Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 October 2021
528. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to a settlement between a State agency (details supplied) and the Revenue Commissioners; if there are any agencies under her Department’s remit that have had a similar issue or have made a settlement with the Revenue Commissioners in relation to any issue in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48028/21]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the agencies under the Department of Justice have no issues to report, and have not made any settlements with the Revenue Commissioners in relation to any issue in the past five years.
The following revised reply was received on 21 October 2021.
The reply provided should have advised of a settlement between the Garda authorities and Revenue in 2020.
In March 2017 An Garda Síochána made an unprompted voluntary disclosure to Revenue to determine the tax compliance of the ancillary services operating in the Garda College.
Following this voluntary disclosure, An Garda Síochána sought independent external advice in order to calculate and determine the tax liability of the Garda College shop and restaurants.
Two submissions were made in 2017 in respect of ancillary services in the Garda College and for Garda payroll. In January 2018, An Garda Síochána met with Revenue to discuss both submissions and on foot of this, a determination was made that the restaurant and shop were liable for VAT.
The Policing Authority oversaw An Garda Síochána’s implementation of the recommendations of the Interim Audit Report on financial procedures in the Garda College and noted the matter of the voluntary disclosure to Revenue in their final report to the Minister in July 2018. This report has been published and is available on the website of the Policing Authority.
I understand that An Garda Síochána made payment of €268,931 (to include the liability up to April 2020) in August 2020 in full and final settlement of the VAT liability, which is now payable on an ongoing basis.
