Parliamentary questions

318. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Finance the number of civil servants in his Department, and in agencies under the aegis of his Department, who were on career break in 2023 or 2024, by month and grade, and by length of career break; the number of civil servants in his Department and in agencies under the aegis of his Department who were on career break for longer than five ye…

319. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Finance the number of vacancies, by month and by grade, in his Department, and in agencies under the aegis of his Department, in 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46208/24]

320. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Finance to provide an assurance that no civil servant has had their career break extended beyond five years where there is a suitable vacancy in their home Department or agency; that, where a civil servant has had their career break extended beyond five years on account of there being no suitable vacancy in their home Department or agency, tha…

321. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider whether voluntary and charitable organisations purchasing electric vehicles should be exempt from or eligible for reduced VRT. [46244/24]

322. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Finance if charitable organisations using vehicles for public service are eligible for VRT exemptions. [46245/24]

323. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline any plans to increase the thresholds for favourite nephew and niece rules in terms of inheritance. [46257/24]

324. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Finance the estimated additional revenue that would be generated if an extra 30 cent excise duty was applied on a packet of 20 cigarettes. [46285/24]

325. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Finance the number of WTE forensic accountants employed by the Revenue Commissioners as of 9 December 2024, in tabular form. [46385/24]

326. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Finance if he will seek EU funding in 2025 to purchase two additional mobile X-ray scanner trucks for the Revenue Commissioners. [46399/24]

327. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance the full-year cost if the group A rate of capital acquisition tax increased to €475,000, group B rate increased to €47,500 and group C rate increased to €24,000. [46415/24]

328. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Finance if the VAT rate for the hospitality sector will now be returned to 9%, as that vital industry is struggling all over the country, especially in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46600/24]

329. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance to provide details of the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund’s shareholdings in a company (details supplied); the date it commenced and ended, if applicable; and the value over time of the shareholding. [46681/24]

330. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund is a responsible investor given its investment in a company (details supplied); if he will introduce new ethical investment guidelines for the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund and other State investment funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46682/24]

331. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Finance to examine a matter affecting Irish mortgage holders (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46779/24]

332. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance in relation to financial institutions requesting customers credit card details verbally over the phone, if he will implement legislation to ensure companies can no longer request this information verbally, but instead must have a secure alternative provided for customers. [46833/24]

333. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance in relation to a Dublin-based windows and doors company that went into liquidation (details supplied), if he will consider a rule change whereby revenue commissioners will give any VAT back to customers before they are paid in an effort to help customers who are facing significant financial loss due to a company's inept operations. [46853/24]

334. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Finance if a list will be provided of all persons appointed to State or semi-State boards under his remit since 1 November 2024. [46927/24]

335. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance his views on matters in relation to inheritance tax (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1028/25]

336. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Finance if he is considering reducing the VAT on musical instruments and artist materials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1148/25]

337. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Finance if he will advise of the duties and obligations of financial institutions where a property in need of remediation work is repossessed by the lender bank, where failure to carry out the works will result in impacts on the other properties in the apartment block; if they have any obligation to carry out remediation; if not, the recourse avai…

338. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Finance if commercial rates are still tax deductible if the commercial unit is vacant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1207/25]

339. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Finance the supports available to individuals who require wheelchair-modified vehicles for personal use. [1289/25]

340. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Finance to detail the inheritance tax thresholds for 2025 and any planned changes to same in subsequent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1397/25]

341. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Finance to provide an update on the recommended replacement scheme for the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme; if he will review the current rates of VRT and VAT relief available on adapted vehicles given that the current rates are not in line with the consumer price index; the year those rates were last amended; and if he will make …

342. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Finance if his Department and agencies under the aegis of his Department have policies on the use of artificial intelligence, AI, within the Department and those agencies; whether training has been provided to staff on the use of AI; if his Department has used AI, including large language models, in the preparation of legislation or statutory instru…