Written Answers Nos. 138-157
138. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide, in tabular form, for each tax credit, the estimated full-year cost of making each of the following tax credits refundable, that is, single person tax credit, married person or civil partner tax credit, widowed person or surviving civil partner tax credit, pay as you earn - employee tax credit and single person child carer credit. [19676/15]
View answerI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they have not undertaken any exercise to estimate a projected cost of refundable tax credits or the cost to the Exchequer of establishing the necessary administrative system to facilitate the refund of tax credits.
Any such exercise in estimation would be highly complex as it would involve assumptions about the manner in which such a system would operate, its possible effects on individuals not currently in the tax net and how such a system might interact with any social protection payments.
In the absence of a fully designed scheme of refundable tax credits that addresses all of the relevant issues outlined, an estimated cost of refunding the credits referred to by the Deputy is not currently available.
139. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the circumstances in which customers who were mis-sold payment protection insurance on their credit card can claim compensation, even if the product was purchased more than six years ago; the role the Central Bank of Ireland will play in this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19680/15]
View answerI have been advised by the Central Bank that at their request a voluntary redress scheme has been put in place in relation to card protection insurance provided by Homecare Insurance ltd (HIL) and purchased through a number of credit card providers.
Customers who purchased or renewed a card protection policy, on or after 1 August 2006, provided by Homecare Insurance Ltd (HIL) and purchased through credit card providers, Bank of Ireland, MBNA Limited or Ulster Bank Ireland Limited may claim redress. The Central Bank intervened in this issue as information provided to customers, at point of sale, advertised some card protection benefits which were not needed i.e. liability for unauthorised use if a card was lost/stolen was covered by the card scheme and therefore, customers did not need additional insurance for this.
The scheme commenced on 30 March 2015. The credit card providers have been contacting impacted customers who should have received an explanatory letter and a claim form at this stage. Policyholders are required to sign and return the claim form to be considered for a refund of premiums paid since 1 August 2006 less any amounts paid to customer in respect of a previous claim. The policyholder is not required to demonstrate or articulate why they feel the policy was mis-sold to them but rather to sign and return the claim form.
140. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Finance his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding tax relief; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19683/15]
View answerPersons who are married or in a civil partnership may have their liability to income tax assessed on the basis of separate or joint assessment. In these cases the personal tax credit and an element of the standard rate band can be transferred between spouses or civil partners as the case may be.
Persons who are cohabiting, other than in a marriage or civil partnership, are treated for the purposes of income tax as separate and unconnected individuals and thus cannot transfer tax credits or bands between them.
The issue raised by the Deputy relating to the social welfare payment is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection.
141. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of cigarettes and the amount of tobacco seized by law enforcement in 2013, 2014 and in 2015 to date, detailing the number of cigarettes seized for each brand and the percentage of total confiscated cigarettes accounted for by each brand. [19707/15]
View answerI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the number of cigarettes and amount of tobacco seized by them in 2013, 2014 and 2015 (to 14 May), are as set out in the following table:
|
|
2013 |
2014 |
2015 (to 14/05/2015) |
|
Cigarettes |
40.8m |
53.4m |
22.5m |
|
Tobacco |
4,203 Kgs |
9,823 Kgs |
673 Kgs |
I am further advised that some 456 brands were found in product seized in 2013, 463 brands in 2014 and 316 brands to date in 2015. Details of those brands that represented 1 per cent or more of the total seizures in each year are listed in the following tables.
2013 Cigarettes seized by brand
|
Brand |
Volume |
% |
|
GOLD CLASSIC |
10,796,140 |
26.43 |
|
MODENG |
10,000,000 |
24.48 |
|
BENSON & HEDGES |
3,813,773 |
9.34 |
|
MARLBORO GOLD |
1,477,749 |
3.62 |
|
PALACE |
1,279,140 |
3.13 |
|
MARLBORO |
1,144,489 |
2.80 |
|
L&M BLUE |
990,883 |
2.43 |
|
SEPTWOLVES |
850,357 |
2.08 |
|
WINSTON |
790,200 |
1.93 |
|
EMAIL RED |
644,120 |
1.58 |
|
CK |
605,400 |
1.48 |
|
EIGHT |
407,750 |
1.00 |
2014 Cigarettes seized by brand
|
Brand |
Volume |
% |
|
FEST |
15,621,000 |
29.23 |
|
D&D |
10,086,620 |
18.87 |
|
FREE |
7,190,800 |
13.45 |
|
PECT |
2,634,260 |
4.93 |
|
MARLBORO GOLD |
2,048,318 |
3.83 |
|
WINSTON BLUE |
1,647,220 |
3.08 |
|
BENSON & HEDGES |
1,643,379 |
3.07 |
|
MARLBORO |
1,445,920 |
2.71 |
|
MINSK CAPITAL (SUPERSLIM) |
945,760 |
1.77 |
|
L&M BLUE |
890,817 |
1.67 |
|
SEPTWOLVES |
541,576 |
1.01 |
2015 Cigarettes seized by brand (year to date)
|
Brand |
Volume |
% |
|
DON |
10,398,820 |
46.11 |
|
MANCHESTER |
7,680,000 |
34.06 |
|
MARLBORO GOLD |
581,168 |
2.58 |
|
MARLBORO |
449,221 |
1.99 |
|
SEPTWOLVES |
252,752 |
1.12 |
|
NZ |
246,760 |
1.09 |
|
BENSON & HEDGES |
222,864 |
1.00 |
142. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a breakdown in excise returns, by category and by month, from January 2013 to April 2015. [19708/15]
View answerI am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the breakdown of excise receipts by category and by month from January 2013 to April 2015 is as shown in the following tables. Please note that the receipts shown for 2014 and 2015 are provisional and may be subject to revision. The "Other Excise" category includes Licences, Betting and Travel Tax.
|
2013 |
Alcohol |
Tobacco |
Oils |
Carbon |
VRT |
Other Excise |
|
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
|
|
JAN |
93.5 |
1.1 |
231.4 |
26.0 |
52.1 |
8.3 |
|
FEB |
40.6 |
104.8 |
158.9 |
42.7 |
64.6 |
3.0 |
|
MAR |
52.2 |
52.5 |
173.2 |
33.6 |
55.1 |
3.9 |
|
APR |
77.2 |
72.0 |
170.5 |
37.6 |
47.5 |
9.8 |
|
MAY |
68.5 |
93.6 |
182.8 |
29.4 |
38.8 |
4.3 |
|
JUN |
85.2 |
93.2 |
161.4 |
39.2 |
27.2 |
4.4 |
|
JUL |
80.9 |
70.1 |
173.9 |
25.8 |
36.0 |
11.0 |
|
AUG |
88.6 |
59.6 |
175.8 |
30.5 |
42.2 |
5.4 |
|
SEP |
80.2 |
87.5 |
164.9 |
28.9 |
24.5 |
8.9 |
|
OCT |
117.9 |
90.2 |
177.1 |
28.0 |
21.5 |
13.3 |
|
NOV |
142.4 |
141.6 |
171.1 |
32.3 |
16.7 |
4.9 |
|
DEC |
74.9 |
197.7 |
92.8 |
34.4 |
11.2 |
4.0 |
|
TOTAL |
1002.0 |
1063.9 |
2033.8 |
388.4 |
437.3 |
81.2 |
|
2014 |
Alcohol |
Tobacco |
Oils |
Carbon |
VRT |
Other Excise |
|
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
|
|
JAN |
96.9 |
1.1 |
231.6 |
25.1 |
73.8 |
7.3 |
|
FEB |
53.8 |
47.9 |
156.0 |
45.1 |
74.4 |
4.6 |
|
MAR |
86.1 |
47.9 |
171.7 |
38.4 |
69.8 |
4.3 |
|
APR |
74.6 |
61.7 |
173.4 |
31.3 |
55.9 |
8.6 |
|
MAY |
93.5 |
91.2 |
179.7 |
35.1 |
40.6 |
2.5 |
|
JUN |
87.0 |
90.1 |
163.2 |
34.5 |
30.6 |
1.5 |
|
JUL |
97.2 |
74.5 |
174.6 |
27.8 |
59.2 |
7.6 |
|
AUG |
102.9 |
75.3 |
169.4 |
25.2 |
55.5 |
2.5 |
|
SEP |
92.5 |
70.8 |
173.6 |
29.6 |
30.9 |
2.4 |
|
OCT |
135.0 |
108.7 |
176.9 |
28.0 |
23.9 |
12.4 |
|
NOV |
125.4 |
123.9 |
160.6 |
31.6 |
16.7 |
1.8 |
|
DEC |
95.0 |
190.5 |
93.5 |
33.6 |
10.8 |
1.3 |
|
TOTAL |
1139.8 |
983.6 |
2024.2 |
385.4 |
542.1 |
56.9 |
|
2015 |
Alcohol |
Tobacco |
Oils |
Carbon |
VRT |
Other Excise |
|
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
|
|
JAN |
102.2 |
1.1 |
239.3 |
21.8 |
104.7 |
6.4 |
|
FEB |
55.8 |
51.8 |
163.7 |
51.6 |
88.6 |
0.9 |
|
MAR |
68.4 |
57.7 |
173.1 |
37.2 |
85.2 |
0.8 |
|
APR |
92.7 |
68.2 |
177.5 |
43.5 |
62.2 |
6.7 |
|
TOTAL |
319.0 |
178.8 |
753.6 |
154.1 |
340.7 |
14.7 |
Rounding may affect totals.
143. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on figures for the income earned, and tax paid, including universal social charge, by those on incomes of €70,000 and above (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19731/15]
View answerI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a wide range of statistical information is now available on the Commissioners' enhanced statistics webpage at www.revenue.ie/en/about/statistics/index.html. In particular, in response to the Deputy's Question, at www.cso.ie/px/pxeirestat/pssn/rv01/homepagefiles/rv01_statbank.asp detailed information is presented on the breakdowns of gross Income Tax and Universal Social Charge (USC) paid by income range. This information can be found under the heading "Income Tax and Corporation Tax Distribution Statistics", where Table RVA04 shows Income Tax and USC payments by income range.
This facility provides breakdowns on the annual distribution of Income Tax from 2004 to 2012 and USC from 2011 to 2012 using the Central Statistics Office data toolset. Whereas previously information of this nature was provided by way of static tables in documents, these data are now published in a format which may be dynamically accessed by a range of user defined queries. Data for later years will be updated in due course. Should the Deputy require, the Commissioners are available to assist and may be contacted by email at statistics@revenue.ie.
144. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on the net receipts for Local Property Tax (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19744/15]
View answerI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that statistics regarding Local Property Tax (LPT) net receipts, compliance rates and other information are available on the Revenue website at http://www.revenue.ie/en/about/statistics/lpt-compliance.html. Updates to these statistics will be published in due course but at present information on the amount collected or compliance rates by valuation band are not presently available.
These statistics include the years 2013 onwards. Information concerning the Household Charge in 2012 is not available from Revenue as the Commissioners only assumed responsibility for Household Charge collection from July 2013 onwards. As neither the Household Charge nor LPT were levied in 2011, no statistics in respect of that year are available.
145. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the reason accounts in the name of children are subject to Deposit Interest Retention Tax, while those in the name of persons over 65 years of age may qualify for an exemption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19745/15]
View answerI am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the legislation governing the operation of Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) is set out in Chapters 4 and 5 of Part 8 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (the Act).
Under Section 257 of the Act all deposit takers are obliged to deduct Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) from payments of interest made to an account unless the account qualifies as an exempt account. There is no specific exemption in the case of interest paid on deposit accounts or on credit union accounts held by children. Such a provision could be difficult and costly to administer, from the point of view of establishing who the beneficial owner of the account is. The tax code does not provide for an exemption from tax for children.
Regarding individuals aged over 65, since the enactment of the Finance Act 2007, individuals are exempt from Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) on their interest income provided they or their spouse or civil partner are aged 65 or over, and their total income in a year (including the interest) is below the annual exemption limit.
The annual exemption limits for 2015 are as follows:
€18,000 (in the case of a single person) and
€36,000 (in the case of a married couple or civil partnership).
This measure is targeted to provide relief to older people on incomes below the limits mentioned only. It is an income limit and not an allowance.
There are alternative savings products, offered by the National Treasury Management Agency through An Post, which are tax free (Savings Bonds, Saving Certificates, Instalment Savings and the National Solidarity Bond).
146. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the taxation arrangements concerning sums of money brought into Ireland by Irish emigrants returning from Dubai; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19746/15]
View answerI am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the taxation arrangements concerning sums of money brought into Ireland by Irish emigrants returning from Dubai will vary, depending on the facts and circumstances of each case.
Where an individual accumulates a sum of money from income earned while working in Dubai over a number of years, during which time the individual was not tax resident in Ireland, then the amount accumulated is outside the charge to tax in Ireland.
If the Deputy wishes to supply the facts and circumstances of a particular case, I will endeavour to provide a response appropriate to such facts and circumstances.
147. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Finance his plans to review the taxation position of residential landlords, in view of the recent reports that up to 30% of landlords are considering selling their properties and getting out of the rental market, due to the excessive charges and taxes that are being levied on rental income, and the reduction in reliefs for mortgage interest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19759/15]
View answerIt is not clear from the question what excessive charges and taxes the Deputy is referring to.
However, in relation to the taxation of rental income, I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that rental income for tax purposes is the gross rental income less allowable expenses incurred in earning that rent, as specified in section 97(2) of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. The main deductible expenses are:
- any rent payable by the landlord in the case of a sub-lease;
- the cost to the landlord of any goods provided or services rendered to a tenant;
- the cost of maintenance, repairs, insurance and management of the property;
- the interest on borrowed money used to purchase, improve or repair the property (which, in the case of residential property, is restricted to 75% of the interest and is subject to compliance with Private Residential Tenancies Board registration requirements for all tenancies that existed in relation to the property in the relevant year); and
- the payment of local authority rates.
In addition, capital allowances in respect of wear and tear are available in relation to capital expenditure incurred on fixtures and fittings provided by a landlord for the purposes of furnishing rented residential accommodation. These allowances are granted at the rate of 12.5% per annum of the actual cost of the fixtures and fittings over a period of 8 years.
I am aware of course that recent reports on the private rental sector have stated that, among other things, the restriction on the amount of interest that is deductible from gross rents from residential property and the lack of a deduction for local property tax (LPT) are impediments to securing long term investment in good quality rental homes.
As regards the former issue, the Deputy is no doubt aware that this measure was introduced in the April 2009 supplementary budget in respect of all residential lettings as part of an urgent revenue-raising package aimed at stabilising the public finances.
The Deputy will also be aware from responses to previous Parliamentary Questions that the Government agreed in principle to accept the recommendation of the Inter-Departmental Group on the design of a local property tax that LPT be treated as a deductible expense in calculation of a landlord's taxable income, but has not, as yet, decided on the manner in which this will happen or its timing.
148. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his Department's estimate of the effect of all announced changes to voted expenditure since the current Government came to office, on the change, in millions of euro, to the Exchequer deficit in the period January 2015 and April 2015, compared to the same period in 2011. [19316/15]
View answerThe table below shows net voted expenditure and the Exchequer deficit for the period January to April 2011 and for the period January to April 2015. This information was published in the end April 2011 and end April 2015 Exchequer returns.
Expenditure and deficit position: January to April 2011 compared with January to April 2015
|
|
Jan April 2011€m |
Jan April 2015 €m |
Change €m |
|
Net Voted Expenditure |
14,841 |
13,719 |
(1,122) |
|
Exchequer Deficit |
(9,913) |
(2,319) |
7,594 |
The Expenditure Reports, published annually on Budget Day, covering the period 2012 to 2015 set out the detail in relation to budgetary expenditure measures. These Reports are on my Department's website. When comparing the year on year Budget expenditure changes, and the reduction in expenditure between 2011 and 2015, it should be noted that these changes in expenditure arise from a number of factors, including: expenditure measures, set out in the Expenditure Reports published on Budget Day, required to meet fiscal targets and deal with certain service pressures; changes in live register related expenditure; and at a net voted expenditure level, changes in PRSI income.
The table compares the 2011 outturns for gross and net voted expenditure with the 2015 Budget Estimates.
2011 expenditure outturn compared to 2015 Budget Estimates
|
|
2011 Outturn €m |
2015 Budget Estimates €m |
Change €m |
|
Gross Voted Expenditure |
57,362 |
53,626 |
(3,736) |
|
Net Voted Expenditure |
45,573 |
41,294 |
(4,279) |
149. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps the Office for Government Procurement is taking to provide small and medium enterprises with an opportunity to compete for tenders against larger companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19691/15]
View answer150. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office for Government Procurement has looked into the French system of dividing up tenders, to provide small and medium enterprises with a better chance of being successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19692/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 150 together.
The Government acknowledges the significant role that SMEs play in the Irish economy and is committed to ensuring that SMEs are fully engaged with public sector procurement and the opportunities presenting.
The French system of dividing up tenders to provide small and medium enterprise a better chance of being successful when tendering for public contracts is known as 'lotting'. In April of 2014, my Department reviewed and updated the existing guidelines and procedures including the area of "lotting." Circular 10/14 issued following the review and in this circular buyers were asked, where reasonable and without compromising efficiency and value for money to consider the sub-division of contracts into lots, enabling smaller businesses to compete for these elements. The circular also set out other initiatives aimed at opening up opportunities for small businesses that want to tender for public contracts and also to ensure that engaging with government procurement is easy and low cost. These initiatives include:
- buyers being advised to undertake market analysis prior to tendering in order to better understand the range of goods and services on offer, the competitive landscape, including the specific capabilities of SMEs
- requiring supplies and general services contracts with an estimated value of €25,000 be advertised on the Government's electronic tendering portal, e-Tenders, thus promoting transparency in procurement
- encouraging suppliers including SMEs to fully use e-Tenders and avail of its facilities in relation to registration, e-tendering and automatic alerts in relation to future tendering opportunities
- encouraging buyers not to set turnover thresholds at more than twice the estimated contract value and to put limits on insurance levels for suppliers where possible
- promoting the greater use of "open" tendering and less use of "restrictive" tendering
- encouraging SMEs to consider using consortia where they are not of sufficient scale to tender in their own right or where they may lack certain capabilities necessary to provide a compelling proposition.
The circular has been broadly welcomed by industry representative associations. The reform of public procurement across the public service is ongoing and will continue to provide opportunities to the SME sector to win business. The Office of Government Procurement will continue to work with industry to ensure that winning Government business is done in a fair, transparent and accessible way and to ensure that Government procurement policies are business friendly.
151. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when works are due to commence on the upgrading of a slipway (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19353/15]
View answerTenders have been invited for the repair of storm damage to the slipway. When received these tenders will be considered from technical and cost perspectives. Depending on weather conditions the estimated completion time is 6 weeks.
152. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide funding for relief works at a bridge on a river (details supplied) in County Galway, in order to prevent flooding in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19357/15]
View answerThe proposed Dunkellin River and Aggard Stream Flood Relief Scheme, which is being undertaken by Galway County Council (GCC) with funding from the Office of Public Works, includes flood mitigation works in the area referred to by the Deputy.
Works at Rinn Bridge would include the construction of three flood eyes, the construction of a two stage channel for a distance of 50 metres upstream and 50 metres downstream of the bridge, and selective channel maintenance to remove encroaching vegetation and fallen or in-stream trees.
GCC submitted the scheme proposals to An Bord Pleanála (ABP) for consideration in November 2014. A number of submissions in relation to the proposals were received by ABP from interested parties. The OPW understands that ABP issued a request for further information to GCC on 2nd March 2015 and that it has set a deadline of 10 July 2015 for GCC to respond. It is understood by GCC that ABP intends to make a determination on the case before 1st October 2015.
The OPW is committed to funding the works should the proposals receive planning approval.
153. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a long-standing lease will be renewed in respect of lands (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19413/15]
View answerThe grazing licence for these lands expired on 28th February 2015. Consideration of any further licence has been postponed for the time being, pending consideration of improvement works in the vicinity of the Visitor Centre.
154. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual cost to the Exchequer of lifting the increment freeze imposed on public sector workers in the Haddington Road agreement, on gross salaries less than €35,000, and between €35,000 and €65,000. [19545/15]
View answer155. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual cost to the Exchequer of restoring the overtime payments imposed on public sector workers in the Haddington Road agreement, on gross salaries of less than €35,000 and of between €35,000 and €65,000. [19546/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 155 together.
The Haddington Road Agreement provided for savings arising from the implementation of various measures, including overtime rate changes and increment deferrals. Both of these measures are currently being implemented across the public service at Departmental and Agency level within the reduced pay allocations provided in accordance with the annual estimates process. While it is not possible to determine the current costs that would arise in respect of reversing the measures for particular grades of public servants, by pay band, the overall savings arising in respect of the overtime and increment freeze measures in the context of the Haddington Road Agreement were estimated at €49 million and €60 million respectively.
156. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the annual cost to the Exchequer of increasing the salary paid to approximately 4,000 low paid public sector workers in receipt of family income supplement, to bring their income above the benefit threshold. [19547/15]
View answerFamily Income Supplement (FIS) is a weekly tax-free payment to employees with children, paid directly by the Department of Social Protection to the employee subject to qualification criteria based not only on salary, but also on the personal circumstances of the claimant, in particular family size. Qualification for payment is a matter directly between the employee concerned and the Department of Social Protection. Employers including public service employers have no role in deciding on or determining the thresholds for payment. Data in relation to the payment is held by the Department of Social Protection and is not available to public service employers to support a response to the question posed.
I should point out that while all public servants have contributed substantially to the recovery and reaching our fiscal deficit target of 3% GDP by 2015, the reductions imposed on public servants through the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009-2013 have been progressive, thereby ensuring that reductions imposed impacted on low paid workers least and that higher reductions were imposed on the higher paid. The pay cuts applied to public servants under the 2013 FEMPI Act apply only to those higher paid public servants on annual salaries of €65,000 or more. The core pay of 87% of the workers in the public service was not reduced by the legislation. In the context of the public service pay discussions currently under way, I have already confirmed that I am committed to benefit lower paid public servants disproportionately.
157. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the annual cost to the Exchequer of introducing a living wage, minimal threshold, gross salary of €11.45 an hour. [19548/15]
View answerThe Low Pay Commission was officially launched on 26 February 2015. This independent body is now beginning its work on advising the Government on the appropriate rate of the National Minimum Wage. It is expected to submit its first report to Government by the middle of July and the Commission will examine the rate of the minimum wage on an annual basis from now on. The establishment of this new body was a key commitment in the Statement of Priorities agreed by the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste last year. Any decisions by Government in relation to that rate that may impact on pay in the public service will be implemented accordingly. Pending the outcome of the considerations of the Commission, no speculative rates of increase in the minimum wage have been costed.
