Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 14 Nov 1990

Vol. 402 No. 6

Adjournment Debate. - EC Tax Harmonisation Effects.

Mr. Howlin

At the outset may I thank you, Sir, for affording me this opportunity to raise an issue that will be of great importance not alone to my constituents but to many others around the country, particularly those employed at ferry ports or Border posts in the future.

It is expected that on 1 January 1993 customs import and export documentation in intra-Community trade will no longer be required. It is also expected that, on the same date, the collection of VAT and customs and excise duties at internal EC frontier points will cease. The implications of the relevant regulations will be very severe and will have an impact all around this country. I want this evening in particular to highlight these implications on Rosslare harbour ferry port in my constituency.

The effect will be that out of some 50 Customs and Excise staff currently employed at Rosslare harbour 43 may well be made redundant. Taking into account the age and circumstances of the 50 people affected — options that might spring to mind of, for example, early retirement or transfer, are not desired, reasonable or acceptable.

I raise the matter this evening well in advance of the actual implementation of this tax harmonisation proposal so that we may have a clear indication from the Minister how he will tackle the problem. In a small community such as that located at Rosslare harbour these 50 well paid jobs form a crucial part of the local scene and environment. They are a mainstay of the local community. Indeed they, their families or the local community cannot afford to be at the loss of their wages and input into local economy.

I call on the Minister to allay the apprehension and uncertainty clearly felt already among those workers by indicating to the House this evening what proposals, if any, he has in regard to them. Let me put it to the Minister that the option preferred by those employees is that they be absorbed into the Revenue Commissioners' activities in the local area so that they and their families can remain at their base, contributing to the local economy and that this absorption should begin very soon so that there would not be a sudden impact felt in January 1993.

I want to raise one other germane point related to a parliamentary question I tabled to the Minister which was answered yesterday. There will be job losses also among the Customs and Excise officials in Rosslare harbour resulting from computerisation which will take place as early as next year, 1991. I was very dissatisfied at the answer I received from the Minister yesterday. It would be my hope that in highlighting — by way of parliamentary question and this Adjournment Debate — these very important issues the Minister will indicate to us that they are under active consideration and that he has a strategy to enable these important personnel to remain within the communities of which they form such an important part at present.

Minister for Finance (Mr. A. Reynolds)

The completion of the Internal Market in accordance with the provisions of the Single European Act and, in particular the abolition of internal frontier controls, will mean considerable staffing, operational and other changes for the Customs and Excise service. Certain decisions have yet to be taken at EC level before the precise effects become clear, but there is little doubt that the Internal Market measures will bring fundamental changes in terms of staffing, staff deployment and the nature of the tasks performed by the Customs and Excise service.

It is natural that staff in the Customs and Excise service are concerned about their jobs and their futures following the completion of the Internal Market. The Revenue Commissioners are well aware of the human dimension involved in this reorganisation. It is their intention to approach the challenges of 1992 in a planned, sympathetic and constructive manner. It is also the Revenue Commissioners' policy to keep staff informed of any developments that may, in the run up to 1992, affect their interests. It is also the policy to continue consultations with staff unions on this issue.

It is not possible, at this stage, to accurately assess the staffing implications for the Customs and Excise service, including Rosslare, in advance of definite proposals emerging in relation to the completion of the Internal Market. A memorandum prepared by the Revenue Commissioners outlining the changes in the role of the Customs and Excise service — which the abolition of border controls from 1992 would bring — was circulated to the unions concerned some time ago. More recently the Revenue Commissioners have established a study team to examine and report on the impact of the post-1992 Single Market environment on the staffing and related aspects of the Customs and Excise outfield service. Their work commenced on 3 September 1990.

The task of the team is to examine and assess the staffing and related implications for the Customs and Excise service of Community discussions and agreements aimed at completion of the Single Market and, in particular the abolition of fiscal frontiers; produce a draft organisation plan showing the post-1992 staffing structure to cater for Single Market functions and requirements and based on best available policy assumptions; and submit an action plan to cater for migration from the existing to the post-1992 situation, to be implemented on a pilot basis commencing on 1 January 1991. In carrying out the study the team are open to consultation with staff members of all grades and to the unions and staff associations concerned. The initial report of the study team will be available within the next few weeks. The team will undertake further studies and consultation from time to time as required.

A subcommittee of the Civil Service General Council has also been established under the conciliation and arbitration scheme to examine the implications of the Internal Market and, in particular, the consequences for staffing. This subcommittee arranged for the carrying out of pilot survey by the IPA of Customs and Excise staff in Border areas earlier this year for the purposes of establishing the attitudes and views of the staff to possible redeployment and voluntary redundancy in the context of changes that may arise on the completion of the Internal Market.

The subcommittee have now commissioned the IPA to extend this survey to include all Customs and Excise personnel on a countrywide basis. The extended survey has commenced and will take about three months to complete. The team conducting the survey are holding a series of briefing meetings with Customs and Excise staff during this month. The team held such a meeting with the staff in Rosslare on Monday last, 12 November.

Also as a result of the negotiations at the subcommittee of the general council, agreement has been reached to provide sponsorship in respect of certain retraining and educational courses for staff in the Customs and Excise service. These special arrangements have been made in order to better equip staff for changed employment circumstances as a result of the possible reduction in the size of the Customs and Excise service. Details of the agreed special arrangements were communicated by the Revenue Commissioners to the staff concerned by way of circular in August last. Career breaks are now available to Customs and Excise staff in respect of certain domestic circumstances and for educational purposes.

In order to keep all Customs and Excise staff aware of issues which affect their interests the Revenue Commissioners intend to issue regular Internal Market bulletins the first of which was issued last September.

In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that while it is not possible at this stage to accurately indicate the staffing implications which the completion of the Internal Market will have on the Customs and Excise service, I would like to assure the Deputy that I am satisfied that the staff and their representatives are being, and will continue to be, kept fully informed on all developments. No decision has as yet been taken on the numbers that will be required, and redeployment to other Revenue offices such as the income tax office in Wexford, or Waterford for that matter, will, of course, be considered.

In relation to the computerisation question raised by the Deputy, unions have been assured that the relocation of any surplus staff resulting from computerisation will be dealt with in the context of the 1992 reorganisation.