Under section 1103(1) officers who are at present employed by the Revenue Commissioners will continue in office after the enactment of the Bill. It quite properly ensures there is no risk to the staff who were employed under the old legislation and is a routine section. How many staff do the Revenue Commissioners currently have? How many are located outside Dublin? How stands the proposed transfer of staff and functions to the mid-west region? Are there any plans for the devolution of functions and transfer of staff in the immediate future?
SECTION 1103.
Question proposed: "That section 1103 stand part of the Bill".
I will send the Deputy a comprehensive note on the matter. There are about 6,000 staff in the Revenue Commissioners, about 60 per cent of whom are located outside Dublin. There are about 1,000 staff in the mid-west region.
Has the transfer to the mid-west region been completed?
I am told it is almost complete. However, we will check all those matters for the Deputy. As the Deputy knows, the mid-west region has done very well out of the transfer of staff of the Revenue Commissioners to his city. I am sure it has given a great impetus to Limerick, although it did not need one. There are about 600 staff in the collector general's office in Limerick.
Are there any further plans for the devolution of functions and transfer of staff outside Dublin?
The Government has not, as yet, considered any further decentralisation of any Department. However, I am sure that matter will be revisited. There has been a considerable decentralisation of staff of many Departments in the past seven years, which has worked fairly well and of which the Revenue Commissioners is a good example. There were no plans in the joint action programme of Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats to look at this area but I am sure it will be revisited.
Do the Revenue Commissioners have any staff abroad, for example in Brussels?
A handful of staff from the Revenue Commissioners are based in Brussels and Luxembourg. I met some of them quite recently.
Are there any staff in some of the more exotic locations?
Not at the moment.
Is the decentralisation programme nearing completion?
Yes. My Department is often involved in the staffing difficulties and industrial relations problems which can arise. Most of the plan has been carried out. The plan of the Department of Agriculture and Food to move staff to Wexford is still being processed. Apart from that, I am not aware of any other substantial number of staff which has yet to move. I have not investigated the matter in my Department — such news only comes to me when it is bad. I do not have any such difficulties on my desk at present.
Question put and agreed to.
Section 1104 agreed to.
Schedules 1 to 12, inclusive, agreed to.
SCHEDULE 13.
I move amendment No. 139:
In page 1417, paragraph 50, line 29, to delete "the Industrial Credit Corporation plc" and substitute "ICC Bank plc".
I understand the Minister is accepting this amendment.
I am.
Amendment agreed to.
Schedule 13, as amended, agreed to.
Schedules 14 to 28, inclusive, agreed to.
SCHEDULE 29.
I move amendment No. 140:
In page 1479, column (2), line 29, to delete "Schedule 8" and substitute "Schedule 9".
This amendment proposes to rectify a typographical error in column (2) of schedule 29. The reference in page 1479 to "Schedule 8" should be to "Schedule 9".
Amendment agreed to.
Schedule 29, as amended, agreed to.
SCHEDULE 30.
I move amendment No. 141:
In page 1483, between lines 34 and 35, to insert the following row:
"
|
No. 26 of 1995. |
Family Law Act, 1995. |
Section 37 |
"
This amendment arises as a consequence of amendment No. 127. That amendment incorporated the provisions of section 37 of the Family Law Act, 1995, into the Taxes Consolidation Bill, 1997. As the provisions of section 37 are now to appear in the consolidation Bill, it is necessary to formally repeal that section. This amendment achieves that purpose.
Amendment agreed to.
Schedule 30, as amended, agreed to.
Schedule 31 agreed to.
SCHEDULE 32.
I move amendment No. 142:
In page 1494, paragraph 1(1), line 7, to delete "section 43" and substitute "section 36"
This amendment proposes to correct a cross-reference error in paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 32, where "section 43" should read "section 36".
Amendment agreed to.
I move amendment No. 143:
In page 1494, to delete line 28.
This amendment proposes to delete an unnecessary statutory derivation from the headnote to paragraph (4) of the thirty-second Schedule. The statutory derivation in question is already mentioned in the marginal note to that paragraph.
Amendment agreed to.
I move amendment No. 144:
In page 1516, paragraph 28, line 38, to delete "A reference" and substitute "(1) Subject to subparagraphs (2) and (3), a reference".
Amendment agreed to.
I move amendment No. 145:
In page 1516, after line 44, to insert the following subparagraphs:
"(2) A reference in Chapter 1 of Part 24 to the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources shall—
(a) in respect of the period from the commencement of this Act to the 11th day of July, 1997, be construed as a reference to the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, and
(b) in respect of the period from the 12th day of July, 1997, to the 14th day of July, 1997, be construed as a reference to the Minister for Public Enterprise.
(3) A reference in Chapter 2 of Part 24 to the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources shall—
(a) in respect of the period from the commencement of this Act to the 11th day of July, 1997, be construed as a reference to the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, and
(b) in respect of the period from the 12th day of July, 1997, to the 30th day of September, 1997, be construed as a reference to the Minister for Public Enterprise.".
Amendment agreed to.
I move amendment No. 146:
In page 1517, column (1) of the Table to paragraph 28, lines 21 and 22, to delete "Minister for Environment and Local Development" and substitute "Minister for the Environment and Local Government".
Amendment agreed to.
I move amendment No. 147:
In page 1517, in column (3) of the Table to paragraph 28, line 21, to delete "14th July" and substitute "21st July".
Amendment agreed to.
I move amendment No. 148:
In page 1517, in the Table to paragraph 28, after line 22, to insert the following row:
"
|
"Minister for Education and Science |
Minister for Education |
30th September, 1997 |
"
Amendment agreed to.
I move amendment No. 149:
In page 1517, in column (1) of the Table to paragraph 29, lines 35 and 36, to delete "Department of Environment and Local Development" and substitute "Department of the Environment and Local Government".
Amendment agreed to.
I move amendment No. 150:
In page 1517, in column (3) of the Table to paragraph 29, line 35, to delete "14th July" and substitute "21st July".
Amendment agreed to.
Schedule 32, as amended, agreed to.
TITLE.
Question proposed: "That the Title be the Title to the Bill."
I thank the Minister and his officials and the officials of the Revenue Commissioners who have been so helpful in explaining the points raised. I also thank the Chairman and the Committee staff for dealing with matters in such an expeditious manner.
I thank the Chairman and the Committee staff, the officials in the Revenue Commissioners and my Department for the work they put into this Bill. They were praised on Second Stage and I am sorry I was unable to be in the House on that occasion.
I thank the Minister and his officials for being so forthcoming on many of the amendments. I am glad we were able to reconcile our differences. The Bill is probably better for our efforts. I appreciate the responses of the Chairman to the amendments.
I acknowledge the work that has been done previously. It is a revelation to attend a committee like this and see the volume of work undertaken. I compliment all involved.
Question put and agreed to.
Report of Joint Committee.
I propose the following draft report:
1. The Committee has considered the Bill and has made amendments thereto which may be classified as follows:
(a) amendments necessary to the improvement of the form of the Bill;
(b) amendments for the removal of ambiguities;
(c) amendments necessary to adapt to existing law;
(d) amendments for the achievement of uniformity of expression.
2. The Committee is of the opinion that the Bill, as amended, represents the existing law.
Is that agreed? Agreed. With regard to the last sentence, advice is available for any Members if they necessarily require so.
Report Stage ordered for Wednesday, 4 November 1997.
The Joint Committee adjourned at 3.10 p.m.