asked the Minister for Finance whether he will take steps to arrange reciprocal facilities with the Government of Great Britain to permit senders of gifts between the two countries to pay whatever may be the appropriate duty payable to the customs authorities, with the proviso that in the event of reassessment becoming necessary application for additional duty will be made to sender and not to receiver.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Duties on Gifts Sent Between Éire and Great Britain.
In the case of parcels passing by post between Éire and Great Britain, arrangements already exist whereby customs duty and other charges can be prepaid by the sender at the time of posting. In Éire these arrangements provide that the sender must pay a fee of 6d. per parcel, sign an undertaking to pay on demand the amount due and make a deposit on account of the charges. A final settlement is made when the amount due has been notified by the office of destination. Similar arrangements exist in Great Britain.
In the case of parcels transmitted as ordinary freight, it is open to the sender to pay to the shipping or railway company concerned a sum to cover the customs duty chargeable.
The existing arrangements appear to be sufficient to enable the objects in view to be attained without calling for further Government intervention. It will be realised that it would be impracticable for the Government to take legal steps to enforce payment of duties by persons outside the jurisdic tion.
Does that arrangement apply to postal packets between the United States of America and this country?
I do not think so.
Only between here and Great Britain?
Yes.
I should like to mention that small presents sent from the British Dominions, in some cases by soldiers serving in the British Army to people with whom they worked previously here, have not been delivered even on payment of a fee, and in fact have been destroyed because they are supposed not to be allowed in. I wonder if the Minister could find some way of rectifying that matter as I have had two complaints lately of such incidents.
That is a different question. However, I know that it is a matter that has already on more than one occasion received the attention of the Revenue Commissioners who have to deal with the matter. It is their responsibility. If the Deputy will set out in detail for me what he would like me to refer to them, I will refer it to them for further examination.