Written Answers Nos. 33-39
33. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the proposed Geneva II conference on the Syrian crisis was discussed at the recent EU Foreign Affairs Council; if the participants in the Conference have yet been finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47361/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra34. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the humanitarian crisis in Syria and that region was discussed at the recent EU Foreign Affairs Council; if an update was given on the level of humanitarian aid provided by the international community compared to the pledges made some time ago; if the EU proposes to raise with other countries the need for humanitarian assistance for that region to be expedited and increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47362/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 34 together.
I attended the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 21 October where developments in relation to Syria represented one of the major items for discussion, with particular focus on the OPCW chemical weapons disarmament process, the prospects for the ‘Geneva II’ talks and the ever-challenging humanitarian situation. The FAC adopted Conclusions which, while welcoming the encouraging progress made in recent weeks on the disarmament issue, underlined the need to maintain the momentum behind the ‘Geneva II’ process and emphasised the overall need for a political solution to the crisis in Syria. The Council made clear that it welcomed the call of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for the Geneva II Conference to be held before the end of November and reiterated that the objective of the Conference must be the swift establishment, by mutual consent, of a transitional governing body with full executive powers and control of all governmental and all security institutions. Discussions are due to continue in Geneva this week aimed at agreeing specific dates for the Conference as well as details of who will be invited.
The Council, in its Conclusions, also prioritised the alleviation of the humanitarian suffering and called for safe and unhindered humanitarian access to all populations in need of assistance throughout the country. The EU is the largest international donor of assistance to the Syrian people and Ireland, for its part, has contributed a total of €13.8m to date.
In my intervention, I voiced Ireland’s continuing full support for Joint Special Representative Brahimi and his efforts to convene the Geneva II conference as well as informing partners of Ireland’s contribution of €200,000 to the OPCW disarmament efforts.
In recognition of the immense burden placed upon, and risks to, neighbouring countries, the Council emphasised the absolute and urgent necessity for all donor countries to ensure the fulfilment of pledges already made. The urgent necessity for all donor countries to continue to provide financial support to enable host countries to respond to the growing humanitarian needs of refugees was also emphasised. I took the opportunity to call for greater efforts to address the humanitarian crisis and, in particular, the need for access across borders. The conflict in Syria will remain a major priority for Ireland at all levels of our international engagement.
35. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Finance the final date for cash payments of the local property tax; if he will instruct the Revenue Commissioners to supply clear transparent information to persons regarding payment options as letters currently being sent out have no information about cash payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47192/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra37. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Finance the reason it is necessary for persons who wish to pay their local property tax for 2014 by one lump sum postal order or cheque must do so immediately; if tax for 2014 will be only paid in 2014; and if he considers it unfair to expect persons to pay this tax twice in 2013. [47249/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra38. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Finance if he will direct the Revenue Commissioners to extend the November deadlines for returning payment submissions for the 2014 local property tax to the end of 2013; and if he will direct the Revenue Commissioners to only process one-off single payment transactions made in cash, credit card, debit card and cheque in March 2014 as will be the case with single debit transactions. [47256/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra48. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Finance the mechanism which has been put in place to allow persons, whose financial circumstances have changed since July 2013, to make a deferral of the local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47304/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 37, 38 and 48 together.
I note that similar questions concerning payment of the 2014 LPT liability have been raised by other Deputies and I provided a detailed response yesterday to Questions Nos. 143, 202, 214, 215, 216, 229, 232, 239 and 252 which addresses many of the issues raised by Deputies in these Questions.
I re-iterate that there is no requirement on any property owner to pay their LPT for 2014 before 1 January 2014 and, as I have informed the House in the past, LPT provides for a range of payment options and property owners can choose the one that best suits their particular circumstances. I am also advised that no matter how the LPT charge for 2013 was paid, property owners can choose any of the available options to pay their 2014 liability and can decide whether to pay the tax in full or to spread payments over the course of 2014.
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that in all communications with property owners in connection with their 2014 LPT obligations, and in particular in the letters that recently issued, specific reference is made to the fact that cash payments may be made to approved payment service providers, either to pay the tax in full or on a phased basis.
On the matter of deferring the charge raised in Question 47304/13, I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that property owners who did not qualify for deferral when filing their Return for 2013 but who now qualify due to a change in their financial circumstances may claim a full or partial deferral for 2014 by completing the LPT1A Payment Instruction form or by accessing their LPT record online. If an owner also wishes to claim a deferral for 2013, he or she should submit a written request for deferral of the 2013 tax to the Revenue Commissioners, LPT Branch, P.O. Box 1, Limerick or by email to lpt@revenue.ie as soon as possible. The owner should provide his or her name, property ID, property address and PPSN or tax reference number and set out full details of their change in circumstances.
Further information on deferring payment of LPT including the qualification criteria are outlined in the Guidelines for Deferral or Part Deferral of Payment of LPT which are available on the Revenue website.
36. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he will include Drogheda and Dundalk, County Louth, in the living cities initiative in the Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47222/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Living City Initiative is a pilot scheme, designed to encourage people back to the centre of Irish cities to live in historic buildings and encourage the regeneration of the retail heartland of central business districts. The initial pilot will be a targeted scheme to enable an assessment to be made as to the effectiveness of the scheme.
The Living City Initiative was announced as part of Finance Bill 2013. I stated at the time that the proposed scheme would be subject to a full ex-ante cost benefit analysis and would require State Aid approval from the European Commission. The cost benefit analysis was recently presented to my Department and has been published on the Department's website. On foot of the recommendations contained in this independent report, I made an announcement in my 2014 Budget Statement that I was proposing to extend the Initiative to include designated areas of four other cities. I do not intend to extend the scope of the Initiative beyond the six cities identified.
Following the receipt of the report, an application for EU State Aid approval will be submitted shortly to the European Commission and the evidence presented in the cost benefit analysis will form part of this application.
The Initiative can not be commenced until EU State Aid approval is received.
39. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Finance the period back in time investigators from the Financial Regulator of the Central Bank can investigate; and if it would be expected that based on a complaint going back many years, the regulator would examine the records of the company-financial institution in question over the maximum allowable period. [47270/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have been informed by the Central Bank that while, in theory, the Central Bank is not restricted from investigating matters which date back several years, the tools available to the Central Bank to take action, including sanction, against a regulated entity on foot of any findings of such an investigation may be limited by a number of factors. The investigative powers available to the Central Bank are governed by the obligations and laws that existed at the time of the alleged activity. For example, the administrative sanctioning powers available to the Central Bank under Part IIIC of the Central Bank Act 1942, as amended, were introduced by the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act 2004. These powers took effect on 1 August 2004 and, as such, are only available to use in relation to prescribed contraventions suspected to have taken place on or after that date.
In the case of alleged inappropriate activity occurring within the allowable period of time, the Central Bank would still use its discretion in determining the value and likelihood of success in investigating matters which date back over a number of years. Issues such as the likely difficulty in obtaining records and information and identifying relevant individuals would be considered along with any other matters which impact on the likelihood of achieving a successful outcome.
It should be noted that the Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement) Act, 2013 introduced a new extended limitation period of three years for the institution of proceedings for a relevant offence under financial services law.
Where a regulated entity is suspected of having committed a criminal offence, the powers of the Central Bank to pursue such matters may be limited by the statute of limitations.
