Questions

283. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the oversight mechanisms in place within the Central Bank of Ireland to assess whether motor insurance pricing models, particularly those applied to learner drivers, comply with consumer protection principles on fairness, proportionality, and transparency; whether any thematic reviews have been undertaken in this area since 2020; and if he will make …

284. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of motor insurers currently authorised to write private motor insurance in the State; the number of those insurers that actively provide quotations to learner drivers; whether the Central Bank assesses effective market participation where large cohorts of consumers face limited or prohibitively expensive access to cover; and if he will mak…

285. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether learner drivers are recognised by his Department or the Central Bank of Ireland as a distinct consumer cohort for the purposes of insurance affordability and access; whether any assessment has been carried out on the societal and economic impact of high learner-driver premiums on families, older first-time drivers, or returning emigrants; and…

286. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether the Central Bank of Ireland requires motor insurers to provide consumers with a clear explanation of the principal factors driving quoted premiums, particularly where exceptionally high premiums are issued to learner drivers; whether any regulatory guidance has been issued in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11166/…

287. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether he has considered introducing additional regulatory safeguards or guidance to ensure learner driver motor insurance premiums are evidence-based, proportionate, and transparent; whether any policy review is planned in conjunction with the Central Bank of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11167/26]

288. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if there is a canteen in his Department headquarters; and if the Minister can provide assurances that all meat sold or provided in that canteen is of Irish origin. [11181/26]

289. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the amount expended by his Department and by each agency for which he is responsible on advertising, promotion, advertising companies and external communications companies or consultants in 2025 and the expected costs for 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11351/26]

290. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether the pension increases payable in respect of former Department of Posts and Telegraphs service under the Eircom superannuation defined benefit pension scheme are classified by his Department as current expenditure or capital expenditure; and the reason such expenditure would be subject to external scrutiny beyond the Department. [11434/26]

291. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to introduce a scheme in association with insurance companies, whereby homeowners can obtain insurance to protect their homes and properties against flooding (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11476/26]

292. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the estimated full year costs, if the stamp duty on credit and debit cards was capped at €2 per year per card. [11483/26]

293. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he is aware of an error in 2025 and 2026 tax clearance certificates (details supplied); the action he is taking to ensure this does not happen again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11499/26]

64. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the date on which the drug-detector dog previously assigned to customs operations at Ireland West Airport retired; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10637/26]

65. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the date on which the cash and tobacco detector dog commenced duty at Ireland West Airport, Knock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10638/26]

66. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the date on which the cash and tobacco detector dog was replaced by the drug-detector dog at Ireland West Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10639/26]

67. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his Department has conducted an economic assessment or is planning any strategic initiatives to protect Ireland’s Funds sector in light of increased international competition. [10520/26]

68. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to outline in detail his Department’s concerns over possible tax avoidance in the context of the consideration of measures to increase retail investment in Ireland. [10521/26]

69. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the details of the number of businesses who registered and provided returns for the first accounting period for the tax E-liquid products tax (EPT) which were due to be submitted by 31 January 2026 and which covered the period from 1 November until 31 December 2025; to further provide details on the volumes and values of supplies of e-liquid products …

70. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the measures being put in place to monitor compliance rates with the requirements of the E-liquid products tax following the passing of the deadline for the returns for the first accounting period. [10527/26]

71. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if there is any grant assistance available for electric cars under the disabled person's scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10549/26]

72. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance his views on the Central Bank’s decision to proceed with the Israeli Bonds Programme (details supplied); his views on the Central Bank’s role in facilitating the transfer of bond approval to the Commission de Secteur du Financier (CSSF) in Luxembourg to ensure Israel’s continued funding of genocide; the specific steps he will take to ensure the Cen…

73. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether his Department has commissioned, requested, or plans to commission a stand-alone socio-economic analysis of consumers who access high-cost credit in the State, including analysis of income levels, employment status, welfare dependency, and exclusion from mainstream banking; and if not, the rationale for relying on regulatory reviews that do no…

74. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether his Department or the Revenue Commissioners have undertaken, commissioned, or estimated any compliance cost, systems-integration cost, or administrative burden for small and medium-sized enterprises arising from proposals discussed in the public consultation on the modernisation of withholding taxes, including any move toward real-time or near…

75. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of primary medical certificate appeals to the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal, by county, for each of the years 2021 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10730/26]

76. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of applications received for the disabled drivers scheme by county in each of the years 2021 to 2025; and the number of unsuccessful and successful appeals; in tabular form. [10731/26]

77. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the data collected by his Department relating to the disabled driver scheme and primary medical certificates. [10732/26]