QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he has taken to address the issue of organisations making third-party payments to secure funding under the endowment option of the immigrant investor programme or other options; and if he will make a statement on the matter. REPLY The payment of fees by a charity or enterprise is a commercial matter to be decided upon by the responsible parties of the organisation and the policing of this is not a matter for this Department. The Charities Regulator is the competent authority with responsibility for the charities sector. My Department has, however, made it clear through information updates and engagement with the charity sector that any funding received through the endowment option of the Immigrant Investor Programme is to be solely utilised for the purposes for which it was sought and that there can be no deductions of fees from the amount being donated. This goes against the entire purpose of this option which is that of a donation to a good cause. My Department will take the necessary steps to ensure this is the case, up to and including removing the residence permission from an applicant found to have engaged in such practice. QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he has taken to ensure the immigrant investor programme adheres to best practise in the OECD in relation to investor programmes in relation to anti-money laundering, international sanction checks, political exposed persons and client verification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. REPLY I can inform the Deputy that my Department introduced enhanced due diligence checks in 2018 on all applicants to the Immigrant Investor Programme. This involved the utilisation of best in class compliance databases including politically exposed person checks. Further control measures were introduced from 1 January 2019 . All applicants must now provide a third party due diligence report from a risk management company. Additionally, all personal documentation must be apostilled or dually legalised in the country of origin before it will be accepted. In 2019 a data sharing agreement was signed with the Revenue Commissioners which allows for the sharing of certain applicant information with the Revenue Commissioners for onward sharing with both the OECD and the applicant's country of origin. This measure was adopted to support the OECD’s Common Reporting Standard. The data will be shared once an applicant has made their investment in Ireland. QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new build social housing units, new build nursing homes and primary care centres that are underway stemming from the investment fund and enterprise option of the immigrant investor programme in 2017, 2018 and up to the end of August 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the number of applications of new build social housing units stemming from the investment fund and enterprise option of the immigrant investor programme for 2017, 2018 and up to the end of August 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the number of applications for new build nursing homes and primary care centres that are underway stemming from the investment fund and enterprise option of the immigrant investor programme for 2017, 2018 and up to the end of August 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. REPLY It is a requirement under the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) that applicants submit detailed business plans. The Plans for Investment projects involving construction set out, in detail, the number of units to be constructed. In 2017, 5 nursing home projects and 566 social housing units were approved. In 2018, 4 nursing homes and 884 social housing units were approved. In 2019, 5 nursing homes and some 560 social housing units were approved. There is no record of any primary care centre applications being received in the years mentioned by the Deputy. However, my Department is aware that projects evolve to reflect changed circumstances. Accordingly, to ensure continual compliance with the objectives of the scheme, my Department introduced a rolling review process, whereby applicants and projects that have received funding undergo a review at the year 2 and year 5 stages, and occasionally at the year 3 stage. I can inform the Deputy that my Department has engaged directly with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and has sought guidance form them on the applications received under the Immigrant Investor Programme for new build social housing units. My officials also exchanged information with that department relating to the projects seeking funding. My officials have requested a meeting with the Department of Health in respect of those applications that are proposing new build nursing homes. As part of the assessments process my Department interacts with the relevant government departments and agencies regarding various aspects of proposed projects. QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he has taken to ensure that funds under the immigrant investor programme are fully drawn down and verified before visas are granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. REPLY I take it that the Deputy's reference to visas refers to a permission to reside in Ireland rather than a permission to travel to Ireland. A visa would normally be placed in a person's passport by an Irish consular official outside the State to allow that person to travel to Ireland for a stated purpose. It may be necessary to issue a visa to a potential investor prior to the completion of the investment in order that the person travel to Ireland to complete the legal and other requirements of the investment and to register for permission to reside here. However, as of 1 January 2019 my Department introduced new control measures to allow for the verification of the investment prior to the granting of a residence permission. A successful applicant is now invited to make their investment and on completion of this process and on the provision of evidence of the investment they will be granted a residence permission. An applicant is given 90 days in which to complete their investment. Failure to do so will result in the application being deemed withdrawn. Prior to 2019 the applicant was required to provide this evidence when they were registering for their permission to reside. They had to provide a letter from their legal representative confirming the investment was made, a letter from the beneficiary stating that they had received the investment and documentary evidence based on the investment type e.g. a share certificate from the investment fund confirming the investment. QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress of the gambling control Bill; the stage it is now at; when the Bill will be enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. REPLY The Government has indicated on a number of occasions that it recognises the need to proceed with comprehensive reform of our outdated gambling licensing and regulation. On 10 January, 2018, the Government approved the updating of the 2013 General Scheme of the Gambling Control Bill. The proposed updating follows on from the review work undertaken in the Department of Justice and Equality and from the consultations held with interested stakeholders. The Government also approved the concept of the establishment of a new gambling regulatory authority as an independent statutory body operating under the auspices of the Department of Justice and Equality. The proposals in the General Scheme were reviewed by the Inter-Departmental Working Group on the Future Licensing and Regulation of Gambling. The Group's Report was approved and published by the Government on 20 March 2019. The Report contained a number of significant recommendations concerning all aspects of gambling activity. In particular, it recommended that future responsibility for licensing and regulation of all forms of gambling, including online gambling, rest with a proposed new gambling regulatory authority. I hosted a major seminar on the future licensing and regulation of gambling at Farmleigh House on 15 May 2019, bringing together a large number of interested and concerned stakeholders to discuss the Report of the Working Group and further developments. Work on revising the revised General Scheme of the Gambling Control Bill is underway in my Department. This is a complex area and we must be certain that any reforms will be achievable and effective. At the time of publication of the Working Group Report, An Taoiseach indicated that work on revising legislation, taking account of the Working Group’s recommendations, would likely take a period of about 18 months to bring to completion. Separately, I have brought forward the Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019, an interim reform measure to amend the 1956 Gaming and Lotteries Act. I hope that Report Stage of the Bill can be scheduled in the House as soon as possible. QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the revised public spending code will be issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. REPLY As part of the ongoing reform of Ireland’s public investment management systems, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is updating the Public Spending Code. The purpose of this update is to strengthen the existing guidance to better align with the realities of project delivery and with a particular focus on improved appraisal, cost estimation and management. The Office of Government Procurement is also conducting a review of construction procurement which will align with the updated Public Spending Code. The updated Public Spending Code includes the following reforms:
The revised central elements of the Public Spending Code relating to the appraisal and management of public capital projects will be published this Autumn. Further technical guidance building upon these central elements will follow later in 2019 and in 2020. QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Finance the amount loaned out by Home Building Finance Ireland to date; the estimated number of homes to be built; and if he will make a statement on the matter. REPLY HBFI commenced operations on the 28th January this year and published its half-year progress update in mid-July. The update is available on the HBFI website (https://www.hbfi.ie/latest/home-building-finance-ireland-publishes-half-year-update) and I am advised that HBFI furnished a copy to all Deputies. The key highlights to end June (after 5 months of operations) are as follows:
Since its launch earlier this year HBFI has been actively engaging with small and medium sized builders and developers throughout the country through a range of market awareness raising initiatives. HBFI continues to benefit from a strong pipeline of interest from prospective borrowers as a result of these engagement activities. The primary objective of HBFI is to increase the availability of funding in the market to developers for viable residential development projects. It is important that appropriate credit, due diligence and legal procedures are adhered to in all areas of the lending process - to safeguard, in so far as possible, the funding provided by HBFI. These procedures require adequate time to ensure the highest standards are met and it is important that HBFI have a consistent approach in all applications for funding. QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the issuing of a cost effectiveness analysis guidance document; when the document will be issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. REPLY As part of the ongoing reform of Ireland’s capital management systems, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is updating the Public Spending Code. The purpose of this update is to strengthen the existing guidance to better align with the realities of project delivery and with a particular focus on improved appraisal, cost estimation and management. The Office of Government Procurement is conducting a review of construction procurement which will align with the updated Public Spending Code. The updated Public Spending Code will include the following reforms:
The Public Spending Code requirements will still include the need for a financial analysis to assess affordability and an economic appraisal to assess the economic and social value of the project for public investment projects. The Public Spending Code recommends the use of cost benefit analysis or CBA as the economic appraisal methodology for major projects but where CBA is less useful, in sectors such as housing or culture, cost effectiveness analysis or multi-criteria analysis may be more appropriate. The Public Spending Code requires Departments to draw up their own sector-specific appraisal guidance as appropriate. These are developed by the Department with lead responsibility for the sector and set out additional requirements and parameters specific to the sector, while remaining in the line with the Public Spending Code. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform engages with Departments to ensure that the sector-specific guidance complies with principles and guidance set out in the Public Spending Code. The revised central elements of the Public Spending Code relating to the appraisal and management of public capital projects will be published this autumn. Further technical guidance building upon these central elements will follow later in 2019 and in 2020. ______________________________________________
For Written Answer on : 21/05/2019 Question Number(s): 135 Question Reference(s): 21837/19 Department: Finance Asked by: Darragh O'Brien T.D. ______________________________________________ QUESTION To ask the Minister for Finance the way in which his Department has used the funds the State received from the sale of its stake in a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) Aer Lingus REPLY The proceeds of the sale of the state's shareholding in Aer Lingus have been used to establish the Connectivity Fund which is managed by the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF). The Connectivity Fund is being invested on a commercial basis as a sub portfolio of the ISIF fund, and consistent with the overall ISIF double bottom line mandate i.e. investing for both commercial return and economic impact. The ISIF have advised me that it has completed four investments under the Connectivity Fund, namely:
These investments bring the total deployed under the Connectivity Fund to over €90 million. ISIF have informed me that there are a range of further pipeline connectivity-based investments on which it is currently working. ISIF’s refocused strategy targets five priority themes, one of which is investment to support regional development. As such, the ISIF have advised that the Connectivity Fund will henceforth be focused on commercial investments that support improved regional connectivity. ______________________________________________
For Written Answer on : 21/05/2019 Question Number(s): 419,331 Question Reference(s): 21828/19, 21829/19 Department: Health Asked by: Darragh O'Brien T.D. ______________________________________________ QUESTION * To ask the Minister for Health when the gratuity payment due to certain home help workers will be made in lieu of pension payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. - Darragh O'Brien T.D. For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 21 May, 2019. * To ask the Minister for Health the reason her Department has not paid the gratuity due to certain home help workers in lieu of pension payments in line with recommendations of the Labour Court to date. - Darragh O'Brien T.D. For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 21 May, 2019. REPLY The Deputy is referring to Home Help workers who are employed by voluntary providers of home help services which are funded under section 39 of the Health Act 2004. As these home help workers are not employed by the HSE, the HSE and the Department have no role in determining the salaries or other terms and conditions applying to these staff including any pension arrangements. A joint working group was established, as agreed as part of the 2015 Lansdowne Road talks, to consider a number of issues in relation to section 39 organisations. Unfortunately it was not possible to reach an agreement between the parties on the issue of gratuity payments. |
PQs
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January 2020
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