Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 January 2013
645. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if companies exporting calcium carbonate limestone products will be exempt from the proposed pyrite levy on the quarrying industry on all product exported, to ensure their competiveness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1105/13]
View answer646. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the new pyrite levy on the quarrying industry will require legislation; when will this legislation be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1106/13]
View answer647. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason it is proposed to levy quarries that did not provide any products that included pyrite under the new proposed pyrite levy, as they did not cause the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1107/13]
View answer648. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason concrete manufactures will have to pay the new proposed pyrite levy on their products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1108/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 645 to 648, inclusive, together.
I have recently received Government approval for the imposition of a levy on both the quarrying and insurance sectors, as recommended by the independent Pyrite Panel, in order to provide the funding necessary for the remediation of pyrite damaged dwellings where no other forms of redress are available to the homeowner. The imposition of the levies will require legislation and in that context I will set out the detail regarding the application of the levies, their collection and subsequent administration. I am committed to having the legislation published and enacted in the shortest timeframe possible.
The decision to impose a levy on the quarrying industry will in effect see it applied to the construction industry more generally given its application is to a raw material used in certain manufactured products, which is also in line with the recommendations of the Pyrite Panel. While I understand that some suppliers, who were not involved in the supply of aggregate materials containing reactive pyrite, may feel concerned that the levy is being generally applied it is reasonable, and in line with precedent, that this sectoral approach be taken. For example, the Motor Insurance Bureau, which is funded by companies writing motor insurance in Ireland, provides assistance and compensation to the innocent victims of accidents caused by uninsured and unidentified vehicles. Similar arrangements apply to the travel trade.
