Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 June 2015
281. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the status of negotiations at European Union level to renew the Philip Morris International agreement; Ireland's attitudes to the possibility of renewing and extending the agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21820/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra314. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the revenue accruing to the State each year since the signing of the Philip Morris International agreement; the purpose for which this revenue was used; the way it was accounted for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21815/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra315. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of cigarette seizures that number over 450 million cigarettes in each of the past five years; the number of these seizures that consisted of genuine Philip Morris cigarettes. [21816/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra316. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the total number of Philip Morris cigarettes seized in each of the past five years; and the numbers in each seizure. [21817/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra317. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if his officials have met with Philip Morris to discuss a renegotiation or extension of the Phillip Morris International agreement; if these meetings were bilateral or in the context of European Union negotiations; the date and place of all such meetings; and if he will report on the issues discussed at each meeting. [21818/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 281 and 314 to 317, inclusive, together.
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the quantities of cigarettes seized in Ireland in each of the past five years that were branded as Phillip Morris products, and the numbers of seizures in each of those years involving such products, are as set out in the following table.
|
Year |
No. of Seizures |
Quantity of Cigarettes Seized (million) |
|
2010 |
5,065 |
57.4m |
|
2011 |
6,739 |
27.2m |
|
2012 |
6,109 |
10.4m |
|
2013 |
5,117 |
8.2m |
|
2014 |
5,627 |
7.0m |
In view of the large number of seizures, it would not be practicable to give the quantity of products involved in each individual seizure.
Where cigarettes seized are branded as the product of a recognised tobacco company and the quantity involved is 50,000 or more, samples are sent for analysis to determine whether or not the product is counterfeit. Details of any such seizures carrying Philip Morris branding which were found on analysis to be composed of genuine product are being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy.
The Anti-Contraband and Anti-Counterfeit Agreement between Philip Morris International, the EU and its Member States provides for payments to Member States in defined instances of the seizure of more than 50,000 contraband Philip Morris cigarettes, and stipulates a "Baseline Amount" of 450 million cigarettes, seized in a calendar year in EU Member States as a whole, as a factor in determining the quantum of such payments.
Ireland became a party to the Agreement in 2005 and has received two payments, of €18,101.22 and €68,386.07, in 2006 and 2012 respectively, in respect of seizures of Philip Morris products. The payments are made to the Revenue Commissioners by the European Commission and are transferred to the Exchequer as Exchequer extra receipts.
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they have had no meetings with Philip Morris International to discuss a renegotiation or extension of the Anti-Contraband and Anti-Counterfeit Agreement. The Agreement dates from 2004 and has a term of 12 years.
I understand that the European Commission has had exploratory talks with Philip Morris International but that no decision has been made as yet on whether or not to enter into formal negotiations on a new agreement. No determination will be made as to whether to renew or extend the agreement until the European Commission reports back to Member States on the nature and content of their discussions with Philip Morris International.
