Results 281-300 of 1,033,510 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Damien English OR speaker:Ciarán Cannon OR speaker:Denise Mitchell OR speaker:Jennifer Whitmore OR speaker:John Brady)

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (4 Jul 2024)

David Stanton: I thank the Minister for his response and congratulate him on his appointment, as I did not do so when I stood up earlier. Do the Minister or the Revenue Commissioners have an estimate of how many vacant properties might be liable for VHT? Does the Minister agree that the number he quoted of 6,400 and the actual number that paid the tax is very low? Do the Department or the Revenue...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (4 Jul 2024)

Jack Chambers: Tackling vacancy is a key priority for the Government and is part of the wider Housing for All strategy. The Deputy has submitted a question on this to my colleague, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. As to the Deputy's question about the Revenue Commissioners, they are engaged around the VHT. It is collected on a self-assessment basis and applies under specific criteria. We have a range of other...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (4 Jul 2024)

David Stanton: Does the Minister agree that because the tax is self-assessed, many people might not know about it? What imperatives are on people to report they have a vacant property that might be liable for this tax? If people just sit there and do not do anything and even want to sell their properties later, because it is not on any register there will not be any clawback at that time as there would be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (4 Jul 2024)

Jack Chambers: The Department of Finance has engaged regularly with the Department of housing. The review of the derelict sites levy is also an important context. A number of practical challenges have been identified in addressing dereliction, such as difficulties in identifying properties and their owners. That is one challenge. This tax itself is part of a broader suite of measures which is being...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (4 Jul 2024)

Michael Moynihan: On the primary medical certificate criteria, we had an awful lot of submissions for the all-day meeting on 8 April, particularly on single amputees who had been involved in accidents in which they acquired injuries that changed their lives. This in particular was one of the issues raised. We had many correspondents from throughout the country on this. I cannot underestimate the frustration...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (4 Jul 2024)

Violet-Anne Wynne: I will send on the information about the case I mentioned. I heard in one of the responses earlier that another group will be established and it will report in the autumn. People watching at home will see another group and another report and will ask whether it is absolutely necessary. In a response I received in February, the Minister's predecessor outlined to me that he submitted a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (4 Jul 2024)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputies for raising this issue. I accept the ongoing frustration leading to both points that have been made. We are pursuing the reform of this in the context of the structure that has been established in the Department of the Taoiseach. As I said to Deputy Pringle earlier, I will be pursuing a timeline on the matter when the report is received. To respond to Deputy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (4 Jul 2024)

Insurance Industry

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (4 Jul 2024)

Pearse Doherty: 78. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to reduce the cost of insurance; if he will support legislative proposals through the Judicial Council (Amendment) Bill 2021 to ensure that reduced claims costs are passed onto insurance consumers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28559/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (4 Jul 2024)

Pearse Doherty: This is an issue I have raised numerous times. It is about insurance costs. The insurance industry continues to rip-off motorists and small businesses with high prices. Since 2020 the insurance industry has recorded sky-high profits while paying out dividends to their shareholders. For years the insurance industry called for reforms to reduce the cost of claims. This is what it got...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (4 Jul 2024)

Neale Richmond: I take this opportunity to wish the Minister, Deputy Chambers, all the best in his new role. So far he has proven to be a very understanding and kind boss and I hope that continues for the next few months of the Government. I thank Deputy Doherty for the question. Insurance reform remains a key priority for the Government and the reform agenda has been set out via the action plan for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (4 Jul 2024)

Pearse Doherty: That is perfect. I am sure the Minister of State's new boss will be as good to him as his predecessors were. I will note that the Minister has not started in the same way as his predecessors did. When there was a clash with the ECOFIN meeting and the budget in the past his predecessor asked the Minister of State at the Department of Finance to travel to the ECOFIN meeting. The Minister of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (4 Jul 2024)

Neale Richmond: As Deputy Doherty knows, not every ECOFIN Council is the same. Agendas are different. We all know that we are at an acute time in the European legislative calendar. It is not fair to cite two previous examples. They are not all the same.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (4 Jul 2024)

Pearse Doherty: The previous example was on budget day.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (4 Jul 2024)

Neale Richmond: To address the clear point of the question, in 2021 Deputy Doherty introduced a Private Members' Bill, the Judicial Council (Amendment) Bill, to the Dáil. At its core, this would require insurers to provide information to the Central Bank of Ireland on the impact of personal injuries guidelines through amendment to the Judicial Council Act. On 30 May 2024 Deputy Doherty informed the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Universal Social Charge (4 Jul 2024)

Jack Chambers: The USC plays a vital part in meeting many of the expenditure demands placed on the Exchequer. At over €5 billion, its yield is an important source of revenue for funding all of our public services and, as such, I have no plans to abolish it. It is important to point out that, in 2016, joint research by the Department of Finance and the ESRI found that the USC represented a more...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Universal Social Charge (4 Jul 2024)

Paul Murphy: Every year, we outline in our budget submission how this can be done. We increase the revenue the State raises and broaden our tax base by going after the major corporations that pay very little tax. We take the burden off ordinary workers – those who are earning less than €100,000 – and introduce a millionaire’s tax. We have a high-income social charge and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Universal Social Charge (4 Jul 2024)

Jack Chambers: I have set out the position. USC is an important revenue source for funding many of our public services. To make this proposal cost neutral would require significant changes. For example, the proposal would have the effect of increasing the top marginal rates of tax for PAYE and self-employed income earners from 52% and 55% to 60.5% and 63.5%, respectively. A significant increase in high...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Universal Social Charge (4 Jul 2024)

Paul Murphy: Hopefully, we will see.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Universal Social Charge (4 Jul 2024)

Jack Chambers: Assuming he can tax everyone and every corporation on the basis that they will stay is farcical.