Vol. 404 No. 6
85 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12; who complains about being charged duties illegally on imports to the Republic of Ireland from another part of the EC.
I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the wife and daughter-in-law of the person referred to by the Deputy arrived in the State via the Land Frontier on 17 November, 1990. As no evidence was produced to show that either person was outside the State for at least 48 hours prior to their arrival, they did not qualify for any duty-free allowances and the beer and other goods in their personal luggage were charged with excise duty and VAT of £61.22.
Following the judgment of the European Court of Justice on the 48-hour rule, the Government made it clear that, while they accepted the court's judgment, the rule would be maintained in operation pending the outcome of consultations with the EC Commission and with other member states on new arrangements giving protection against large-scale cross-Border trade distortions. On 17 December last unanimous agreement was reached by the Council of Finance Ministers on the introduction of new arrangements by Ireland. It is proposed to put the new provisions in place as soon as discussions can be completed with the European Commission on specific details.
