Written Answers Nos. 46-53
46. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the recent discussions he has had with Commissioner Ashton or at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council in relation to the Israeli-Palestine conflict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39030/13]
View answerI am taking the question to refer to the informal meeting of Foreign Ministers in Lithuania on 6/7 September, rather than to the most recent Foreign Affairs Council meeting on 21 August, which focussed specifically on Egypt. At our meeting on 7 September, EU Foreign Ministers and High Representative Ashton exchanged views on the renewed political process in the Middle East, and the direct talks between Israelis and Palestinians, convened by the United States, which began at the end of July. The meeting benefitted from the presence of US Secretary of State Kerry, who has played a critical and energetic role in bringing these talks into being and in shepherding them forward, and who briefed us on progress so far. The details of those discussions are, rightly, being kept confidential. But Secretary Kerry advised us that the parties were engaging seriously, had progressed beyond other recent efforts, and that he still envisaged a comparatively short and concentrated process, lasting less than a year.
On the EU side my colleagues and I, for our part, committed to doing all we can to support the process.
47. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance the way in which a coach operator may apply to avail of the fuel rebate; if he will provide the full details of the workings of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38957/13]
View answerSection 99A of the Finance Act 1999, provides for the repayment to qualifying road transport operators of part of the mineral oil tax paid on the auto-diesel purchased by them for use in the course of business. This relief will apply to purchases made on or after 1st July 2013. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners, who have responsibility for the operation of the scheme, that repayments under the scheme may be made to licensed road haulage and bus operators. Bus operators established in the State must hold either an international road passenger operator’s licence or a national road passenger operator’s licence issued under the Road Traffic and Transport Act 2006. Bus operators established in another EU Member State must hold an equivalent licence recognised under EU law. Similarly, road haulage operators in the State must hold either an international road haulage operator’s licence or a national road haulage operator’s licence, issued under the Road Traffic and Transport Act 2006. Road haulage operators established in another EU Member State must hold an equivalent licence recognised under EU law.
All claimants must hold a current tax clearance certificate or, in the case of a claimant based in other EU Member State, a statement from the tax authority of that Member State that the claimant is tax compliant in that Member State. The amount of the repayment will vary in accordance with the average price at which auto-diesel is available for purchase during a repayment period. This will be calculated in accordance with a sliding scale, whereby the maximum amount repayable will be 7.5 cent per litre (when that price is €1.54 per litre or over), and Nil when the price is at or below €1.23 per litre, as set out in the table below.
Amount Repayable (per litre)
|
Price (VAT Incl) |
Price (VAT Excl) |
Repayment (cent per litre) |
|
1.54 |
1.25 |
7.5 |
|
1.50 |
1.22 |
6.6 |
|
1.45 |
1.18 |
5.4 |
|
1.40 |
1.14 |
4.2 |
|
1.35 |
1.10 |
3. |
|
1.30 |
1.06 |
1.8 |
|
1.27 |
1.03 |
0.9 |
|
1.23 |
1.00 |
0 |
For this calculation, the average price of auto-diesel will be determined in accordance with data provided by the Central Statistics Office.
The auto-diesel must be purchased for use in the transport operator’s qualifying vehicles in the course of business transport activities. It must, in the case of road haulage, be used in a road haulage vehicle with a maximum permissible gross laden weight of not less than 7.5 tonnes. For passenger transport, the vehicle concerned must be classified as an M2 or M3 vehicle under the EU “type approval” Directive 2007/46/EC. This includes buses, and minibuses with seating for a minimum of nine passengers.
The auto-diesel must be purchased in the State by the qualifying road transport operator, either in bulk or by means of a fuel card approved for that purpose by Revenue. Bulk purchases may be made only from a mineral oil trader in the State where that mineral oil trader holds a current auto-fuel trader’s licence. Where the diesel is purchased and delivered from a trader in another Member State, that delivery must be made, documented and recorded in accordance with the requirements of excise law.
Before any claim is made in respect of diesel purchased by means of a fuel card, that fuel card must be approved by Revenue and included in the data provided at the time of registration with Revenue under the scheme by the qualifying road transport operator. A fuel card will be approved where the fuel card provider, or another entity acting for or in cooperation with the fuel card provider, undertakes to provide the information required by Revenue, about purchases and customer information associated with their cards, and continues to satisfy that undertaking.
The scheme will operate on the basis of electronic registration and claims, using the Revenue’s Online System (ROS). Qualifying road transport operators will be required to register on-line with Revenue before any claim for repayment is submitted. The Revenue Online System (ROS) is currently being developed for that purpose, with a view to accepting registrations and claims under the scheme before the end of the year. Claims may be made in respect of diesel purchased during a three-month repayment period (beginning on the first day of January, April, July and October).
Revenue has briefed representatives of coach operators of the scheme requirements and is available to provide further briefing as the need arises. Comprehensive guidance on the rebate scheme is available on Revenue’s website at www.revenue.ie.
48. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Finance the outstanding issues at the Central Bank of Ireland regarding working hours and compliance with the Haddington Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38853/13]
View answerI have been informed by the Central Bank that it is participating in an Internal Tribunal process which was convened as part of the process to reach a collective agreement with Unite on behalf of professional and administrative staff. As the Tribunal Process is ongoing, it is not possible to say anything further on this matter at this time.
49. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Finance the amount that has been collected to date in property tax in County Kerry; the way this compare to other counties; the amount expected to be collected in 2014; the implications this additional revenue will have for Kerry County Council's budget; if there will be additional funding available for the housing programme, roads programme, water services programme and so on; the implications this funding will have on future Government grant aid to Kerry County Council; if this additional funding will lead to a reduction in commercials rates in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38861/13]
View answerI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the most up to date Local Property Tax (LPT) figures available for County Kerry and all other local authorities are published on the their website at: http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/lpt/lpt-preliminary-data.pdf. More up-to-date data will be published in due course. The Commissioners further advise that it is not possible to state the precise amount of LPT which is expected to be collected for 2013 or 2014 for County Kerry. A numbers of factors could affect the outcome, including the continuation of the strong level of voluntary compliance that was achieved in 2013, the impact of Revenue’s national compliance programme to follow up with those liable persons who have failed to meet their LPT obligations for 2013, and the level of deferrals of LPT staying constant.
However, since the LPT charge for 2013 was for a half year, a reasonable estimate at this stage is that the amount of LPT expected from County Kerry in 2014 would be double the published figures for 2013. The remaining matters raised are properly for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and I understand the Minister is responding to those matters in reply to another Parliamentary Question tabled today by Deputy Fleming.
50. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance if the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation special liquidator has agreed to roll over the debts of any companies or persons for a period of a year or more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38896/13]
View answer51. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance the value, of the loans in the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation where agreement has been to roll over the debt for a period of a year or more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38897/13]
View answer52. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance the role his Department take in any such decisions in the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation on the roll over of debts of companies or persons for a period of a year or more; if his Department is represented on the board that makes the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38898/13]
View answer53. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance the criteria the special liquidator in the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation uses to roll over debts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38899/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 50 to 53, inclusive, together.
Credit decisions, such as the rollover of debt obligations, are a commercial matter for the Special Liquidators of IBRC and neither I nor my officials have any role in those decisions. I am advised by the Special Liquidators that there has been no rollover of debts for periods greater than 12 months since the liquidation of the bank. Where debts have been rolled over by the Special Liquidators I am not in a position to disclose the details of those decisions or the criteria considered by the Special Liquidators in making those decisions as that information is commercially sensitive.
I am advised by the Special Liquidators that for the larger regulatory group exposures, the Group Credit Committee (“GCC”) of IBRC (in Special Liquidation) decides on all credit decisions. The GCC is chaired by the Chief Risk Officer. The Local Credit Committees of IBRC (in Special Liquidation) are chaired by one of the four direct reports to the Chief Risk Officer. Quorums comprise two credit risk staff members, one business manager and one Special Liquidator nominee.
I am further advised that all decisions are unanimous, otherwise the proposal is withdrawn. Members of the credit committees are chosen in line with IBRC (in Special Liquidation) group policies and procedures. The Department of Finance is not represented on the Credit Committees and I do not have any role in approving the decisions of the members of those committees.
