Written Answers Nos. 64-70
64. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the date for the publication of the annual report on Ireland's interaction with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund; and when it, and the 2014 report, will be published on the Department of Finance website. [22607/15]
View answerI assume that the Deputy is referring to the Report for 2014 entitled "Ireland's Participation in the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank 2014". In my capacity as Governor for Ireland at both institutions, the Department of Finance prepares the Annual Report which provides up-to-date and comprehensive information on Ireland's relationship and activities with regard to the IMF and the World Bank throughout the preceding year.
I would like to confirm that the report, which is prepared under the Bretton Woods Agreements (Amendment) Act 1999, has been presented to the Houses of the Oireachtas and is now available on the Department's website at http://www.finance.gov.ie/what-we-do/eu-international/publications/reports-research/reports-research.
65. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Finance the number of inspections of filling stations in County Mayo for contaminated petrol and laundered diesel which have been conducted by the officials of the Revenue Commissioner, for each month in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22610/15]
View answer66. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Finance the number of samples of petrol and diesel that have been taken from bulk fuel transportation vehicles by officials from the Revenue Commissioners in March, April, May and June 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22611/15]
View answer69. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Finance the number of officials of the Revenue Commissioners in County Mayo engaged full-time in the detection of contaminated petrol and laundered diesel, pursuant to their statutory powers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22640/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 65, 66 and 69 together.
The Revenue Commissioners operate a fully integrated tax and customs administration and it is not possible to disaggregate resources deployed exclusively at any given time on particular enforcement operations, such as the detection of petrol or diesel fraud. Revenue currently has approximately 2,000 staff engaged on activities that are dedicated to targeting and confronting non-compliance. These activities include anti-smuggling and anti-evasion, investigation and prosecution, audit, assurance checks, anti-avoidance, returns compliance and debt collection, and resources are redeployed across them on an ongoing basis in response to Revenue's assessment of risk. Revenue enforcement officers target illicit oils activity by carrying out intelligence-based operations and random checks at retail outlets, markets and private and commercial premises.
Revenue officers are given authorisations, as appropriate, to exercise specific statutory powers relevant to the work in which they are engaged, including powers to stop persons or consignments, to conduct searches and to examine books and records. Up to 50 staff based in Co. Mayo are engaged on these activities but additional support from outside the county is available and can be called on to assist in operations as required. The Deputy will appreciate that, for reasons of operational sensitivity, the Revenue Commissioners are not in a position to give further details of enforcement deployment in specific locations.
With regard to inspections at filling stations, I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the number of checks carried out to date in 2015 in connection with the suspected illegal use of stretching agents in County Mayo, during the period specified, is detailed in the table following:
|
2015 |
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
To 8 June |
|
No. of checks |
5 |
3 |
3 |
7 |
3 |
3 |
As I indicated in my reply to the Deputy's Questions Nos. 193, 194 and 197 of 10 March 2015, the strategy of the Revenue Commissioners for combatting fuel fraud involves, as part of a wide range of actions, the checking and inspection of bulk fuel transportation vehicles including, from time to time, the taking of fuel samples from such vehicles.
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the number of samples of petrol and diesel that have been taken from bulk fuel transportation vehicles in the period referred to by the Deputy is seven (taken in May 2015).
67. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance the cost of providing satellite imagery to his Department during the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22614/15]
View answerNo satellite imagery was provided to my Department during the past four years.
68. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Finance if a definitive decision has been taken by the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation special liquidator on whether to initiate legal proceedings against a firm (details supplied); if the liquidator has received external advice on this decision; the cost associated with this external advice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22639/15]
View answerThe special liquidators have instructed Eugene F Collins Solicitors to independently review the legal advice previously obtained in respect of the proceedings against former Directors of INBS. BDO Accountants in London have also been instructed to carry out a peer review of KPMG's role as auditors to INBS. These reviews are ongoing and as such the special liquidators are unable to provide an update and/or make a definitive decision as to whether or not to instigate proceedings against KPMG until the review is complete.
70. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide, in tabular form, for each individual board meeting of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, from the nationalisation of the Bank on 21 January 2009 to the appointment of the special liquidator on 7 February 2013, the date of each such meeting; the date on which the board minutes were received in his Department in respect of each such meeting; the other documents that were received by his Department on a regular basis from the bank prior to the new relationship framework being put in place on 29 March 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22648/15]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my officials are working through the various board packs which were received from IBRC and collating the relevant information. Given the large amount of documents to work through to collate the relevant information and since some of the board packs referred to in the question are physically held by the NTMA (when the NTMA's banking unit was responsible for receiving the board packs prior to being seconded to the Department of Finance), it was not possible to have a comprehensive reply ready within the time frame. I will forward the reply to the Deputy at the earliest opportunity.
