Brendan Smith
Question:34. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the issues discussed at the recent North-South Ministerial Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48711/13]
View answerNorth-South Ministerial Council
Questions (34)
Written answers
The most recent meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in plenary format was held in Armagh on 8 November 2013. This was the seventeenth Plenary meeting of the NSMC. At the meeting, discussions covered a wide range of financial, economic and EU matters including the economic challenges faced in both jurisdictions. Ministers reviewed the progress made on the areas of co-operation and by the North/South Bodies. The actions being undertaken by each Administration to help support economic recovery and the importance of attracting Foreign Direct Investment and ensuring adequate access to credit within the banking sector in each jurisdiction was recognised as was the disposal of assets by NAMA in ways which would support economic recovery in both jurisdictions. Ministers agreed that they should continue to prioritise economic recovery, job creation, the best use of public funds and the most effective delivery of services for their citizens.
The contribution of the Tourism Industry to both economies was highlighted, particularly the success of ongoing, initiatives including The Gathering Ireland 2013 and the UK City of Culture celebrations. Ministers also looked forward to the hosting of the Giro d’Italia on the island in 2014. Opportunities for cooperation in developing trade links with emerging markets on an all-island basis were also discussed. Our Embassies continue to be available to assist trade missions from both parts of the island and individual companies from either North or South or on an all-island basis to take advantage of opportunities for mutual cooperation.
There was discussion about progress made to date under the Building a Prosperous and United Community economic package for Northern Ireland, and Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the package. The importance of European funding to both jurisdictions was recognised, particularly the new PEACE and INTERREG funding programmes and exploring further possibilities for mutually beneficial collaboration to draw down funding. There was also a discussion on youth unemployment. Ministers agreed that, where possible, we should work together to make the most of the common approaches being taken North and South to deal with this key issue for the whole island.
Following my recent visit to Derry I was pleased that we had an opportunity to discuss the North West Gateway Initiative and to encourage forward momentum on it. We noted that a report on the outcome of the consultation on the Initiative with key stakeholders in the North West will be brought to a future NSMC Institutional meeting.
With regard to the St Andrews Agreement Review, the Council agreed that Ministers will now consider their priorities for further co-operation in their respective sectoral areas. The outcome of this exercise will be considered at a future NSMC Institutional meeting. Immediately before the Plenary meeting the Taoiseach, First Minister, deputy First Minister and I attended a conference in Armagh, organized by the GAA, IRFU and IFA which explored the role of sport in reconciliation. During the Plenary meeting Ministers endorsed the ongoing collaboration between sporting organisations to tackle racism, sectarianism and division.
Ministers expressed their continuing support for the concept of the Narrow Water Bridge and asked for an urgent analysis of the issues involved, with the priority being not to lose the EU funding involved. We will continue to work closely and constructively on all of these issues with our Northern colleagues.
Election Monitoring Missions
Questions (35)
Finian McGrath
Question:35. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 65 of 18 June 2013, if he will clarify when and the reason the selection interviews were abandoned and replaced by a paper based selection process; if he will detail the fees and expenses paid to each of the assessors; if he will clarify the date the final review appeal process was established and the reason for establishing it; if all unsuccessful candidates were notified of their option to avail of the appeal option; if not, if he will direct that they now be informed; the number of appeals received and if any of the appeals were upheld in favour of the appealing candidates; if the Ombudsman has been in contact with his Department in respect of any unsuccessful candidate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48721/13]
View answerWritten answers
International election monitoring missions play an important role in the promotion of democracy and human rights. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains and administers a roster of observers for such missions. The aim is to ensure that, when requested, Ireland is represented at an appropriate level in international observation missions for both elections and constitutional referendums. My Department carried out a comprehensive review of the election observation roster earlier this year. The Information Note for Applicants, which was posted on the Department’s websites, stated that interviews would be held in the event that a large number of applicants met the minimum eligibility requirements. In the event, only 263 eligible applications were received for a roster to comprise of 200 individuals and 10 reserve panellists. Given that this number was not significantly higher than the number of places available on the roster, the selection process was confined to an assessment of the written applications only and an interview stage was not included.
All eligible applications were scored independently by two assessors external to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade against the four criteria published in the Information Note for Applicants. The assessors were paid fees of €200 per day in accordance with the fees payable for service on interview boards as set out in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular E12/1/70. Assessors were also paid travel expenses, amounting to a total of less than €50, for travel to and from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
All unsuccessful applicants to the roster were invited to request feedback on their applications and feedback has been provided on this basis to 18 individuals. In addition, in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 67 of 29 May 2013, I outlined the offer of a review process. This was to be conducted by a senior official who had not been involved in the roster review. On foot of feedback received, two unsuccessful applicants requested a final review of their applications. In both cases, the reviewer was of the view that the scoring of the applications was fair and impartial overall. In one case, it was recommended that the applicant’s score be adjusted marginally upwards. This adjustment did not affect the final outcome in relation to placement on the roster.
The Department has been in ongoing contact with one of the applicant’s who sought a review. This applicant has made information requests under the Freedom of Information Acts, which have been acted on by the Department in compliance with the relevant legislation. Specifically, the Office of the Information Commissioner has been in contact with the Department regarding an application for review lodged by the applicant to that Office. The Department is fully engaging in this review process.
Passport Application Refusals
Questions (36)
Bernard Durkan
Question:36. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if alternative arrangements will be entered into in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48756/13]
View answerWritten answers
An application for the named person was received by the Department on 10 September, 2013. It has been rejected on two occasions under the Passports Act, 2008 for her national passport as evidence of her identity. This application has been reviewed by the Department and the Department is satisfied that the submitted items in respect of identity namely her driver’s license, her birth certificate and a travel document, which was issued by the Department of Justice, Equality and Defence on 30 September, 2008, are sufficient to finalise her passport application. Accordingly, I am pleased to inform you that her passport was issued on 13 November, 2013.
National Pensions Reserve Fund Administration
Questions (37)
Lucinda Creighton
Question:37. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance the total amount in euro the National Pensions Reserve Fund provided in a bridging loan facility to Irish Water to meet the costs arising to the end of 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48598/13]
View answerWritten answers
In September 2013, the National Pensions Reserve Fund (NPRF) agreed a €250 million two-year bridging facility with Irish Water to provide short-term funding for its start-up costs and metering installation costs. To date, €160 million has been drawn down by Irish Water and the balance is expected to be called in January 2014.
Property Taxation Administration
Questions (38)
Clare Daly
Question:38. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance if he will change the date of 1 November being the effective date for payment of property tax in the following year as this disenfranchises persons who sell a home during November and December who will not be living in that dwelling in the following year. [48607/13]
View answerWritten answers
The Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 (as amended) provides that liability for Local Property Tax (LPT) will arise where a person owns a residential property on the liability date, which was 1 May 2013 for 2013, and, for subsequent years, 1 November in the preceding year. Section 119 of the Act sets out the dates for payment of the LPT, and clarifies that, while the LPT is due by reference to a liability date, it is not payable until a later date. For the year 2014, the liability date is 1 November 2013 and the tax is payable on or before 1 January 2014.
Where a liable person sells their residential property between 2 November 2013 and 31 December 2013, provided that they owned the property on 1 November 2013, they will be liable to pay LPT on that property for 2014. Detailed guidance on LPT issues arising in the context of the sale or transfer of a residential property, including this issue, were prepared by the Revenue Commissioners in consultation with the Law Society and published earlier this year. They are available on the Revenue website at http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/lpt/sale-transfer-property.html.
For a tax such as LPT to function properly, legislation must specify a liability date for the tax to have application for a particular year. Whatever date is prescribed, the question of liability when there is a change of ownership has to be managed. I expect that the LPT liability involved is likely to be factored in during negotiations between the parties on the sale price and the closing date of a contract.
Having a liability date before the year commences is preferable from an administrative point of view as there is certainty about who the liable person is for the coming year, that person has a reasonable amount of time to make the necessary provisions and they have access to the widest possible range of options for paying the tax. In particular, the liable person can put the required arrangements in place to ensure that phased payments by way of direct debit or deduction at source from employment, occupational pension or from certain Government payments would commence from January 2014 and would spread payment of the full LPT liability evenly over the course of 2014. I do not intend to change the liability date as specified in the legislation.
Credit Unions
Questions (39)
Ann Phelan
Question:39. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Finance the differences between a credit union and its members in County Kilkenny (details supplied) and that of the case outlined in the Sunday Times on 29 September 2013; if he will outline in detail the criteria for same; his views on the matter with particular reference to the credit union in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48619/13]
View answerWritten answers
Unfortunately I am not in a position to comment on the specifics of any accounts with IBRC which is now in liquidation. As the Deputy is aware there are a number of depositors who fall outside the eligibility criteria for the ELG Scheme due to the nature and timing of the investment in certain structured products. Unfortunately, if a deposit is not eligible under the ELG scheme the depositor will rank as an unsecured creditor in the liquidation. At the time that this product was purchased by credit unions, there was no additional guarantee provided by the State.
Eligible liabilities which may be guaranteed under the ELG Scheme must have been taken out with Anglo Irish Bank after 28 January 2010 or with the Irish Nationwide Building Society after 3 February 2010 and with an initial maturity under five years. It was always the case that the ELG scheme covered only those liabilities which were entered into during the issuance window. The NTMA are responsible for the administration of the ELG Scheme and claims or queries in relation to eligibility can be made to +353 (0) 1 238 4700 (available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) or elginfo@ntma.ie.
Property Taxation Collection
Questions (40)
Finian McGrath
Question:40. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Finance his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the local property tax. [48645/13]
View answerWritten answers
I am fully aware of the issues that have been raised concerning once-off payments by credit card. The subject was extensively dealt with by the Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners in her appearance before the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform on 7 November 2013. Similar questions concerning payment of the 2014 LPT liability by credit card have been raised by a number of Deputies and I provided a detailed response on 5 November to Questions Nos. 202 (46491/13), 214 (46815/13), 215 (46879/13), 216 (46881/13), 229 (46999/13), 232 (47059/13), 239 (47101/13), 143 (47110/13) and 252 (47136/13).
The Local Property Tax (LPT) is a self-assessed tax governed by the Pay and File provisions in the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 (as amended) and filing dates and payment dates are set out in the legislation. There is no question of having to pay LPT two months in advance because of the wide range of payment methods offered by Revenue. Those who opt to pay the tax by debit or credit card have up to 27 November 2013 to choose this payment option online.
The Deputy has compared the LPT to Motor Tax but the legislation and administrative systems are entirely different. For example, unlike Motor Tax, the LPT can be paid in one lump sum almost three months after the due date, or can be paid in instalments throughout the year, without interest or extra charges. While the proposal to introduce an LPT “tax disc” is interesting, normal Revenue provisions regarding taxpayer confidentiality would appear to preclude its implementation.
Tax Reliefs Availability
Questions (41)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:41. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance if he will expand the scope of the home renovation incentive scheme to allow homeowners to avail of the grant if they wish to put in the safety precaution measures to make their houses safe from toxic radon gas. [48686/13]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy is aware, I announced the Home Renovation Incentive in the recent Budget. This scheme will run from 25 October 2013 to 31 December 2015 and provides for tax relief for homeowners by way of a tax credit at 13.5% of qualifying expenditure incurred on repair, renovation or improvement work carried out on a principal private residence. There is no VAT relief under this scheme. Qualifying expenditure is expenditure subject to the 13.5% VAT rate. The work must cost a minimum of €5,000 (exclusive of VAT) which would attract a credit of €675. Where the cost of the work exceeds €30,000 (exclusive of VAT) a maximum credit of €4,050 will apply. The credit is payable over the two years following the year in which the work is carried out. Works carried out between 25 October 2013 and 31 December 2013 will be considered to have taken place in 2014 for the purposes of awarding the tax credit.
Homeowners must be Local Property Tax compliant in order to qualify under the Incentive, while building contractors must be tax compliant in order to carry out works. The scheme will be administered through Revenue’s online systems. Contractors will be required to inform Revenue in advance of details of works to be carried and will also be required to notify Revenue in relation to any payments received in respect of the works. Homeowners will be able to view the information provided to Revenue by the contractor through the Revenue electronic systems and will also claim the relief through those systems. The installation of radon gas mitigation solutions will be included for the purposes of this scheme.