Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 November 2004
19 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the manner in which VAT will be repaid to the charity responsible for the DVD and CD of the Live Aid concert; if such a commitment has been given in the past at any time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30064/04]
View answer59 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the work of the Band Aid Trust to generate funds for development work in Africa, he has made representations to the Department of Finance requesting an exemption on sales of the new Live Aid DVD and CD from VAT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30088/04]
View answer155 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason €1 million was removed from the DCI allocation in order to facilitate the fulfilling of a commitment in relation to the Band Aid single. [30702/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 59 and 155 together.
The Taoiseach announced in Dáil Éireann on 10 November that the Government will refund the VAT paid on purchases of the Band Aid CD and Live Aid DVD. My Department, the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Finance discussed the modalities of implementing this decision. While it is not possible to exempt the DVD and CD sales from VAT, a contribution equivalent in value to the VAT paid on purchases will be paid to the Band Aid Trust from the official development assistance programme based on sales figures, which will be available in early 2005. The proceeds of the Band Aid CD and the Live Aid DVD will be spent on humanitarian assistance, primarily in the Darfur region of Sudan.
