Paschal Donohoe

I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 14 together. As Deputies are aware, the UN maintains a database of businesses involved in certain specified activities relating to settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, OPT. At the end of 2023, direct investments by the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, ISIF, in companies on the UN database was approximately €4.2 million in 11 companies. ISIF…

I disagree strongly with the Deputy's overall analysis regarding the Government's stance on the people of Palestine. From the decision we made regarding the recognition of the Palestinian state, one supported by the entire Dáil, to the ongoing funding we have provided through multilateral and international organisations to support those people, who have seen such harm and loss of life in recent mo…

It is important to acknowledge that the overall size of the Israeli economy is €500 billion. That is how big that economy is. ISIF is enormous, and many different investments are taking place across the world. We have already seen ISIF divest from companies within Israel. As I said in response to the House earlier, it is not clear to me, given the scale of the investment that ISIF has, both direct…

-----in funding the kinds of activities and the approach that this Government has been clear in condemning. I have said to the House that I am aware of all of the legal debate that has taken place about the Sinn Féin Bill and the issues that have been raised. I am, of course, going to consider the issue further.

The Deputy should note at the outset that capital acquisitions tax, CAT, is a beneficiary-orientated tax that is payable by the recipient of a gift or inheritance as opposed to the person providing that gift or inheritance. The relationship between the person giving a gift or inheritance, the disponer, and the person who receives it, the beneficiary, determines the maximum amount, known as the "gr…

I thank the Deputy. I am well aware of the kinds of issues he has raised. I am sure his constituents raise them with him. Times of inheritance are obviously difficult moments for families. Tax bills at times of sadness can be considerable. As I said in my earlier answer, any change to this form of taxation brings a particular, and perhaps significant, cost. That must be considered as part of our n…

The Deputy might clarify when he responds the source of the figure of €8 billion, please, so that we are clear on the particular point he is making. I am advised by Revenue that in 2022 it commenced a compliance-based review of the Irish real estate fund, IREF, sector with one of its aims being to identify the reasons for the reduction in the amount of IREF withholding tax paid in 2021 relative t…

The review was a compliance review undertaken by Revenue and therefore it would not publish a document in relation to that, respecting taxpayer confidentiality. However, it has indicated, as I shared with the Deputy, the tax payments that were made by that sector to the Exchequer over recent years. For 2023, that figure stands at €31.8 million. In 2017, that figure was €8.3 million. Therefore, the…

Tá brón orm. I was only reading out a base figure in the interests of time. Let me be non-selective and read out all the figures for each year since 2017. Those figures are: €8.3 million, €28.2 million, €72 million, €73.8 million, €43.1 million, €37.6 million and €31.8 million, respectively. In recent years-----

-----we have seen it at that figure. This is the reason Revenue instigated the compliance intervention that it did. I have made changes. I did so by means of tax legislation in order to ensure that issues that were being raised with me by Revenue were acted upon, and that happened. As soon as further information becomes available for the sector, it will of course be shared with the Deputy and made…