Written Answers Nos. 155-172
155. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which Irish citizens in Northern Ireland by virtue of their British citizenship will continue to enjoy, exercise and have access to rights, opportunities and benefits that come with citizenship of the United Kingdom after Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39873/18]
View answer159. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which Irish citizens in Northern Ireland by virtue of their European Union citizenship will continue to enjoy, exercise and have access to rights, opportunities and benefits that come with citizenship of the European Union after Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40036/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 159 together.
The Government is acutely conscious of the potential impact on Northern Ireland of the UK decision to leave the European Union.
The means by which these obligations can be upheld by the UK requires further discussion between the EU and the UK. As in all other areas of the EU-UK negotiations, the operation of EU law will need to be respected.
The Government is determined to ensure that the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts, and the gains and benefits of the Peace Process, are protected for people on the island of Ireland, North and South.
In this regard, the Government appreciates the solidarity and support which has been shown by all of our EU partners in respect of Ireland’s unique issues and concerns.
On 8 December last, a Joint Report between the EU and UK negotiators was agreed, and this included important commitments in respect of the avoidance of a hard border on the island and protecting the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts, including in respect of North/South cooperation and the provisions on citizenship and fundamental rights.
In paragraph 52 of the Joint Report, the European Commission and the UK acknowledged that the Good Friday Agreement recognises the birthright of all the people of Northern Ireland to choose to be Irish or British or both and be accepted as such. The Joint Report also confirms that the people of Northern Ireland who are Irish citizens will continue to enjoy rights as EU citizens, including where they reside in Northern Ireland. Both parties agreed that the Withdrawal Agreement should respect and be without prejudice to the rights, opportunities, and identity that come with European Union citizenship for such people, and that the next phase of negotiations would examine arrangements required to give effect to the ongoing exercise of, and access to, their EU rights, opportunities and benefits.
This position is recognised in the draft Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland that is part of the draft Withdrawal Agreement.
Discussions on the rights of individuals also remain ongoing as part of the Phase 2 negotiations on issues related to Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Further engagement is needed on which EU rights, opportunities or benefits can be exercised by the people of Northern Ireland who are Irish and therefore EU citizens, when they are resident in Northern Ireland, which will be outside the territory of the European Union after the UK departure.
As the UK leaves the European Union, there is an onus on its Government to ensure that it provides as necessary for the recognition in the Joint Report that the people of Northern Ireland who choose to identify as Irish, and therefore as citizens of the EU, can continue to enjoy the rights, opportunities and benefits of EU citizenship, including where they reside in Northern Ireland.
At the same time, there is an obligation on the UK Government under the Good Friday Agreement to uphold the birthright of all the people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish or British, or both, as they may so choose.
The Government will continue to engage intensively to ensure the protection of the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts and to secure the gains of the Peace Process.
156. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of a foreign birth registration application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39974/18]
View answerBased on the documentary evidence supplied in support of the application in question, it is not necessary for the applicant to have their birth entered on the Foreign Births Register as they were born abroad to an Irish-born parent.
The applicant in question is automatically an Irish citizen and is eligible to apply for an Irish passport. This has also been communicated directly to the applicant and a refund for the application for Foreign Birth Registration has issued.
157. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of a foreign birth registration application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39975/18]
View answerBased on the documentary evidence supplied in support of the application in question, it is not necessary for the applicant to have their birth entered on the Foreign Births Register as they were born abroad to an Irish-born parent.
The applicant in question is automatically an Irish citizen and is eligible to apply for an Irish passport. This has also been communicated directly to the applicant and a refund for the application for Foreign Birth Registration has issued.
158. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the Chequers agreement following the informal EU Council meeting in Salzburg. [39542/18]
View answerThe UK Government White Paper of 12 July, following the UK cabinet discussions at Chequers, on the future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union remains the stated position of the UK Government on the framework which is to be agreed alongside the legal text of the Withdrawal Agreement. The EU’s negotiating approach remains as set out in the European Council Guidelines of April 2017 and March 2018.
The Government has been consistently clear that Ireland wants the closest possible relationship between the EU and the UK, including on trade, in order to minimise the impact on our trade and economy. At the same time, it is vital to our economic interests that the EU's Single Market and Customs Union are fully protected.
The Government acknowledged in June that the Chequers/White Paper proposals represented a useful contribution, but that much detailed analysis and discussion was required.
As reported by the EU Chief Negotiator, Michel Barnier, at the General Affairs Council (Article 50) on 18 September, in early discussions there has been a convergence of views in some areas, notably on future EU-UK cooperation on foreign policy and security, both internal and external. However, it is also clear that there are very substantial differences, in particular relating to the proposed future economic partnership. The President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, stated in Salzburg last week that the proposals on the future economic partnership will not work, not least because they risk undermining the Single Market.
It is now for the two sets of negotiators to take forward their work on the framework for the future relationship taking account of their respective positions. At the same time, it remains essential, as underlined at Salzburg, that the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, is also concluded as soon as possible.
160. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the cost of his Department's stand at the National Ploughing Championship 2018; the number of staff deployed from his Department for the week; and the cost of same. [40354/18]
View answerMy Department participated in the National Ploughing Championships 2018 in order to increase public understanding of the ways in which the Department and Ireland’s diplomatic missions abroad engage with our international partners and wider audiences so as to advance the interests of Ireland and Irish citizens by supporting overseas trade, assisting Irish companies and State agencies and building Ireland’s global presence through the Government’s Global Ireland initiative, as well through highlighting Irish culture and promoting awareness of Ireland overseas.
Our involvement in the Championships also afforded an opportunity to deepen public understanding of the Department’s role in such areas as Online Passport Renewals, Ireland’s membership of the European Union and ongoing Brexit preparedness work and also in relation to Ireland’s campaign for election to the UN Security Council.
My Department’s stand attracted an estimated 12,000 visitors over the course of the four days of the 2018 Championships and we assess that this number would have been significantly higher had the organisers of the Championships not found it necessary to cancel the scheduled second day of the event due to adverse weather conditions.
The total cost of my Department’s stand was €47,421. This amount included such items as plot rental, design and construction of the stand and necessary health and safety facilities for visitors. Certain elements of this amount were incurred due to the additional fourth day on which the 2018 Championships took place.
My Department was represented at the Championships by 36 members of staff serving in rotation over the 4 days in question, with the bulk of these doing so in a volunteer capacity from their regular duties. Costs involved, including for local accommodation and transport requirements, amounted to €19,252.20. Certain elements of this expenditure likewise arose due to the additional fourth day on which the 2018 Championships took place.
161. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Finance the reason the Revenue Commissioners does not inform married couples or couples in a civil partnership on reaching 65 years of age of their possible entitlement to a tax exemption limit of €36,000 as a matter of course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39419/18]
View answerSection 188 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides an exemption from Income Tax for persons aged 65 years and over where their income does not exceed €18,000 or €36,000 in the case of married couples or couples in a civil partnership. These exemption thresholds can be increased where there are dependent children and marginal relief is also available on incomes up to twice the threshold amount.
Revenue has confirmed that it always aims to make it as easy as possible for taxpayers to avail of their entitlements and in certain circumstances grants reliefs automatically. For example, the age-related tax credit is granted automatically in cases where Revenue has a date of birth on record for relevant individuals. However, it is not possible to automatically grant the age-related tax exemption as it is contingent on the level of income arising in a particular year.
Revenue has also advised me that it publishes detailed information on its website at link https://www.revenue.ie/en/life-events-and-personal-circumstances/older-persons/tax-credits-for-older-persons.aspx in relation to various reliefs that are available to taxpayers, including the age tax credit and the age related tax exemption.
I am aware that Revenue is currently carrying out a general review of the administrative processes that operate in respect of the various reliefs, including the age-related exemption and associated marginal relief to identify any further enhancements that would assist taxpayers to better understand and claim their entitlements.
162. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Finance when the earned income tax credit will be increased from its 2018 level of €1,150 to €1,650 as promised in the Programme for a Partnership Government. [39932/18]
View answerThe Programme for a Partnership Government contains a commitment to increase the Earned Income Credit to €1,650.
The Budget 2018 increase of €200 was a significant further step in that direction.
The extent to which it may be possible to make further progress in this regard will depend on the overall resources available to me in the context of Budget 2019. As the Deputy will appreciate, with one week to go to the Budget, I cannot give any specific indications of my intentions at this time.
163. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance if steps will be taken on terms of taxation changes in order to ensure farmers will not be penalised when they commit to restoring the stock values over the next number of years (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39994/18]
View answerDecisions on the taxation matter referred to by the Deputy are made in the context of the annual Budget and Finance Bill process and, with a week to go before Budget day, I cannot give any indications of my plans.
164. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance his plans to reduce or equalise life assurance exit tax from its current rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40100/18]
View answerI assume that the Deputy is referring to exit tax as applied to Life Assurance products. In general, consideration of any changes to the tax system are undertaken within the annual Budgetary and Finance Bill process. As is normal, the Deputy will appreciate that I cannot comment on any possible changes in advance of the 2019 Budget.
165. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Finance the communications, press and public relations budget allocated to his Department for 2018; the way in which it is being spent; if it is behind or ahead of profile; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39372/18]
View answerMy department budgets in line with the subheadings outlined in the Revised Estimates Volume for Public Expenditure 2018 (REV). The budget for communications, press and public relations is included in admin non-pay costs specifically subhead iii. training, development, and miscellaneous costs, or depending on the nature of the expenditure it potentially could be accounted for as part of our overall consultancy budget, however the vast amount of our consultancy budget is to provide for the Department's requirement for legal or professional services and to cover any legal costs which arise.
A breakdown of my department's spending in the categories queried is available in the table below:
|
Company |
Description |
Value |
|
Fiona Kearns Graphic Design |
Graphic Design for IFS2020 Action Plan for 2018 |
€1,240.00 |
|
Fluid Branding |
Promotional material for public awareness building of SME online tool |
€3,860.90 |
|
Public Appointment Service (PAS) |
Advertising costs Irish Times for Competition ref: appointments to Board of NAMA |
€1,706.70 |
|
Total |
€6,807.60 |
An additional €402,579 was paid to Languages Communication Ltd in respect of the Switch Your Bank campaign. As this campaign is funded in its entirety by AIB and Permanent TSB, there was no net cost to my department.
Separately a further €182,954.46 has been spent resourcing our Press Office to date in 2018, of which the majority relates to salaries.
166. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the proportion of goods entering here from outside the EU that are physically checked on entry that is red; the proportion of goods that are electronically checked and recorded that are orange; and the proportion of goods permitted entry that are green; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39412/18]
View answer168. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number of custom officials that are operational; the number that will be operational on 29 March 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39414/18]
View answer169. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if the information technology system used by customs officials to track goods imported from outside the EU has the capacity to deal with goods imported from Northern Ireland and Britain; the investment required to increase its capability if required; if this will be in place on 29 March 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39415/18]
View answer173. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 60 of 19 September 2018, if his attention has been drawn to research being carried out by officials in Northern Ireland with regard to imports that arrive into Dublin Port and are subsequently transferred to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39539/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 166, 168, 169 and 173 together.
I am advised by Revenue that as it operates as a fully integrated tax and customs administration, it is not possible to disaggregate resources deployed exclusively at any given time on customs work. Revenue currently has over 2,000 operational staff engaged on activities that are dedicated to targeting and confronting non-compliance including activities related to anti-smuggling and anti-evasion, investigation and prosecution, audit, assurance checks, anti-avoidance, returns compliance and debt collection and recovery.
Revenue expect that they will require an additional 600 staff because of Brexit, based on a scenario of a transition period after March 2019 and a future trade agreement between the EU and UK. A recruitment campaign has commenced with a view to having an additional 200 officers trained and in place before 29 March 2019.
I am advised by Revenue that in relation to the operation of customs procedures for the movement of goods, a key objective for them is to facilitate legitimate trade to move as speedily and efficiently as possible. In that context and having regard to the provisions of the Union Customs Code, Revenue encourages businesses to avail fully of relevant simplifications and procedures available under the Code. The Code, which came into operation from 1 May 2016, aims to, inter alia, allows traders to clear customs procedures more simply and quickly, getting goods to consumers faster and more cheaply.
The level of import checks reflects the use of electronic risk analysis for declarations lodged in advance of the arrival of goods and is supported by post-clearance checks, including customs audits, which are carried out at traders' premises.
I am advised by Revenue that in 2017, 92% of import declarations received a Green routing and immediate release from Customs. 6% of import declarations were routed Orange and subjected to documentary checks while 2% received a Red routing and required to be physically examined. Revenue advise me that there are a number of different IT systems used by Customs officials to deliver on Revenue’s objective to facilitate legitimate trade to move as speedily and efficiently as possible and to monitor and control, on a risk focused basis, goods imported from outside the EU. The capacity of these systems has been significantly increased in order to deal with the expected growth in the number of transactions post Brexit. Performance testing of the systems is ongoing and will be completed in advance of 29 March 2019. The total investment to date is €1.32m which covers the cost of additional servers and the required development, tuning and testing of existing functionality.
The research referenced about imports to Northern Ireland via Dublin port is based on a survey conducted by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. I am advised by Revenue that it is likely that the clear majority of goods arriving into Dublin Port and subsequently transferred to Northern Ireland are from another EU Member State. As a result, the level of information collected through trader returns, and therefore the data available for analysis, is limited. In respect of third country trade detailed returns (“SADS”) are required and for intra-EU trade a customs declaration is not required. Revenue does collect information in relation to intra-EU trade via the VAT Information Exchange System (VIES) but this does not record detailed information of the consignment or final recipient that would be required to conduct comparable analysis for ports in the Republic.
167. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the value and volume of goods entering here each year from Northern Ireland and Britain, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39413/18]
View answerNorthern Ireland and Great Britain are important trading partners for Ireland. Data published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that in 2017 Ireland imported €1.37 billion worth of goods from Northern Ireland and €17.5 billion worth of goods from Great Britain, amounting to 1.7 per cent and 22.1 per cent, respectively, of total goods imports. In volume terms, data provided by the CSO show that Ireland imported 3.5 million tonnes of goods from Northern Ireland and 13.2 million tonnes of goods from Great Britain in 2017.
The table below sets out the value and volume of imports annually between 2013 and 2017 from Northern Ireland and Great Britain to Ireland. It also includes the latest figures for the value and volume of imports between January and July 2018.
The CSO publishes a volume index of total goods imports (and exports) but does not publish such data disaggregated by geographical location.
Table 1: Annual Goods Imports by location
|
Dates/Year |
Tonnes Goods Imports |
Value Goods Imports €000 |
||
|
Northern Ireland |
Great Britain |
Northern Ireland |
Great Britain |
|
|
Jan-Jul 2018 |
1,931,087 |
8,064,050 |
804,183 |
10,157,382 |
|
2017 |
3,492,583 |
13,216,698 |
1,372,781 |
17,482,244 |
|
2016 |
3,012,975 |
12,274,492 |
1,075,428 |
15,796,958 |
|
2015 |
2,848,484 |
13,593,893 |
1,091,343 |
16,903,005 |
|
2014 |
2,783,982 |
13,080,135 |
1,103,863 |
16,460,577 |
|
2013 |
2,689,432 |
13,067,739 |
1,016,436 |
15,869,802 |
Source: CSO Merchandise Trade
170. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the reason some mortgage holders have been written to by their banks demanding photo identification; if there have been recent legal or regulatory changes that provoked these letters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39457/18]
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 take steps to identify and verify a customer’s identity prior to establishing a business relationship with the customer or when carrying out an occasional transaction with, for, or on behalf of the customer or assisting the customer to carry out an occasional transaction.
Furthermore, where a designated person has reasonable grounds to doubt the veracity or adequacy of documentation on file for an existing customer it must obtain up-to-date Customer Due Diligence documentation, otherwise known as CDD, identifying and verifying the customer prior to carrying out any further services for the customer.
I have been informed by the Central Bank of Ireland that in meeting their obligations under the Act, banks as designated persons are required to adopt a risk based approach as to how they conduct their business and who they conduct it with.
Further the Central Bank has informed my officials that it does not prescribe how designated persons should comply with these obligations. Accordingly, it is a matter for the designated person to determine when it will contact its customers for up-to-date CDD documentation in accordance with its own policies and procedures.
171. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance if equalisation of exit tax with deposit interest retention tax, DIRT, will be introduced in Budget 2019, further to correspondence from a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39478/18]
View answer179. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered proposing an equalisation of exit tax with DIRT in the finance Bill 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39667/18]
View answer183. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Finance his plans to reduce life assurance exit tax in budget 2019 further to reductions in DIRT in previous budgets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39985/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 171, 179 and 183 together.
I assume that the Deputy is referring to exit tax as applied to Life Assurance products. In general, consideration of any changes to the tax system are undertaken within the annual Budgetary and Finance Bill process. As is normal, the Deputy will appreciate that I cannot comment on any possible changes in advance of the 2019 Budget.
172. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 182 and 183 of 7 September 2018, the SMEs that received loan funding by firm size of fewer than 10 employees; 11 to 49 employees; and 50 to 249 employees, respectively, in tabular form. [39537/18]
View answerThe Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland commenced its activities in March 2015. SBCI has forwarded updated figures to my Department that show, to the end of March 2018, it has supported loans to Irish SMEs totalling €972m to 24,002 Irish SMEs supporting 129,300 jobs through both its on-lending and risk-sharing activities.
Below is a breakdown, by SME size, of lending using SBCI funds.
|
Firm Size |
No. of Employees |
Total Loans Supported |
No. of Businesses |
|
Less than 10 |
45,581 |
658,544,884 |
21,761 |
|
11 to 49 |
37,504 |
188,004,256 |
1,741 |
|
50 to 249 |
46,215 |
125,506,684 |
500 |
|
Grand Total |
129,300 |
972,055,824 |
24,002 |
|
Total % |
|||
|
Firm Size |
No. of Employees |
Total Loans Supported |
No. of Businesses |
|
Less than 10 |
35% |
68% |
91% |
|
11 to 49 |
29% |
19% |
7% |
|
50 to 249 |
36% |
13% |
2% |
|
Grand Total |
100% |
100% |
100% |
