Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 May 1969

Vol. 240 No. 5

Financial Resolutions. - Financial Resolution No. 6: Customs and Excise—Spirits.

I move:

(1) That in this Resolution "the Act of 1968" means the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1968 (No. 37 of 1968).

(2) That the Finance Act, 1920, shall, as on and from the 8th day of May, 1969, be amended by the substitution in Part I of the First Schedule thereto of the matter set out in Part I of the Schedule to this Resolution for the matter inserted in the said Part of the said First Schedule by section 3 of the Act of 1968 and section 3 (1) of the said Finance Act, 1920, shall have effect accordingly.

(3) That—

(a) this paragraph applies to spirits known as whiskey which at importation are shown to the satisfaction of the Revenue Commissioners to have been wholly manufactured in Northern Ireland and to have been bottled and consigned by the distiller,

(b) the duties of customs to which paragraph (2) of this Resolution relates shall, as on and from the 8th day of May, 1969, be charged, levied and paid on spirits to which this paragraph applies at the rate of fourteen pounds and two pence the gallon (computed at proof) in lieu of the rate chargeable under paragraph (2) of this Resolution,

(c) section 3 (2) of the Act of 1968 is hereby repealed as on and from the 8th day of May, 1969.

(4) That—

(a) this paragraph applies to spirits, other than spirits mentioned in paragraph (3) of this Resolution, which at importation are shown to the satisfaction of the Revenue Commissioners to have been manufactured in, and consigned from, the United Kingdom and to have been manufactured therein from materials other than materials falling within Tariff Heading number 22.08 or Tariff Heading number 22.09 in the Schedule to the Imposition of Duties (No. 159) (Customs Duties and Form of Customs Tariff) Order, 1966 (S.I. No. 132 of 1966).

(b) the duties of customs to which paragraph (2) of this Resolution relates shall, as on and from the 8th day of May, 1969, be charged, levied and paid on spirits to which this paragraph applies at the rates set out in Part II of the Schedule to this Resolution in lieu of the rates chargeable under paragraph (2) of this Resolution,

(c) the provisions of section 8 of the Finance Act, 1919, shall not apply to the duties imposed by this paragraph,

(d) section 3 (3) of the Act of 1968, is hereby repealed as on and from the 8th day of May, 1969,

(e) in this paragraph the expression "the United Kingdom" means Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

(5) That the duty of excise imposed by section 3 (2) of the Finance Act, 1920, shall, as on and from the 8th day of May, 1969, be charged, levied and paid at the rate of thirteen pounds, nineteen shillings and nine pence the gallon (computed at proof) in lieu of the rate chargeable by virtue of section 3 (4) of the Act of 1968.

(6) That nothing in this Resolution shall operate to relieve from or to prejudice or affect the additional customs duties or the additional excise duty in respect of immature spirits imposed by section 9 of the Finance Act, 1926 (No. 35 of 1926).

(7) It is hereby declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution shall have statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act, 1927 (No. 7 of 1927).

SCHEDULE.

SPIRITS (RATES OF ORDINARY CUSTOMS DUTY).

PART I.

Description of Spirits(1)

Preferential Rates(2)

Full Rates(3)

£

s.

d.

£

s.

d.

For every gallon of Perfumed Spirits

29

10

2

29

14

2

For every gallon of liqueurs, cordials, mixtures and other preparations in bottle entered in such manner as to indicate that the strength is not to be tested

24

17

11

25

1

3

For every gallon computed at proof of spirits of any de- scription not heretofore mentioned and mixtures and preparations con-taining spirits

18

8

10

18

11

4

PART II.

Description of Spirits

United Kingdom Rate

£

s.

d.

For every gallon of Perfumed Spirits

24

15

7

For every gallon of liqueurs, cordials, mixtures and other preparations in bottle entered in such manner as to indicate that the strength is not to be tested

20

18

2

For every gallon computed at proof of spirits of any descrip- tion not heretofore mentioned and mixtures and preparations containing spirits

15

9

9

Could I ask the Minister, in view of the importance of the Irish distilling industry, why no differential is being made in the Resolution as between the Irish and Scotch spirits?

Under the Free Trade Area Agreement we cannot do this.

The differential that used to exist can be maintained but cannot be extended?

The existing differential must go by 1971.

We cannot have any differential then.

Can you not put a differential on brandy?

I have done that. I am putting sixpence on brandy.

Sixpence extra?

Excellent.

For two years in succession I have put more on brandy.

At the moment there is a differential between Irish and Scotch whiskey?

There is a differential of fourpence.

What is the new tax on a glass of Irish whiskey, a glass of Scotch whiskey and a glass of brandy?

On Irish whiskey——

It was 2/9d before the Minister stood up today.

It was 2/8.8d. Add fourpence on to that, which makes 3/-on a glass of Irish whiskey.

On Scotch whiskey it was 3/1d. Add fourpence to that, and that is 3/5d. At the moment there is approximately a sixpence differential on a glass of brandy.

Give me the decimal point.

Exactly. The correct figure is 3/7d.

The Deputy may call it 3/7d if he wishes. I am trying to explain to his colleague from West Cork that brandy goes up by sixpence, which makes it now 4/1d. Scotch whiskey is 3/5d and Irish whiskey 3/1d.

An old age pensioner might like a couple of half ones in the week——

If I had my way I would give every old age pensioner a free "Baby Power" in the week.

Why did the Minister not include that "Baby Power" in this Budget? It would make it even more appealing to the electorate. The Minister should have put that bit of icing on his Budget.

Question put and agreed to.
Top
Share