Written Answers Nos. 38 - 46
39. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources the measures he is taking to ensure a viable future for Bórd na Mona and its workforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43697/12]
View answerBord na Móna has long recognised the need to diversify its activities in order to secure a sustainable future and transition away from dependence on its traditional peat business. A number of factors, including environmental constraints on the use of peat in power generation and horticultural products and the expiry of the Public Service Obligation for peat-fired power generation in the coming years, will contribute to the already declining market for peat.
The company has scoped out a new vision for the future sustainable development of Bord na Móna which is set out in its published “A New Contract with Nature” strategy, in order to meet the challenge of transitioning away from dependence on the declining market for peat and towards a more sustainable future. This strategy leverages Bord na Móna’s landbank and the strength of its workforce to develop new businesses which will secure long-term employment in this important State company.
The unparalleled weather conditions during the summer of 2012 resulted in only 35% - 40% of Bord na Móna’s expected harvest being secured. The exceptionally poor peat harvest has created very significant financial challenges for the company not just in the current period but in the months and years ahead and highlights the importance of the company’s ongoing diversification and growth strategy away from its core peat business. Bord na Móna management has taken and continues to take decisive steps to manage this unprecedented situation in order to ensure the long-term viability of the company. Bord na Móna and its employees, through its diversification strategy, have positioned the company to become a leading provider of sustainable solutions with particular potential in renewable power generation. I am satisfied that Bord na Móna continues to focus on managing the current challenges and ensuring the long term future of the company.
40. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources if he will intervene to find a positive outcome for the residents of areas of west Kerry (details supplied), where Saorview will not be available on 24 October and where Saorsat installers have come back with negative results; if he will work to ensure that these areas will have a viable television service available to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43507/12]
View answerRTÉ has built, owns and controls the Saorview TV network and is responsible for the roll-out, coverage and operation of that network. This includes information on transmitter sites being used. This is in accordance with Part 8 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, which provides that the development of the RTÉ network is an operational matter for RTÉ. Section 130 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 Act provides that RTÉ must roll out a national digital TV network to the same extent as its existing analogue network. In this regard, I understand from RTÉ that their analogue network covers 98% of the population and the Saorview network will also provide 98% population coverage. It is impossible to cover 100% of the population by terrestrial means.
The SAORVIEW network is largely completed. Regarding cover in County Kerry I have been informed by RTÉ Networks Limited (RTÉNL) that SAORVIEW is a significant improvement over Analogue Terrestrial Television coverage in County Kerry as follows:
RTÉ One analogue 90% population compared with SAORVIEW 95% - an increase of 5%
RTÉ Two Analogue 90% population compared with SAORVIEW 95% - an increase of 5%
TV3 Analogue 44% population compared with SAORVIEW 95%- an increase of 51%
TG4 Analogue 75% population compared with SAORVIEW 95% - an increase of 20%
Geographical SAORVIEW coverage of Kerry is also far better than analogue was and is as follows:
RTÉ One Analogue 75% area compared with SAORVIEW 87% - an increase of 12%
RTÉ Two Analogue 75% area compared with SAORVIEW 87% - an increase of 12%
TV3 Analogue 40% area compared with SAORVIEW 87% - an increase of 47%
TG4 Analogue 64% area compared with SAORVIEW 87% - an increase of 23%
As I mentioned above it is simply not possible to provide 100% coverage by terrestrial means. In relation to the specific areas as referenced, according to RTÉNL, because of local topography they are SAORVIEW challenged. The information in relation to SAORVIEW coverage is on the SAORVIEW and RTÉNL web pages (www.saorview.ie and www.rtenl.ie). I would point out to the Deputy that these coverage maps are conservative and RTÉNL recommend people in these marginal areas talk to a competent local aerial installer.
In addition to SAORVIEW RTÉ has developed SAORSAT, a new free-to-air satellite service unique to Ireland to ensure the RTÉ television services are available to the remaining 2% of the population. RTÉ is not obliged to provide this satellite service and is doing so on its own initiative. I have been informed by RTÉNL that they arranged additional SAORSAT training for installers on Monday 1st October. Ten installers attended a training course in Kerry. The course was open to any installer and the ones that attended were from areas such as Firies, Killorglin, Kenmare, Killarney, Cahersiveen, Beaufort, Waterville and Castleisland. The course showed, inter alia, the best dish type to use, how to attach the dish correctly and how to position it correctly.
According to RTÉNL, the parameters for SAORSAT are a little bit tighter than installers would be used to with Sky or Freesat but a good SAORSAT installation is well within the capabilities of any competent installer. Installers that are having difficulty installing SAORSAT should contact RTÉNL directly and RTÉNL will arrange the necessary training.
42. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources if he has been in contact with Members of the Legislative Assembly and officials in the Stormont Assembly to discuss a possible joint policy on hydraulic fracturing or fracking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43734/12]
View answerWhile I have not been in contact with Members of the Legislative Assembly or officials in the Stormont Assembly, I can confirm that officials of my Department have had contacts with their counterparts in Northern Ireland in relation to the onshore exploration authorisations that are in place in the two jurisdictions. The primary purpose of these contacts has been to facilitate an exchange of information in relation to the nature of the activities that have been licensed and their associated timelines. There has also been a sharing of information in relation to the regulatory processes that would apply in each jurisdiction should the promoters of these projects make applications to advance an exploration drilling phase, or beyond.
The focus of these preliminary engagements has been on information sharing and not on seeking to agree a joint north south policy. In the case that a project in either jurisdiction were to advance to the next stage then it would be subject to the regulatory processes that pertain in that jurisdiction. It is the case, however, that the environmental consideration of any proposed project in either jurisdiction will be subject to EU environmental legislation, including the provisions relating to consultation across borders where there could be a potential negative environmental impact in a neighbouring jurisdiction.
A meeting between authorities both north and south took place in February of this year, which provided an opportunity for a more detailed engagement and sharing of information between the respective regulators, together with a commitment to keep each other informed on relevant developments. Additionally, officials from Northern Ireland are represented among the bodies engaged in scoping the more detailed research, to be commissioned by the EPA later this year, on the potential environmental impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing.
43. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline in tabular form, the amount of money allocated by his Department and agencies within his Department to Ballina, Castlebar and Westport Town Council between 1997 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43948/12]
View answerMy Department did not allocate any money to Ballina, Castlebar and Westport Town Council during the period in question. There are no State agencies under the aegis of my Department.
44. Deputy Ray Butler asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his position in respect of trade with Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44013/12]
View answerIreland’s trade with Israel currently amounts to over €1bn per annum. Israel is an important trading partner and under its trade promotion strategy, the Government is committed to growing Ireland’s exports in all foreign markets, and expanding our trade footprint outside our main trading partners. It has been a long-standing position of successive governments that Ireland does not support trade sanctions or boycotts against Israel. I believe, as have my predecessors that support for a policy of boycotts or sanctions would only weaken the weight carried by our views, both in Israel, where we seek to persuade, and among our European partners.
I have recently answered a number of questions on the related but separate issue of the importation of products from illegal Israeli settlements. Notwithstanding the EU’s clear view on the illegality of Israel’s settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, there is, in my view, no prospect of securing agreement at EU level on the banning of products produced in the settlements from entering the European Union.
45. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if he will respond to a query regarding capital acquisitions tax (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43842/12]
View answerI am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that for the purposes of Capital Acquisitions Tax (Gift and Inheritance Tax), the relationship between the person who provides the gift or inheritance (i.e the disponer) and the person who receives the gift or inheritance (i.e the beneficiary), determines the maximum life-time tax-free threshold - known as the “Group threshold” - below which gift or inheritance tax does not arise. There are, in all, three separate Group thresholds based on the relationship of the beneficiary to the disponer.
Group A: €250,000 - applies where the beneficiary is a child (including adopted child, stepchild and certain foster children) or minor child of a deceased child of the disponer. Parents also fall within this threshold where they take an inheritance of an absolute interest from a child.
Group B: €33,500 – applies where the beneficiary is a brother, sister, a nephew, a niece or lineal ancestor or lineal descendant of the disponer.
Group C: €16,750 - applies in all other cases.
The Group A threshold of €250,000 applies to both gifts and inheritances taken by a child from a parent. The Group A threshold also applies to inheritances taken by a parent from a child, where the inheritance is a full absolute interest in the inherited property and is not a limited interest (e.g. an interest in the inherited property for the life of the parent). The Group A threshold also applies where the inheritance taken by the parent is taken on the death of the child as opposed to, for example, an inheritance taken by the parent at a later date on the death of an intervening life tenant.
Gifts by children to parents fall within the Group B tax-free threshold of €33,500. Separately, Section 79 Capital Acquisitions Tax Consolidation Act 2003 provides that, subject to certain conditions, an inheritance taken by a parent from a child is completely exempt from Inheritance Tax and does not fall to be taken into account in calculating tax on later gifts or inheritances from any source. There are two conditions to be satisfied before the Inheritance Tax exemption is available:
(i) the inheritance must be taken on the death of the child; and
(ii) within the five year period prior to the death of the child, the child must have taken a taxable gift or inheritance from either or both of his/her parents.
Where a beneficiary receives benefits in excess of his or her Group threshold, a 30% rate of Capital Acquisitions Tax applies on the difference.
In summary, the Group A threshold of €250,000 applies to all gifts and inheritances taken by a child from a parent and equally applies also to all absolute inheritances taken by a parent from a child. Inheritances taken by a parent from a child may also qualify for complete exemption from Inheritance Tax where the inheritance taken is an absolute inheritance and where the child has taken a taxable gift or inheritance from either parent in the previous five years.
46. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Finance if he will advise on whether a person (details supplied) is entitled to any tax refund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43862/12]
View answerI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the taxpayer in question has previously applied for and received balancing statements for 2011, but did not request a full four-year review. It now appears however that refunds may be due for 2008 and 2009 and these are currently being processed. Revenue will be in touch with the taxpayer in the near future.
