Written Answers Nos. 50-57
50. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of Irish passports that were renewed in the years 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39574/12]
View answerThe Passport technology system currently does not differentiate between passports renewed and first time applications for passports. Accordingly it is not possible to provide the Deputy with the exact information sought. However I can confirm that the total number of passports issued for the years 2009-2012 is as follows:
|
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
Jan-August 2012 |
|
572,783 |
603,753 |
599,468 |
489,012 |
I can also confirm that the number of passports issued in the first eight months of 2012 represents a 4.63% increase over the same period in 2011.
51. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on a possible timeframe for Turkey joining the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39575/12]
View answerThis Government remains supportive of Turkey’s EU candidacy. Turkey is currently in accession negotiations. Accession may follow once the country fulfils the established membership criteria and provided that EU member States and the European Commission are satisfied that all the conditions have been met. However, progress on Turkey’s EU accession has been very slow of late, with the last Chapter in the negotiations opened in 2010. Some 12 of the 33 negotiating Chapters have been officially opened and 1 provisionally closed. Of the remaining 21 Chapters, negotiations on 8 of them have been suspended by the Council since December 2006, due to Turkey’s failure to meet its obligations under the Ankara Protocol, i.e. normalisation of relations with Cyprus. The Council also agreed that it will not decide on provisionally closing Chapters until the Commission verifies that Turkey has fulfilled its commitments related to the Protocol. A further 4 Chapters remain frozen since the French Presidential Elections in 2007 and Cyprus is blocking another 6. This leaves 3 Chapters with a possibility of being opened.
In the absence of movement in the enlargement negotiations, Turkey is still proceeding, nonetheless, with reforms including plans for a new Constitution, in part to bring it more in line with EU standards. In May this year the European Commission and Turkey launched a ‘Positive Agenda’ to examine where progress might be possible on 8 Chapters. This raises the possibility that the Irish Presidency may be able to open Chapters, if sufficient progress can be achieved. Enlargement is a negotiated process and, as in any negotiation, the eventual outcome and timeframe cannot be predetermined. We will be working closely with Turkey, with the European Commission, and with our EU partners and will make every effort to move the agenda forward during our Presidency. Minister of State Creighton visited Turkey in July this year, in part to discuss areas for possible progress during our Presidency. I hope to receive the Turkish Minister for European Affairs in Dublin later this year.
52. Deputy Ray Butler asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline in tabular format the annual salary costs for private and constituency offices of Ministers in his Department in each of the years 2009 and 2010; the same figures for any Ministers of State in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39643/12]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tables.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál Martin TD
|
- |
Salary Costs 2009 |
Salary Costs 2010 |
|
Private Office |
€481,953 |
€454,562 |
|
Constituency Office |
€174,297 |
€176,415 |
Minister of State for Overseas Development, Mr. Peter Power TD
|
- |
Salary Costs 2009 |
Salary Costs 2010 |
|
Private Office |
€286,523 |
€250,097 |
|
Constituency Office |
€103,572 |
€116,790 |
Minister of State for European Affairs, Mr Dick Roche, TD
|
- |
Salary Costs 2009 |
Salary Costs 2010 |
|
Private Office |
€323,166 |
€292,597 |
|
Constituency Office |
€233,547 |
€229,006 |
53. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance if he will detail his efforts to tackle the problem of the black economy. [39508/12]
View answer54. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance if he will detail his efforts to tackle the problem of the black economy; and the estimated loss to the Exchequer of revenue as a result of the black economy. [39380/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 54 together.
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that their tax and duty compliance programmes are under constant review to ensure that they are focussed on the areas of greatest risk, including risks from the shadow economy. The hidden economy includes the suppression of sales, wages and income by registered businesses, fraudulent repayment claims, smuggling and trading in counterfeit and contraband goods, unregistered traders and individuals working and ‘signing’. It is a multi-faceted issue that requires a co-ordinated and multi-faceted response.
Revenue tackles the problem of the shadow economy through its range of compliance and audit interventions including through targeted special projects. Case interventions are undertaken based on Revenue’s assessment of compliance risks, the level of those risks and other relevant information available. Revenue is using a wide range of methodologies to identify those operating in the shadow economy and is deploying the full range of compliance interventions. Activities can include covert surveillance, cold calls to businesses and venues as well as its audit and investigation programmes. The Revenue’s approach to the shadow economy is underpinned by close consultation and cooperation with the Department of Social Protection. The primary objective of these activities is to uncover either non-declaration or under declaration of income and/or fraudulent DSP claims.
The Hidden Economy Monitoring Group provides a forum for the exchange of views on the effectiveness of measures introduced in combating the hidden economy. This group, which is chaired by Revenue, includes representatives from employer and business organisations, trade unions and other Government Departments and agencies. Regional hidden economy liaison groups have been established to facilitate greater local interaction and more immediate responses to insights and issues that may be highlighted. Increasingly Revenue is finding that bodies and individuals are prepared to share insights and specific information with regard to shadow economy activity.
The Deputy will be aware of the continuing strengthening of legislation to provide for a robust framework within which the Revenue Commissioners may tackle tax and duty evasion, including recent provisions relating to:
- The making of returns of transactions by merchant acquirers, and other payment settlement entities, to the Revenue Commissioners
- The more effective investigation of white-collar crime.
Other new provisions included a comprehensive package of measures in relation to Excise (Oils) including, requirement for separate licences for auto-fuel traders and marked fuel traders, requirement to have a separate licence for every premises or place at which the fuel concerned is dealt in, and a requirement that a licence must be clearly displayed at the premises or place.
Revenue’s tobacco strategy, “Strategy On Combating the Illicit Tobacco Trade (2011- 2013)” was published on the Revenue website in June 2011. This three-year strategy is underpinned by annual action plans. The strategic level plans include taking steps to ensure that the legitimate trade remains compliant, delivering more effective and visible interventions through enhanced capability and better deployment of Revenue resources. The strategy also include further development of cooperation and intelligence sharing at national and international level, together with a commitment to prosecute all serious cases of tobacco tax evasion and a focus, in partnership with other Government agencies, on reducing the demand for contraband tobacco. During 2011 Revenue seized a total of 109m cigarettes in 10,581 seizures. Commercial quantities in maritime freight traffic accounted for 76.4m cigarettes. Revenue also seized 11,158kg of tobacco in 2011. In six particular operations, over 19m cigarettes, 1,344 kgs tobacco and 49 vehicles were seized.
Regulations were also introduced in 2011 requiring Government Departments and State Bodies to supply details to the Revenue Commissioners, of payments made. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that this data is matched to the Revenue records of the various recipients, and is used to profile risk. Similar matching is also carried out using other third party data received by the Revenue Commissioners. Revenue has a prioritised focus on those sectors that traditionally have been susceptible to shadow activity such as cash businesses. All possible sources of information, including following up on services advertised on TV, radio, local newspapers, internet, special interest publications are used by Revenue.
Revenue investigations have detected the use of computer programmes or electronic devices to alter or conceal sales records. To counteract these risks, legislation was enacted in 2011 providing penalties for the possession, use or supply of automated sales suppression devices known as "zappers" for the purpose of evading tax. Streetscape programmes, in which every cash business in an area is visited, without prior announcement, have been carried out. The main focus of real time activity is on businesses that have the potential to operate with cash. This includes professionals such as doctors, veterinary surgeons, etc. These operations have also resulted in the registration of previously unregistered persons. 803 such registrations were recorded in the period from January to the end of April 2012.
The results from all the various projects are reflected in the general audit and compliance results from audits, assurance checks, site visits etc. which are published in the Revenue Annual Report. Revenue does not measure the estimated loss to the Exchequer as a result of the black economy. Revenue does report annually on the results of its audit and compliance programmes. In 2011 the results of audit and assurance activities resulted in additional yield of €492.7m to the Exchequer.
55. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a list of all of the tax relief schemes available to taxpayers here. [39393/12]
View answer56. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a list of all of the tax relief schemes which have been closed by his Department since 2008. [39394/12]
View answer57. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if there is scope to remove remaining tax relief schemes; and the amount of money the State may recover if it closed all of the remaining tax relief schemes available to taxpayers here. [39395/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 55 to 57, inclusive, together.
As regards tax reliefs currently available, a comprehensive summary of these was provided yesterday in my reply to PQ 38291/12 and a copy of this reply is provided for the Deputy’s information. That reply contains details, as advised to me by the Revenue Commissioners, of the total identifiable costs to the Exchequer relating to income tax and corporation tax allowances, reliefs, exemptions and tax credits available. The information relates to 2008 and 2009, the most recent year for which the necessary detailed information is available.
The following tax reliefs have been terminated since 2008:
- Approved Share Options Schemes
- BIK (Benefit-in-kind) exemption on certain professional subscriptions
- BIK exemption on employer-provided art objects in a heritage building or garden
- BIK exemption for employer provided childcare
- Capital allowances in respect of capital expenditure incurred on registered nursing homes, convalescent homes, qualifying hospitals and mental health centres (subject to transitional arrangements for pipeline projects)
- Capital allowances for expenditure on the construction, conversion or refurbishment of buildings used for childcare purposes
- Capital allowances for the construction or refurbishment of residential units associated with registered nursing homes
- Consanguinity relief for residential property
- Enterprise Areas
- Exemption from income tax and associated marginal relief (Section 187)
- Exemption that applies to the first 6 weeks of Illness Benefit and Occupational Injury Benefit per annum (Section 126)
- Farm consolidation relief (expired)
- First time buyer’s relief
- Holiday Cottages
- Living over the Shop
- Loans to acquire an interest in certain companies (phased abolition)
- Low value properties (residential property below €127k and non-residential property below €10k)
- Multi-storey car parks
- Park & Ride
- Patent royalty exemption
- Premiums under qualifying long term care policies (Section 470A)
- Purchase of new houses
- Purchase of new shares by an employee
- Service charges
- Student Accommodation
- Trade Union Subscriptions
- Rent relief (phased abolition)
- Rural Renewal
- Site to child relief
- Town Renewal
- Urban Renewal
In respect of the remaining reliefs, I would again refer the Deputy to my earlier answer as this contains the identifiable costs to the Exchequer of such reliefs. I would further note that, as with all measures of this nature, reliefs will be reviewed as part of the annual Budget and Finance Bill cycle. However, the Deputy will also be aware that it is not the practice of the Minister for Finance to discuss the precise or specific details of measures which may be under consideration as part of a future Budget and Finance Bill package.
