Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Feb 1990

Vol. 395 No. 9

Written Answers. - European Conventions.

John Bruton

Question:

91 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the reason Ireland has not yet signed the Council of Europe Convention on the Place of Payment of Money Liabilities; when the Convention was opened for signature; if he proposes to introduce legislation to ratify this Convention; the advantages of this Convention for Ireland and Europe; the countries which have ratified it; and if he will make a statement on any reservations Ireland has about the Convention from a cost or other point of view.

John Bruton

Question:

92 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the reason Ireland has not yet signed the Council of Europe Convention on Foreign Money Liabilities; when the Convention was opened for signature; if he proposes to introduce legislation to ratify this Convention; the advantages of this Convention for Ireland and Europe; the countries which have ratified it; and if he will make a statement on any reservations Ireland has about the Convention from a cost or other point of view.

Minister for Finance, (Mr. A. Reynolds)

I propose to take these questions together. The Deputy will appreciate that these Conventions were negotiated some considerable years ago and that in the time available it was not possible to assemble the information on which to provide a complete reply. This will require consultation with other Departments. I expect to have this done shortly and I will communicate with the Deputy directly.

John Bruton

Question:

93 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the reason Ireland has not yet signed the Council of Europe Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters; when the Convention was opened for signature; if he proposes to introduce legislation to ratify this Convention; the advantages of this Convention for Ireland and Europe; the countries which have ratified it; and if he will make a statement on any reservations Ireland has about the Convention from a cost or other point of view.

Minister for Finance (Mr. A. Reynolds)

The OECD/Council of Europe Convention on Mutual Assistance was opened for signature on 25 January 1988. The basic purpose of the Convention which covers both the European and the non-European members of the OECD, as well as Council of Europe States, is to allow ratifying states to develop administrative co-operation covering all compulsory taxes, with the exception of customs duty. As of 8 January last Norway was the only country to have ratified the Convention.

No decision has been taken on the question of signature and ratification of this Convention by Ireland. This country has a network of double taxation agreements and these arrangements work adequately for our purposes of administrative assistance so that there is no urgency about considering the question of adherence to the Convention. Any consideration of ratifying the Convention will of course have regard to the legal, cost and other implications for Ireland.