Wednesday, 15 Jul 2015

Written Answers Nos. 103-114

Tax Code

Questions (103)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

103. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the revenue that would be generated through increasing the tax on cigarettes by €0.50. [29520/15]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the estimated yield that could be raised in a full year through increasing the tax on cigarettes by 50 cents per packet of 20, with a pro rate increase on other tobacco products, is in the region of €60m, assuming no change in consumer behaviour.

Questions Nos. 104 to 107, inclusive, answered with Question No. 86.

Gambling Sector

Questions (108)

David Stanton

Question:

108. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Finance the number of gaming licences and the number of gaming machine licences that are currently held; the number of each licence issued in each year, from 2010 to 2014, inclusive, and in 2015 to date, including annual and three-month licences, respectively; if he is satisfied that all such machines operating are licensed appropriately, and with the amount paid in total in respect of each licence type for each respective year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29525/15]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

I am informed by Revenue that the number of gaming licences (premises) and gaming machine licences issued, for the years 2010 to 2014 and for 2015 up to 10 July are as set out in Table 1.

The receipts for each licence type for these periods are as set out in Table 2.

 The number of annual Gaming licences (premises) currently held is 45, the number of 3 month Gaming Machine licences currently held is 381 and the number of annual Gaming Machine licences currently held is 1,843.

Table 1

-	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015
Number of 3 month Gaming licences (premises) issued	6	9	3	8	2	0
Number of annual Gaming  licences (premises)  issued	66	72	54	71	71	37
Number of 3 month Gaming Machine licences issued	4,157	4,818	4,331	5,063	3,519	1,691
Number of annual Gaming Machine licences issued	2,100	1,582	1,330	986	2,009	1,610

Table 2

-	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015
Receipts  - 3 month Gaming licences (premises)	€1,225	€1,750	€5,455	€6,460	€350	€0
Receipts annual Gaming licences (premises)	€194,265	€45,360	€34,020	€46,620	€44,730	€23,310
Receipts 3 month Gaming Machine licences	€793,440	€709,195	€,631,475	€839,765	€687,155	€355,685
Receipts - Gaming Machine annual licences	€1,060,500	€838,495	€702,100	€616,290	€1,014,545	€813,050

It is the responsibility of each gaming machine operator to ensure that the appropriate licences are held. An Garda Síochána have an enforcement role in relation to unlicensed gaming activities and the availability of gaming machines in locations where gaming is prohibited.

Flood Prevention Measures

Questions (109)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

109. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will indicate any current estimates by the Office of Public Works of the total cost of addressing flood risks in 300 areas of Ireland under the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Programme up to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29360/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

The Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme is currently being undertaken by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in partnership with its consultants, local authorities and other stakeholders, in line with national flood policy and the EU Directive (2007/EC/60). The six studies in the current Programme are assessing flood risk in 300 Areas for Further Assessment (AFAs) deemed to be at potentially significant risk and have produced detailed draft predictive Flood Maps which will be finalised following the conclusion of public consultation. Under the Programme, preliminary flood risk management options will be identified and Flood Risk Management Plans prepared and published. The Plans will set out specific measures to address the significant flood risk factors in a proactive and comprehensive way.

The CFRAM Programme will be used to determine national priorities for future State investment in flood defences. The Flood Risk Management Plans will provide the information to estimate the associated costs to implement these measures. An estimate of the total cost is not available at this stage.

Ministerial Pensions

Questions (110)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

110. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to introduce a cap on ministerial pensions, for example, until the debt-to-gross-domestic-product ratio reaches 60%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29405/15]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

While it has been possible to apply proportionate reductions to existing pensions, as has been done to date under the Financial Emergency in the Public Interest legislation, account must be taken of the fact that pension benefits are viewed as vested property rights, which limits the action that can be taken. I am advised that legislation cannot selectively penalise a particular cohort of Public Service pensioners.

Departmental Offices

Questions (111)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

111. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total annual expenditure by Departments on the rental of State-occupied properties in Dublin city for the years 2011 to 2014, inclusive, and 2015 to date; the number of leases and general timeframes involved; the measures he has taken to reduce this expenditure, and to terminate upward-only State rental leases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29323/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

This reply relates to leases held by the Commissioners of Public Works who have achieved savings in annual rent every year since 2008 through a targeted lease rationalisation programme, reducing both the annual rental bill and the property footprint along with targeted rent review negotiations. Overall, the cumulative value of savings delivered under the lease rationalisation and re-negotiation programme, between 2008 and 2014 is €110,822,292 and has involved the surrender of approximately 1.2 million square feet of accommodation. Annual rental expenditure, nationally, has been reduced from €132 million in 2008 to an estimated €86 million in 2015.

Between 2011 and 2015, annual rents in Dublin have been reduced by €13.68 million. The number of leases in Dublin during the same period has reduced from 151 to 135. It should be noted that in 2012, the OPW took over 70 leases countrywide from FÁS and the Health Service Executive (HSE) on behalf of the Department of Social Protection and a proportion of these were in Dublin.

The lease rationalisation strategy pursued in the last 5 years has shifted the ratio of owned to leased office accommodation from 60% leased to 40% owned to the current ratio of c. 40% leased to 60% owned. This rationalisation programme is continuing and will generate further savings in the coming years.

Recent legislation banning "upward only" rent review clauses from leases is not retrospective, so leases entered into prior to the legislation have not been impacted. Many of the leases surrendered in Dublin in the last five years contained "upward only" rent review clauses.

Pension Provisions

Questions (112)

Michael McGrath

Question:

112. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has considered amending the rate of the public service pension reduction on amounts over €100,000 to ensure that high paid retired public servants are not financially better off as a result of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29414/15]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

I refer to my reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 318 and 331 of 14 July 2015.

Employment Appeals Tribunal

Questions (113)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

113. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the policy relating to the allocation of cases to the vice-chairpersons of the Employment Appeals Tribunal, together with year-by-year details of the earnings of each vice-chairperson of the tribunal, from 1 January 2010 to 30 June 2015, inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29433/15]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) is independent in the exercise of its quasi-judicial function and I have no direct involvement in its day-to-day operations. However, I understand that it is the Tribunal’s policy to allocate new cases to vice chairs primarily on their location and availability.

The following Table outlines fees paid to vice chairs from 1 January 2010 to date.

Vice Chairmen	2015	2014	2013	2012	2011	2010
Sinead Behan B.L.	€1,079.76	€1,305.98	€2,202.36	€2,669.38	€0.00	€4,605.82
Olive Brennan BL	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00
Kieran Buckley	€2,632.55	€3,105.58	€3,367.80	€4,689.19	€4,957.42	€7,739.91
David Cagney BL	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00	€530.14
Pamela Clancy	€8,144.46	€10,550.79	€5,479.30	€7,358.57	€8,681.60	€5,541.09
Charles Corcoran B.L.	€13,070.23	€13,183.34	€9,679.22	€17,767.86	€16,355.61	€9,491.49
Ann-Marie Courell B.L.	€4,792.07	€9,717.84	€12,580.00	€16,623.84	€10,027.95	€9,646.61
Fiona Crawford B.L.	€2,272.63	€8,843.71	€16,952.94	€13,304.89	€11,285.08	€9,914.84
Emile Daly B.L.	€7,558.32	€11,496.85	€14,508.95	€5,720.10	€11,130.53	€12,672.87
Dorothy Donovan B.L.	€12,710.31	€29,379.74	€25,917.50	€38,699.55	€30,083.85	€15,861.16
Catherine Egan B.L.	€7,897.65	€15,682.19	€7,928.47	€11,666.42	€6,482.78	€9,759.72
John Fahy B.L.	€4,432.15	€6,591.67	€5,259.09	€10,367.28	€9,807.97	€15,574.05
James Flanagan B.L.	€0.00	€359.92	€7,068.92	€6,327.66	€16,504.88	€17,361.69
William B Garvey BL	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00
Veronica Gates B.L.	€7,311.51	€12,669.13	€6,559.06	€5,678.09	€5,296.75	€3,926.51
Myles Gilvarry	€6,344.86	€15,342.86	€11,973.27	€13,841.35	€1,409.29	€18,851.93
Clodagh Gleeson BL	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00	€4,814.10
Bernadette Glynn	€5,758.72	€3,352.39	€5,634.42	€6,101.44	€4,957.42	€5,892.69
Dara Hayes B.L.	€3,959.12	€11,136.93	€10,753.80	€6,977.23	€6,590.04	€9,586.56
Graham Hanlon	€2,519.44	€6,951.59	€10,597.85	€9,491.49	€8,997.04	€8,615.70
Eamon Harrington	€719.84	€1,799.60	€3,502.33	€3,432.06	€3,658.28	€4,194.74
David Herlihy	€0.00	€0.00	€1,525.36	€8,770.82	€9,152.16	€6,595.89
Patrick Hurley	€8,864.30	€14,982.94	€19,530.63	€19,745.66	€24,631.98	€24,720.83
Elva Kearney B.L.	€5,018.29	€10,797.60	€15,497.85	€16,397.62	€7,853.02	€9,414.07
Margaret Levey B.L.	€13,388.97	€31,025.05	€30,904.01	€38,389.31	€27,891.19	€26,334.27
James M Lucey	€2,272.63	€15,209.16	€15,164.53	€15,324.70	€9,646.61	€11,171.97
Dermot MacCarthy S.C.	€13,790.07	€22,746.89	€21,195.70	€31,185.86	€26,731.76	€31,480.34
Orna Madden B.L.	€9,584.14	€25,852.47	€21,180.29	€19,024.99	€16,581.83	€9,640.66
Roderick Maguire B.L.	€9,830.95	€21,194.10	€18,758.55	€21,468.15	€17,767.86	€13,573.12
Desmond Mahon BL	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00	€119.06
Sean Mahon	€0.00	€3,599.20	€1,885.28	€4,194.74	€4,165.00	€2,841.97
Mary McAveety	€4,792.07	€6,478.56	€4,743.22	€3,432.06	€7,650.69	€6,041.49
Jeananne McGovern B.L.	€7,897.65	€14,129.40	€19,175.89	€21,694.37	€17,231.40	€10,141.06
Penelope McGrath B.L.	€16,268.33	€36,588.30	€37,956.69	€38,841.75	€32,442.99	€28,128.35
Saundra McNally	€5,871.83	€12,463.50	€9,298.71	€7,358.57	€7,584.79	€11,839.01
Eamonn Murray	€1,552.79	€4,545.26	€5,951.50	€7,853.02	€7,739.91	€12,959.24
Niamh O’Carroll Kelly B.L	€13,183.34	€29,832.18	€30,705.22	€33,658.11	€26,157.34	€29,708.36
Lachlain S O'Catháin	€0.00	€5,038.88	€10,957.77	€20,282.12	€14,830.25	€20,222.17
Mark O'Connell BL	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00	€12,429.10	€16,504.88	€15,247.18
Jeremiah O’Connor	€359.92	€7,424.62	€9,857.42	€6,709.00	€4,957.42	€8,037.88
Rachel O'Flynn BL	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00	€530.14
Peter J O’Leary B.L.	€17,255.57	€26,479.79	€28,410.34	€33,515.91	€32,537.03	€29,780.32
Seán O'Riordáin BL	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00	€1,882.44
Marian Petty	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00	€530.14
Moya Quinlan	€0.00	€359.92	€2,605.12	€3,926.51	€7,471.68	€8,787.92
Pat Quinn BL	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00	€119.06
Joe Revington S.C.	€11,609.96	€10,777.01	€14,191.87	€13,304.89	€13,686.23	€8,883.93
Nicholas Russell	€14,736.13	€23,014.29	€16,351.39	€20,282.12	€22,993.51	€16,736.95
Tom Ryan	€5,511.91	€19,775.01	€27,040.93	€35,478.17	€22,448.23	€14,994.84
Jeremiah Sheedy	€0.00	€0.00	€1,144.02	€3,658.28	€6,440.77	€12,535.89
Tony Taaffe	€5,625.02	€10,643.31	€20,391.01	€24,053.51	€27,206.38	€25,721.34

Foreign Direct Investment

Questions (114, 119, 122)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

114. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which he continues to attract new investment from new locations globally; the degree to which this continues to benefit the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29281/15]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

119. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the major considerations of foreign companies contemplating investment here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29287/15]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

122. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which other European locations have been noted as serious competitors for foreign direct investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29290/15]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

I propose to take Questions Nos. 114, 119 and 122 together.

IDA Ireland has informed me that the vast majority of its client feedback shows that the availability of talent at a competitive price is one of the key metrics when it comes to making investment location decisions. The country's ability to offer the appropriate talent through training, re-deployment and immigration all speak to the competitiveness of Ireland's offering. Other factors which also affect investor decisions include Ireland’s relative cost competitiveness, good infrastructure, ease of doing business and openness to trade, competitive corporate tax regime, property availability, innovation landscape and available financial supports.

Clear trends are evident in the demands of FDI investors in selecting particular locations, including: regions of scale with appropriate urban centres, supply of skilled people, international connectivity, energy infrastructure, telecommunications, R&D capabilities, sub-supplier and services infrastructure.

IDA Ireland constantly monitors competitor locations and the value propositions they offer potential mobile investment. Competition for FDI is intense and global, with virtually every country in the world actively seeking new FDI investments. Globally, the US continues to be the largest single investor in Ireland accounting for over 70% of investments won since 2010. Competition for US FDI in Europe is intense.

Europe is IDA Ireland’s second largest market and accounts for 20% of investments won by IDA since 2010. Within Europe, Ireland’s FDI performance positions us in absolute terms inside the top ten European locations for investment projects with the UK, Germany and France as the top locations.

IDA Ireland has a long and credible track record of presenting potential investors with the best location options throughout Ireland for each client.

During 2014 some 15,012 new jobs were created by IDA client companies with a net increase in employment of 7,131, one of the net highest levels of job creation in a decade. The impact of the FDI companies is very significant to the Irish economy injecting €8.5 billion of wages and salaries into the Irish economy. Some €2.8bn of tax revenue is paid by IDA client companies via corporation tax with some €2.6bn of materials and €11.3bn of services purchased by these companies.

In February 2015 IDA announced its new strategy entitled "Winning: Foreign Direct Investment 2015-2019" which sets out ambitious targets to boost FDI in Ireland by over 40%, creating 80,000 new jobs in the economy over the next five years.

Regional development is a major component of IDA Ireland’s new corporate strategy. For the first time ambitious investment targets have been set for each region, with a strong focus on securing an increased share of investments. Central to this is a strong ambition for employment growth throughout all regions over the lifetime of the strategy. By working closely with stakeholders in each region, as a cohesive team, it will be possible to strive for these goals;

- A €150m property investment plan, spread out over five years, will support the achievement of the organisation's regional goals. The funding will be used to upgrade Ireland's Business and Technology parks, make investments in a number of strategic utility-intensive sites and build new advanced technology buildings in regional locations.

- IDA is targeting a 20% increase in spending by overseas firms within Ireland, bringing expenditure to €26.8bn per annum. In particular IDA is committed to showcasing Irish industry to its client companies.

- A 20% increase in cumulative spend (€3bn) on Research Development and Innovation is also a target of the strategy, as overseas companies place additional high value activity into Ireland.

Ireland’s future FDI success will require continued support of existing sectors, and exploiting new opportunities in new sectors. It will also require continued marketing of global markets and in relation to IDA’s global strategy, North America will remain the key source market for FDI, while also targeting market share growth in Europe and increasing returns from regions such as Asia-Pacific.

Additionally, Growth Markets including India, China, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Australia/New Zealand, Russia and Brazil, have become central sources of and destinations for global FDI flows, with Asia in particular becoming a key player. IDA Ireland has put additional resources into these markets over the past five years and has seen good results with ‘New Name’ investments rising from 4% in 2010 to 20% in 2014 and on average accounting for 10% of total investment. A strong emphasis in the strategy is on bringing first time investors to Ireland from USA, Europe and the new markets where IDA will continue to target high growth companies.

The ambitious targets will bring total direct employment by overseas companies in Ireland to 209,000 people by 2019. This will be the highest level of employment from overseas firms in the history of the State and will deliver wide-ranging economic benefits for the people of Ireland.