Parliamentary questions

640. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Finance if he will review correspondence (details supplied) and examine whether anything can be done to resolve the issue raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41395/25]

641. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Finance to consider reviewing the current regulations around the residential zoned land tax (RZLT) where a landowner whose landholding is subject to the tax is unable to apply for planning permission on the said lands because there is no capacity within the water or wastewater infrastructure, as outlined by Uisce Éireann; and if he would consider …

642. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Finance if he plans to introduce measures to support the Irish wine growing industry including the introduction of a relief from alcohol products tax for sparkling wine produced in Ireland (details supplied). [41416/25]

643. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Finance the current status of the process to review and change the entry criteria for the primary medical certificate scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41419/25]

644. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Finance the number of active primary medical certificate appeals in County Monaghan; the current waiting time for an appeal decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41421/25]

645. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Finance for an update as of July 2025 on the Programme for Government commitment to maintain access to cash and support its continued acceptance in our economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41458/25]

646. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Finance for an update as of July 2025 on the Programme for Government commitment to publish an Action Plan for Insurance Reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41459/25]

647. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Finance for an update as of July 2025 on the Programme for Government's commitment to engage with the Central Bank to review credit union lending limits to enhance their ability to serve members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41460/25]

648. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Finance for an update as of July 2025 on the Programme for Government commitment to expand the role of Ireland's credit union sector in the housing market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41461/25]

649. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Finance for an update as of July 2025 on the Programme for Government commitment to draft a five-year strategy for the credit union sector to ensure it can fully leverage new opportunities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41462/25]

650. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Finance for an update as of July 2025 on the Programme for Government commitment to legislate for a 'Right to be Forgotten' for cancer survivors, requiring insurers to disregard a cancer diagnosis where treatment ended more than seven years prior to application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41463/25]

651. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Finance the steps he is taking to ensure consumers will see a reduction in insurance costs, given costs in the sector continue to rise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41465/25]

652. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Finance if he will he consider an increase to the income thresholds for the help-to-buy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41466/25]

653. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Finance if all external legal fees incurred by his Department, and by any bodies under its aegis, are charged at negotiated discounted rates; how fees are monitored for compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41503/25]

654. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Finance if his Department conducts regular benchmarking, or market testing, to ensure that the rates paid for legal services, solicitors and barristers, represent value for money for the taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41521/25]

655. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Finance to detail the procurement processes used when engaging external legal firms and barristers, including whether panels are used; how often these are refreshed; the criteria used for selection and performance review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41539/25]

656. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has conducted any audits or reviews in the past five years on legal fee spend; if so, to publish the findings or summaries of those reviews; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41557/25]

657. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Finance the internal oversight that exists within his Department to monitor the scope, duration, and cost escalation of legal services once engaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41575/25]

658. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Finance if his Department makes use of capped fee arrangements, fixed-fee briefs, success-based fee models or other such arrangements in its legal engagements; if not, the reason such options are not considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41593/25]

659. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Finance whether any legal engagements have exceeded their initial estimated or approved cost in the past three years; if so, the number of such cases and total overrun; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41611/25]

660. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Finance the measures being put in place to address the cost of living crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41660/25]

661. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider introducing an exemption on zoned land tax for farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41676/25]

662. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Finance if there will be a renewal of existing tax reliefs for agriculture, such as stamp duty reliefs for land consolidation and consanguinity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41677/25]

663. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Finance the number of beneficiaries availing of the fishers tax credit allowance; the cost of this allowance per annum; if he plans to increase this allowance given the downturn in the fishing sector post-Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41698/25]

664. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance to examine the case of a person (details supplied); if farmers are exempt from the new regulations regarding residential land tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41720/25]