Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 19 Nov 1997

Vol. 483 No. 1

Written Answers. - EU Directives.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

166 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Finance the EU directives coming wholly or partly under the aegis of his Department which are not currently fully implemented; the reference number and subject matter of each directive; the deadline for implementation set out in each directive; whether he will implement the directives by means of a Bill or Statutory Instrument; and when he will implement the directives in this regard. [19868/97]

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

167 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Finance the international agreements under the aegis of his Department which have not currently been signed by the State and which the State should sign or become a party to; the international organisation, if any, responsible for the agreement in each case; the date and place each agreement was adopted or opened for signature; and when it is proposed to sign each agreement or become a party to it. [19883/97]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 167 together.

There are three EU directives coming wholly or partly under the auspices of my Department or agencies under the aegis of my Department that are not currently fully implemented. The details are as follows: Department of Finance Directive 97/5/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on Cross-Border Credit Transfers of 27 January 1997.

This directive relates to payments being made by a person in one member state to a beneficiary in another member state and covers issues of transparency and the availability of information on transfers, time limits on transfers and liability for non-completion of transfers.

It is proposed to transpose the directive by Statutory Instrument before the deadline for transposition of 14 August 1999.

Directive 97/9/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on investor compensation schemes was adopted on 3 March 1997 and came into force on 26 March 1997. The directive must be implemented within 18 months of the date on which it came into force, that is 26 September 1998. Draft legislation to implement Directive 97/9/EC, and to provide for investor compensation generally, is being finalised by my Department in consultation with the Departments of Enteprise, Trade and Employment and Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Central Bank.

A Memorandum for Government requesting the authority to arrange the accession by Ireland to the Office of the Revenue Commissioners Convention on Customs treatment of Pool containers used in International Transport which is under the aegis of the United Nations, is currently in preparation. The convention will enter into force on 17 January 1998 and it is intended that Ireland will accede to the convention before that date.

OECD/Council of Europe Convention on Mutual Assistance in Tax Matters has not been signed by Ireland. The convention was opened for signature in 1988. The convention entered into force on 1 April 1995 after the requisite five states consented to its entering into force. The convention would involve Ireland in the collection of revenue claims of other countries, which presents a number of legal difficulties. There are no immediate plans for Ireland to sign the convention, though the legal difficulties are under consideration. To date only seven countries have signed and ratified the convention.