Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Ministerial Responsibilities

Alan Kelly

285. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a copy of the departmental briefings received by him and each Minister of State at his Department on taking up their roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14803/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

David Cullinane

286. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 63 of 30 June 2020, the way in which he can reconcile the fact that dividing an annual salary paid monthly by 52 results in a higher number than if it is calculated in accordance with the guidance for average revenue net weekly pay, ANRWP; and if a review will be conducted of payments made through the temporary wage subsidy scheme to ensure that no underpayments occurred. [14813/20]

Insurance Industry Regulation

Alan Kelly

287. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Finance his plans to introduce better regulation of the insurance industry. [14908/20]

Ministerial Responsibilities

Seán Sherlock

288. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Finance the delegated functions assigned to the Minister of State with responsibility for financial services, credit unions and insurance; and the date those delegated functions come into effect. [15043/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Seán Sherlock

289. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Finance if he will extend the Covid-19 payments beyond August 2020. [15065/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Chris Andrews

290. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Finance whether a company that has placed employees on the temporary wage subsidy scheme and submitted a questionnaire to the Revenue Commissioners but has not lost 25% of turnover will not have to pay anything back to the Revenue Commissioners on behalf of the employees; whether the employees will receive a tax bill at year end as a result of being on the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15085/20]

Banking Licences

Neale Richmond

291. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Finance the number of applications that were received for banking licences here in each of the years 2015 to 2019, inclusive, and to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15106/20]

Banking Licences

Neale Richmond

292. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Finance the number of new banking licences that were issued here in each of the years 2015 to 2019, inclusive, and to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15107/20]

Financial Services Sector

Neale Richmond

293. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Finance the status of the roll-out of the Ireland for Finance strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15108/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Griffin

294. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if he will expand the temporary wage subsidy scheme to include seasonal workers who had not returned to work by the deadline in March 2020 and who face little prospect of employment for the remainder of 2020 unless covered by the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15155/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Griffin

295. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if the top-up payment paid to a staff member under the temporary wage subsidy scheme is a tax-deductible expense for the business owner in view of the fact that the business owner is currently paying income tax or corporation tax on the top-up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15164/20]

Value Added Tax

Brendan Griffin

296. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance his options in respect of a reduction of the 13% VAT rate currently applicable to the hospitality sector; if he cannot lower this rate below 5%; if that is the case, the reason therefor; if he has had contact with the European Commission regarding potential VAT reductions in the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15165/20]

Value Added Tax

Brendan Griffin

297. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance the amounts generated by the 23% VAT rate in each year since 2012, in tabular form; if he has considered reducing the rate in order to stimulate businesses, particularly in the retail sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15166/20]

Tax Code

Brendan Griffin

298. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance the amount generated by alcohol excise duty in each year since 2012, in tabular form; if he has considered reducing the rate in order to stimulate businesses, particularly in the hospitality sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15167/20]

Value Added Tax

Chris Andrews

299. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Finance if he will address a matter (details supplied) relating to custom duties and VAT on the importation of medical devices and protective equipment in order to help in the fight against Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15207/20]

Value Added Tax

Brendan Griffin

300. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance his views on correspondence in respect of the VAT rate (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15227/20]

Value Added Tax

Brendan Griffin

301. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider temporarily reducing VAT on retail (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15233/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Danny Healy-Rae

302. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance if he will address a matter relating to the temporary wage subsidy scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15249/20]

State Bodies

Catherine Murphy

303. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the number of vacancies by job title in the Office of the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman as of 3 July 2020; and the estimated full-year cost of filling those vacancies, in tabular form. [15263/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

John Brady

304. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Finance the reason a company (details supplied) is permitted to make staff redundant while availing of the temporary wage subsidy scheme; if this can be suspended until all options are assessed, that is, to give business a chance to recover after Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15295/20]

Tax Credits

Paul McAuliffe

305. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Finance if he is considering the introduction of a tax credit to allow persons to buy digital technologies to assist them to work remotely. [15369/20]

Credit Unions

Michael Healy-Rae

306. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance if a series of matters will be examined in relation to credit unions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15391/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Pa Daly

307. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Finance the reason the temporary wage subsidy scheme cannot be amended to allow those seasonal businesses that were not yet fully operational on 29 February 2020, but which would have been fully operational since March or April 2020, to avail of the scheme in order that they can return to work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15408/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Boyd Barrett

308. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the way in which those self-employed persons now on Covid-19 payments will be taxed in 2020 and into 2021; and the way in which their tax credits will be applied for this tax year and the next; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15417/20]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Richard Boyd Barrett

309. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the methods by which VRT on imported cars are calculated; the mechanism there is for appeal in circumstances in which an error has clearly been made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15474/20]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Colm Burke

310. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if immediate action will be taken to eliminate the backlog in the vehicle registration process in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15525/20]

Personal Injury Claims

Joe O'Brien

311. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to personal injuries claims being taken on the basis of persons claiming to have contracted Covid-19 in specific premises; if there is a clear plan to ensure business are not unfairly held liable in these circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15699/20]

Value Added Tax

Gary Gannon

312. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Finance if yoga studios will be included in the reduced VAT rate group of 9%, matching the reduced rate enjoyed by other sporting facilities and activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15855/20]

Revenue Commissioners

Johnny Guirke

313. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Revenue Commissioners are issuing letters to many SMEs which claimed the Covid-19 restart grants informing them that their business accounts will be audited; the reason for such actions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15881/20]

Banking Sector

Pearse Doherty

314. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the accrual and charging of interest accrued during the moratorium period for mortgage payment breaks issued in the context of Covid-19 was not required under EBA guidelines in advance of his meeting with an organisation (details supplied) and five retail banks on 11 May 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15900/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Cathal Crowe

315. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Finance if he will clarify the situation regarding the rumoured tax bill at the end of the year for those on the temporary wage subsidy scheme. [15967/20]

Mortgage Lending

Cathal Crowe

316. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Finance if guidance will be issued to banks regarding mortgage applications from persons whose income has been protected by their employer via the temporary wage subsidy scheme but are being refused regardless. [15969/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Cormac Devlin

317. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Finance if the temporary wage subsidy scheme will be reviewed to ensure payments being made to employees are subject to the usual PAYE system rather than allowing potentially significant tax liabilities to develop; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16103/20]

Public Inquiries

Peadar Tóibín

318. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Finance the number of tribunals, public investigations and commissions of investigations in process; the length of time each has been underway; when each will conclude; the cost to date of each; and the estimated cost of each at completion. [16134/20]

Tax Reliefs

Brendan Griffin

142. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance his views on a matter regarding consanguinity relief (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14254/20]

Help-To-Buy Scheme

Réada Cronin

143. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Finance if he will revisit the help-to-buy scheme in terms of its loan-to-value ratio borrowing requirement being 70% when such threshold precludes significant numbers from accessing the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14510/20]

Mortgage Lending

Mary Butler

144. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the reported refusal by a bank (details supplied) to allow a first-time buyer to draw down a mortgage in August 2020 should the person who has been professional disaffected by the pandemic continue to be in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment, when the house is built and ready for occupancy; his views on whether this reported anomaly could potentially pose a widespread problem for first-time buyers in their dealings with banks and lending institutions going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13721/20]

Mortgage Lending

Richard Boyd Barrett

145. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the action he will take regarding the fact that many banks are refusing to allow persons in receipt of the temporary wage subsidy scheme who have been approved for mortgages to draw down those mortgages while in receipt of the subsidy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13731/20]

Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme

Paul Kehoe

146. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Finance the status of the processing of the revised claim for fuel grant for members of the drivers and passengers with disabilities scheme; if the case of a person (details supplied) will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13756/20]

Tax Reliefs

Brendan Griffin

147. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if relief is available on donations to reconstruct a building (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13759/20]

Value Added Tax

Michael Healy-Rae

148. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance when a decision will be made regarding the VAT rate for the hospitality and tourism sector in view of the current crisis the sector faces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13772/20]

Revenue Commissioners

Pádraig O'Sullivan

149. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance when the office of the Revenue Commissioners in Cork will reopen to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13783/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Cathal Crowe

150. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider implementing a number of measures (details supplied) in view of the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. [13808/20]

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Eoin Ó Broin

151. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Finance the way in which the temporary wage subsidy scheme evaluates average pay for furlough if unpaid sick leave was taken in December 2019 and January 2020 which has subsequently impacted negatively on an employee’s average furlough pay. [13812/20]

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Cathal Crowe

152. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Finance if the criteria for the temporary wage subsidy scheme will be redefined to ensure that seasonal workers and businesses are not being left to struggle alone with no supports as they reopen in line with advice [13814/20]

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Brendan Griffin

153. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the temporary wage subsidy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13817/20]

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Noel Grealish

154. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance the estimated number of taxpayers in receipt of the temporary wage subsidy scheme who will have an additional tax, USC and or PRSA liability as a result of the tax at the end of 2020; the average amount liable; the number of taxpayers on the pandemic unemployment payment who are projected to have an additional tax, USC and or PRSA liability at the end of 2020 as a result of receiving same; the average amount liable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13820/20]

Home Repossessions Rate

Bernard Durkan

155. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the number of repossessions of family homes carried out by each of the main banks in each of the past five years to date; the number of multiple residence developments affected in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13847/20]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Catherine Murphy

156. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance his plans to amend the rate of VRT due on vehicles that are being purchased for use as a taxi and or private limousine service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13848/20]

Tax Credits

Fergus O'Dowd

157. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance if a response to correspondence regarding single person child carer credit, SPCCC, will issue (details supplied). [13858/20]