Written Answers Nos. 68 - 80
68. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if an Irish passport will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40330/13]
View answerThe Department has no record of any application lodged for the person in question. However I can say that the Passports Act, 2008 requires that before issuing a passport to a person, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade shall be satisfied as to the identity of each applicant and that the person is an Irish citizen. Documentary proof in respect of identity and entitlement to citizenship are required for all passport applications. These requirements are outlined in the passport application form notes that accompany each application form. Details are also available on the Department’s website.
70. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide in tabular form the number of advisers, programme managers, press officers and political staff and communication staff employed by his Department in 1981, 2011 and currently in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40704/13]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy for 2011 and 2013 is set out as follows. Reliable comparable information for 1981, which the Deputy will appreciate is 32 years ago, is not available.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade - Eamon Gilmore, TD, September 2013
|
Office of the Tánaiste |
Constituency Office |
|
2 Special Advisers |
1 Personal Assistant |
|
1 Personal Assistant |
1 Personal Secretary |
|
Private Office – Foreign Affairs and Trade |
- |
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2 Special Advisers |
- |
Minister of State for Trade and Development - Joe Costello, TD, September 2013
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Constituency Office |
|
1 Personal Assistant |
|
1 Personal Secretary |
Minister of State for European Affairs - Paschal Donohoe, TD, September 2013
|
Private Office |
Constituency Office |
|
1 Civilian Driver |
1 Personal Assistant |
|
- |
1 Personal Secretary |
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade - Eamon Gilmore, TD, September 2011
|
Office of the Tánaiste |
Constituency Office |
|
2 Special Advisers |
1 Personal Assistant |
|
1 Personal Assistant |
1 Personal Secretary |
|
Private Office – Foreign Affairs and Trade |
- |
|
1 Special Adviser |
- |
Minister of State for Trade and Development - Jan O’Sullivan, TD, September 2011
|
Private Office |
Constituency Office |
|
2 Civilian Drivers |
1 Personal Assistant |
|
- |
1 Personal Secretary |
Minister of State for European Affairs - Lucinda Creighton, TD, September 2011
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Private Office |
Constituency Office |
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1 Personal Assistant |
1 Personal Secretary |
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2 Civilian Drivers |
- |
The Department’s Press Section is currently staffed by an Assistant Principal, four Third Secretaries and one Clerical Officer. The Press Office now handles matters relating to Irish Aid which in 2011 were dealt with by a separate Press Officer. A number of officers serving in missions abroad are engaged in press work in addition to other duties.
71. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide in tabular form the number of jobs created under the Revenue job assist schemes; the cost of the scheme in each year from 2010 to 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40144/13]
View answerFigures of the estimated cost to the Exchequer of the Revenue Job Assist Scheme, and the number of employee claimants availing of it in each of the years 2010 and 2011, the latest year for which the necessary detailed information is available, are set out as follows.
|
Year |
Number of Employees availing of Revenue Job Assist |
Cost to Exchequer €M |
|
2010 |
650 |
0.5 |
|
2011 |
1,220 |
1.1 |
72. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the implications of the Central Bank Act 2013 on bank mediation particularly in relation to personnel who do not deal with clients' money and simply negotiate with the financial institution on behalf of a stressed borrower; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that the legislation is treating those persons in a similar way to debt payment companies and consequential compliance and audit associated with this category of mediator; if he will review matters due to the service to consumers that is required for many persons in these difficult financial times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40154/13]
View answerI have been advised by the Central Bank that following the commencement of the Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement) Act 2013, the Bank is now responsible for regulating debt management firms. Firms engaged in the provision of debt management services will now require to be authorised by the Central Bank pursuant to Part V of the Central Bank Act 1997 (as amended) (the Act).
The Act defines a “debt management firm” as meaning: “a person who for remuneration provides debt management services to one or more consumers, other than an excepted person”. The Act also defines “debt management services” as meaning:
(a) giving advice about the discharge of debts (in whole or in part), including advice about budgeting in connection with the discharge of debts,
(b) negotiating with a person’s creditors for the discharge of the person’s debts (in whole or in part), or
(c) any similar activity associated with the discharge of debts”.
Firms that provide debt management services may also provide other services and may therefore require to be authorised for several different activities. For example, firms may require to be authorised as money transmission businesses and/or payment institutions, as well as requiring a separate authorisation to provide debt management services, if they make payments on behalf of their clients.
The Central Bank issued a consultation paper on 1 August 2013 in respect of the proposed regulatory regime to apply to debt management firms. The proposals set out a robust set of requirements for what is an important sector, particularly for the clients of debt management firms many of whom struggle to manage their financial commitments and seek advice and assistance from such firms. The consultation paper closed for submissions on 23 September 2013. The Bank is currently considering the submissions received before finalising the proposed Authorisation Requirements & Standards for Debt Management Firms.
The proposals set out requirements in respect of compliance and audit arrangements that seek to ensure an appropriate level of oversight is in place in respect of the services provided by debt management firms to ensure compliance with their regulatory obligations. The Central Bank acknowledges that there is potentially a wide range of entity types that will seek authorisation as debt management firms. The Bank has further advised me that, it proposes to take the nature, scale and complexity of the entity into account when considering applications which will be assessed on a case by case basis. For example, it is not envisaged that a full time compliance officer will be required in every instance. Alternative arrangements put forward by applicants will be considered in this regard.
73. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Finance if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will be furnished with a P21 for the years 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40155/13]
View answerI have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that P21s for the years 2002 – 2008 inclusive have issued previously to the person concerned. I am further advised that in response to the Deputy's question, copies of these statements have now also been issued. The person in question had not requested a P21 for 2009. However, the tax liability for 2009 has now been reviewed and a PAYE Balancing Statement (P21), for 2009, will issue shortly.
74. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider providing a concession in the upcoming Finance Bill regarding the conditions of the seed capital scheme (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40169/13]
View answerThe Seed Capital Scheme is designed for individuals who are or were in employment that was subject to PAYE. In general, it operates by providing that an individual, who makes an investment in new ordinary shares in a new company, may set off the amount of that investment against his or her taxable income in any of the previous 6 years, which will result in an overpayment of tax. The individual may then claim a refund of the tax overpaid. The individual must take up full-time employment with the company. The claim for relief must be made within 2 years of the end of the year of assessment in which the shares are issued.
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the individual concerned made a general enquiry to the Office of the Revenue Commissioners recently regarding eligibility for the Seed Capital Scheme with respect to investments made in 2009 and 2010 but was informed that the investments would not qualify as any application would be outside the 2 year time limit. The Deputy’s suggestion will be considered as part of the forthcoming Budget and Finance Bill.
75. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Finance the options that are available to persons who do not have utility bills to prove their address when applying to open a bank account; the acceptable ways to prove a person's address; if an affidavit, letter from the Garda or politician will be accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40184/13]
View answerThe customer due diligence requirements are set out in the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 (as amended by the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act 2013). Section 33 of the 2010 Act requires designated persons (such as banks) to apply customer due diligence measures prior to establishing a business relationship with a customer e.g. opening a bank account. The customer due diligence measures require that the designated person must identify and verify the customer’s identity on the basis of documents or information that the designated person has reasonable grounds to believe can be relied upon to confirm the identity of the customer. The 2010 Act does not limit the range of documents or information that a designated person may have reasonable grounds to believe can be relied upon to confirm the identity of the customer.
My Department has published Guidelines on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering and terrorist financing on the application of the 2010 Act. These guidelines specify a non-exhaustive range of documentation which the bank may choose to accept for the purposes of verifying identity. The range of documentation includes utility bills but also many other types of documentation issued by Government Departments, state agencies and financial institutions. In the event that an individual provides a plausible explanation as to why the suggested documentation cannot be provided, the bank may choose from an additional specified list of methods to assist in confirming the identity of the customer.
Ultimately, it is up to each bank to decide, on a risk based approach, whether it accepts other forms of customer identification. However, there is a clear statement in the draft guidelines to the effect that "where an individual is genuinely not in a position to provide standard evidence of identity it is important that he/she is not prevented from gaining access to the financial system solely due to not being able to produce particular documentation."
76. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance the actions he will take to help reduce the cost to the consumer of gluten free products, which are an essential dietary requirement for coeliacs and persons with other digestive disorders; if he will consider applying a lower rate of VAT on gluten free products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40194/13]
View answerI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that food products, including gluten-free products, which meet the definition of food and drink for human consumption contained in paragraph 8 of Schedule 2 to the Value Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010 are liable to the zero rate of VAT. There is no scope under the VAT Directive to zero rate gluten free products that do not meet this definition. The zero rate applies to basic foodstuffs, for example, bread, butter, tea, sugar, meat, milk and vegetables. However, certain food items which are specifically excluded from the zero rate of VAT are subject to either the reduced VAT rate of 13.5% or the standard rate of 23%. Examples of foods which are subject to the reduced VAT rate of 13.5% include flour or egg-based bakery products such as cakes, crackers and certain wafers and biscuits. These are provided for under paragraph 3(5) of Schedule 3 to the Value Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010. Examples of foods which are subject to the standard VAT rate of 23% include sweets, chocolates, chocolate wafers and biscuits and other similar products, confectionery, crisps, ice-creams and soft drinks, and also frozen desserts, frozen yoghurts and similar frozen products.
77. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance if all staff accepting voluntary redundancy/retiring from AIB were offered briefing on their retirement entitlements; if these seminars were made available to all retiring staff equally; where these briefings were held; if they were more than one day events, if the bank covered accommodation and hospitality costs for the employees attending; if so, what was the overall cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40206/13]
View answerI have been informed that the Severance Programme in AIB commenced in June 2012 and involved the preparation of briefing packs for all staff considering early retirement or voluntary severance. In respect of Early Retirement, AIB Staff Pensions Department prepare individual figures for staff in advance of them accepting an offer from the Bank. This information is provided directly to individual staff members and does not involve seminars. I have been informed by AIB that a separate, long-standing process exists where staff who are retiring at normal retirement date or earlier may attend a Retirement Seminar around the time of their departure from AIB. This is provided by many companies in the public and private sector to retiring staff and is considered good practice to help staff adjust to retirement. This service has been provided by AIB to its staff going back over many years. These seminars conducted over two days, involve a number of presentations from organisations such as the Retirement Planning Council of Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and medical practitioners etc. The Bank covers the cost of the seminars.
78. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance if all staff accepting voluntary redundancy/retiring from PTSB were offered briefing on their retirement entitlements; if these seminars were made available to all retiring staff equally; where these briefings were held; if they were more than one day events, if the bank covered accommodation and hospitality costs for the employees attending; if so, the overall cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40207/13]
View answerPermanent TSB has informed me that staff who were offered and accepted Voluntary Severance were advised that they would be offered the standard deferred pension benefits in accordance with the rules of their pension scheme. Permanent TSB advises me that details of the deferred pension benefits were issued to such staff members by the Trustees of the Pension scheme of which they were a member. I have been advised by Permanent TSB that it did not host briefings or seminars for staff leaving on Voluntary Severance. Permanent TSB has informed me that it did not offer voluntary early retirement to staff.
79. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance if all staff accepting voluntary redundancy/retiring from Bank of Ireland were offered briefing on their retirement entitlements; if these seminars were made available to all retiring staff equally; where these briefings were held; if they were more than one day events, if the bank covered accommodation and hospitality costs for the employees attending; if so, the overall cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40208/13]
View answerBank of Ireland has informed me that it offers an appropriate range of supports to all employees whose application for Voluntary Parting is accepted by the Group. Bank of Ireland supports include:
- The opportunity to avail of a Financial one-to-one over the telephone with a Qualified Financial Adviser.
- The opportunity to contact a Career Coach to have a telephone coaching session to talk through any career questions.
- Access to an Online Career Centre for 6 months after leaving BOI.
- Opportunity to attend a career support workshop appropriate to parting staff needs.
80. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Finance if the AVC withdrawal scheme introduced in Budget 2013 will be extended to cover PRSA's to assist persons to access part of their pension savings particularly in cases where pension schemes are performing poorly. [40245/13]
View answerFinance Act 2013 was passed into law on 27th March and section 17 of the Act, which makes provision for pre-retirement access to AVCs, has effect from that date. Section 17 introduces a new section 782A into the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 which provides members of occupational pension schemes with a three-year window of opportunity to draw down, on a once-off basis, up to 30% of the accumulated value of certain AVCs made by them, including additional voluntary PRSA contributions made to AVC PRSAs. This is a restricted measure which enables rather than incentivises individuals to access part of their pension savings beyond their regular or compulsory pension contributions. I do not wish to damage future pension provision and it is important that individuals continue to provide for their retirement. For these reasons, I have no plans to extend the measure beyond AVCs.
