |
|
Shanghai |
3 |
|
Shenzhen |
2 |
|
Beijing |
1 |
|
Russia |
1 |
|
Brazil |
1 |
|
Costs in IDA Overseas Offices |
2016 |
|
Staff costs |
€10,802,000 |
|
Non staff costs |
€5,174,000 |
147. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of enterprise attachés stationed in each embassy; and the location of each embassy. [30163/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department seconds a number of staff to represent Ireland, and to promote national trade, enterprise, research and employment policy objectives, in Brussels, Geneva and London. The number of staff and location of each Embassy/Mission is set out in the following table.
|
Embassy / Mission |
Location |
Staff Seconded |
|
Brussels, Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union |
Rue Froissart 501040 Brussels Belgium |
2 Principal Officers 3 Assistant Principal Officers 1 Higher Executive Officer 2 Stagiaires (vacancies at present) Total: 6 (8) |
|
Geneva, Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations (WTO, ILO and WIPO) |
Rue de Moillebeau 58 Case Postale 339 1211 Geneva 19 Switzerland |
1 Principal Officer 1 Assistant Principal Officer 1 Higher Executive Officer 1 Clerical Officer Total: 4 |
|
London, Embassy of Ireland |
17 Grosvenor Place London SW1X 7HR |
I Principal Officer I Higher Executive Officer Total: 2 |
148. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the position of the Central Bank on the question of the way in which banks treat normal contributions to occupational pension schemes (details supplied) when considering the income of a mortgage holder in the context of assessing the sustainability of a person's mortgage; if certain banks are now disallowing normal pension contributions in their assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29491/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, in February 2015 the Central Bank introduced regulations on residential mortgage lending which applied proportionate limits to mortgage lending by regulated financial services providers in the Irish market. The key objective of these regulations is to increase the resilience of the banking and household sectors to the property market and to reduce the risk of bank credit and house price spirals from developing in the future.
The regulations introduced proportionate limits for Loan-to-Value (LTV) and Loan-to-Income (LTI) measurements for housing loans secured on residential property in the State. Income is set out in the regulation and means the total gross annual income, before tax or other deductions, of the borrower.
However, the Central Bank has advised that the limits are supplementary to individual banks' credit policies and are not designed as a substitute for lenders’ responsibilities to assess affordability and lend prudently on a case-by-case basis. This affordability assessment generally involves examining a borrower’s net disposable income which takes into consideration a number of factors including for example taxes, other debt obligations and may include pension contributions if applicable as per the individual firm’s credit policy.
149. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Finance the recommendations from the report on the rising cost of motor insurance which have been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29520/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the Cost of Insurance Working Group finalised its Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance in December 2016 and it was published on 10 January 2017. The Report makes 33 recommendations with 71 associated actions to be carried out in agreed timeframes, which are clearly set out in an Action Plan. 45 of these action points are due to be implemented by the end of this year with the remainder scheduled for completion before the conclusion of 2018.
There is a commitment within the Report that the Working Group will prepare quarterly update reports on its progress and the first such update report was published in early May. This update report provides details on how the implementation of the recommendations is progressing, with a particular focus on the ten action points which were due for completion during the first quarter.
My Department will publish the second quarterly update report in the coming weeks. This update report will again show the progress to date on the overall implementation of the recommendations, with a particular focus on the 17 action points which are due for completion in the second quarter of 2017.
It should be noted that substantial work has also been undertaken in respect of a number of the other 44 actions, including all eight which are classified as “ongoing” in the Action Plan.
150. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the percentage discount a company (details supplied) received relating to the par value and the market value at the time of purchasing from NAMA apartments in Balally, in particular, and other property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29530/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by NAMA that the asset to which the Deputy refers was one of numerous assets securing a loan portfolio which NAMA sold in 2016 following an open and competitive sales process. The Deputy will be aware that information relating to the valuation of specific assets and the value of the loans those assets secure is confidential and commercially sensitive information. NAMA is prohibited from disclosing such information by reference to the provisions of sections 99 and 202 of the NAMA Act.
151. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the status of discussions with Brazil on its decision in September 2016 to add Ireland to its tax blacklist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29581/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraEfforts are continuing to seek Ireland’s removal from the Brazilian black list. A technical delegation from the Department of Finance and Revenue met with Brazilian officials in March 2017 to seek a resolution to this issue.
Since March there has been continuing contact with the Brazilian authorities at official level. My predecessor Minister Noonan also raised the issue directly with the Brazilian Finance Minister earlier this year. Ireland’s appeal of the listing remains under consideration pending a final decision from the Brazilian Revenue Secretary.
Ireland has been included on this list on the basis that the 12.5% corporation tax rate is below 17%, the threshold set by Brazilian law. We believe that focussing on the statutory tax rate fails to reflect the realities of the Irish regime which focusses on substance and which also has a 25% rate for passive income and a 33% rate for capital gains. We continue to engage with the Brazilian authorities to seek a resolution to this issue.
152. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the yield from DIRT in 2016; the forecasted yield in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29582/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by Revenue that the net amount collected in relation to the Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) in 2016 was €170 million. It was forecast, at the time of Budget 2017 that DIRT receipts will be in the order of €175 million in 2017.
153. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the staffing complement of his Department in whole-time equivalents as at the end of 2016. [29604/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that the number of staff serving in my Department at 31 December 2016 was 290.30 (whole time equivalent).
There were also 11 staff in the Shareholding & Financial Advisory Division seconded into my Department from the NTMA.
154. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm the exemption from dividend withholding tax for European Economic Area, EEA, regulated funds regarding dividends paid by Irish real estate funds, IREFs; if his attention has been drawn to the large number of EEA funds that hold property here through IREFs, particularly British and German funds; the number of EEA funds with shareholding in IREFs that are exempt from dividend withholding tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29676/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by Revenue that only certain Irish and EEA funds (including both pension funds and investment funds) may receive distributions from IREFs without the operation of IREF withholding tax.
A fund, whether Irish or EEA, can receive distributions gross provided:
1. The fund is not a fund which is under the control of its investors or anyone connected with its investors, and which was put in place to avoid a charge to IREF withholding tax arising. That is, investors who would otherwise be subject to IREF withholding tax cannot avoid that charge by interposing an Irish or EEA fund vehicle.
2. The fund, or anyone connected with it, does not control or influence the way the IREF carries on its business. Where a widely held fund, such as a large occupational pension fund, invests in Irish property through an IREF, then IREF withholding tax will not arise.
Widely held collective investment vehicles operate tax on distributions out to their investors. This ensures that a double layer of taxation does not arise.
I am further advised by Revenue that the first return of IREF withholding tax will be due on 30 June 2018. Until that return is filed and analysed, Revenue will not be in a position to identify the number and type of investors who have claimed an exemption from IREF withholding tax.
155. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of applications that have been granted by the Central Bank under section 149 of the Consumer Credit Act 1995 for the provision of a new service or an increase in existing customer charges by each bank operating here since 1 October 2013; and the detail of each application granted. [29720/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Section 149 of the Consumer Credit Act 1995 (as amended) (the Act) credit institutions are required to notify the Central Bank of Ireland (the Central Bank) if they wish to:
- introduce any new customer ‘charge’ for providing a ‘service’; or
- increase any existing customer ‘charge’ for providing a ‘service’.
A credit institution cannot impose a new charge or increase an existing charge unless the charge proposed has been notified to and approved by the Central Bank.
The terms ‘Charge’ and ‘Service’ are defined in the Act, as follows:
'Charge’ includes a penalty or surcharge interest by whichever name called, being an interest charge imposed in respect of arrears on a credit agreement or loan, but does not include any rate of interest or any charge, cost or expense levied by a party other than a credit institution in connection with the provision of a service to the credit institution or the customer and that is to be discharged by the customer.
A charge would therefore include a penalty or surcharge interest but does not include standard interest rates.
‘Service’ means any service provided by a credit institution to a customer in respect of the following:
- Making and receiving payments.
- Providing foreign exchange facilities.
- Providing and granting credit.
- Maintaining and administrating transaction accounts.
Relevant charges are assessed by the Central Bank in accordance with the criteria laid down in the legislation, as follows:
- The promotion of fair competition.
- The commercial justification submitted in respect of the proposal.
- The impact new charges or increases in existing charges will have on customers.
- Passing on costs to customers.
A notification made under Section 149 of the Act may include multiple charges and, having considered the proposed charge(s) under the assessment criteria as set out under the legislation, the proposed charges may be rejected, approved at lower levels than requested by the credit institution or approved in full.
Approvals, partial approvals and rejections are issued in the form of a letter of direction and the credit institution is legally bound to comply with this letter of direction. The letter of direction sets out the maximum amount the credit institution is allowed to charge for the relevant service.
It should be noted that credit institutions are free to impose any pricing differentials for the service up to the permitted maximum and are free to waive fees at their discretion.
|
Section 149 Notification Statistics 1 October 2013 to 22 June 2017 |
|||||
|
|
2013* |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017** |
|
Fully Approved |
3 |
10 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
|
Partially Approved*** |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Fully Rejected |
0 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
The notifications referred to in the table above may contain one charge or a number of charges.
* data from 1 October 2013 up to and including 31 December 2013
**data from 1 January 2017 up to and including 22 June 2017
***data in respect of partial approvals may include some rejected charges
The Central Bank is not in a position to provide “the detail of each application granted” in respect of the notifications referred to in the table above due to confidentiality obligations pursuant to Section 33AK of the Central Bank Act 1942.
156. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Finance the action being taken by his Department to implement the report on the costs of motor insurance; the effect these actions will have on insurance premiums; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29739/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the Cost of Insurance Working Group, chaired by former Minister of State Eoghan Murphy T.D., finalised its Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance in December 2016 and it was published on 10 January 2017. The Report makes 33 recommendations with 71 associated actions to be carried out in agreed timeframes, which are clearly set out in an Action Plan. 45 of these action points are due to be implemented by the end of this year with the remainder scheduled for completion before the conclusion of 2018.
There is a commitment within the Report that the Working Group will prepare quarterly update reports on its progress and the first such update report was published in early May. This update report provides details on how the implementation of the recommendations is progressing, with a particular focus on the ten action points which were due for completion during the first quarter.
My Department will publish the second quarterly update report in the coming weeks. This update report will again show the progress to date on the overall implementation of the recommendations, with a particular focus on the 17 action points which are due for completion in the second quarter of 2017.
It should be noted that substantial work has also been undertaken in respect of a number of the other 44 actions, including all eight which are classified as “ongoing” in the Action Plan.
It is envisaged that the implementation of all the recommendations cumulatively, with the appropriate levels of commitment and cooperation from all relevant stakeholders, will achieve the objective of delivering fairer premiums for consumers without unnecessary delay.
157. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of quarters Ireland has been in compliance with the fiscal rules since entering into the preventive arm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29747/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCompliance with the Stability and Growth Pact is assessed in annual, as opposed to quarterly, terms. Since Ireland’s transition into the Preventive Arm of the Pact in 2016, fiscal policy has been, and will continue to be, shaped by the expenditure benchmark (EB) and balanced budget rule.
Ireland submitted its Draft Budgetary Plan (DBP) following the publication of Budget 2017 in October of last year for assessment by the European Commission. The DBP was found to be ‘broadly compliant’ by the European Commission. This included an expected deviation under the EB of approximately €200 million in relation to increased national contributions to the EU Budget.
In January of this year the Commission published its updated version of the 2017 Vade Mecum which included a methodological change around the treatment of one-offs. In the past one-offs were not included in the assessment of compliance with the EB whereas they will be taken systematically into account in the assessment process going forward. However, the Commission appears to have retrospectively applied this change in its calculations to the EB assessment for 2016 and the combined EB assessment for 2016/2017. As I have previously stated for the Deputy in PQs number 143 of the 30th of May and number 296 of the 19th of June I do not accept retrospective application of methodological changes, particularly relating to 2016 and the 2016/2017 average. The Commission themselves have admitted that there may be legal uncertainty with the approach taken and the 2017 version of the Vade Mecum states that “in order to preserve Member States’ legitimate expectations, compliance with already adopted Council recommendations will continue to be assessed on the basis of methodologies described in the 2016 version of the Vade Mecum." My officials continue to engage bilaterally with the Commission on this point.
Further, the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (IFAC) found Ireland to be ‘strongly compliant’ with the EB in the 2016 Ex-post Assessment of compliance with the Domestic Budgetary Rule 2016. Therefore there could not have been a significant deviation under the two-year assessment. The next assessment of compliance with the EB will the DBP due to be submitted in October of this year.
Based on the European Commission’s final ex-post assessment of compliance with the balanced budget rule, Ireland is estimated to have reduced its structural deficit by 0.3 per cent in 2016. This improvement is considered to be consistent with broad compliance with the requirements of the Stability and Growth Pact. For 2017, my Department forecasts a further structural improvement of 0.3 per cent, indicating continued broad compliance with the balanced budget rule. For 2018, a structural improvement of 0.6 per cent is projected, consistent with full compliance with the requirements of the Stability and Growth Pact. Importantly, my Department estimates that Ireland remains on track to achieve our medium-term objective of a structural deficit of 0.5 per cent of GDP in 2018. Achievement of the MTO represents an important milestone in ensuring the sustainability of the public finances.
158. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance if he will intervene in the case of a person (details supplied); his views on whether this is particular discrimination against this person and their partner, particularly in view of the fact they have been provided medically with the all clear; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29756/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Central Bank have advised that when an individual(s) applies for a mortgage loan to buy a home, the individual(s) will generally be required to take out mortgage protection insurance. This is a particular type of life assurance taken out for the term of the mortgage and designed to pay it off on the death of the borrower or joint borrower.
It is an underwriting consideration for an insurance firm to decide whether to take on the risk or not. Should the insurance firm take on the risk, it may result in a large loading/premium for the customer. Alternatively, the insurance firm could decide not to take on the risk at all. This would be a commercial/underwriting decision by the insurance firm.
In most cases, a lender is legally required under Section 126 of the Consumer Credit Act 1995 to ensure that a mortgage applicant has a mortgage protection insurance policy in place before granting a mortgage loan, with some exceptions. One of these exceptions is “loans to persons who belong to a class of persons which would not be acceptable to an insurer, or which would only be acceptable to an insurer at a premium significantly higher than that payable by borrowers generally”, in which case the Act does not require the lender to ensure that mortgage protection insurance is in place.
159. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Finance the details and county location of capital projects announced by his Department in March, April, May and to date in June 2017. [29782/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has no capital projects and therefore no such projects were announced during the months in question. The department has had some routine capital expenditure confined to the acquisition of IT equipment and systems and certain premises expenses relating to the buildings it occupies.
160. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance the number of Civil Service clerical officers in full-time employment in his Department as of 31 May 2017 by county, in tabular form. [29849/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that the number of Clerical Officers in full time employment in my Department as of 31 May 2017 by county, is contained in the following table.
|
Number of Full time Clerical Officers |
Location |
|
19 |
Dublin |
|
14 |
Offaly |
161. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance the number of full-time Civil Service clerical officers in his Department who have either retired, resigned or been promoted from 1 January 2015 to 31 May 2017, by county, in tabular form. [29865/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that 13 full time Clerical Officers in my Department have retired, resigned or been promoted between the period 1 January 2015 to 31 May 2017. See the following table.
|
- |
Dublin |
Offaly |
|
Retired |
2 |
|
|
Resigned |
5 |
|
|
Promoted |
4 |
2 |
162. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance the number of full-time Civil Service clerical officer appointments made in his Department from 1 January 2015 to 31 May 2017 by county, in tabular form. [29889/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that 25 Clerical Officers were appointed to my Department between 1 January 2015 to 31 May 2017, all of whom commenced on a full time basis. See the following table.
|
Number of Clerical Officer appointments 1 Jan 2015 – 31 May 2017 |
Location |
|
21 |
Dublin |
|
4 |
Offaly |
