Written Answers Nos. 177-201
177. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the expenditure incurred by his Department in respect of legal fees for each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32526/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe costs incurred by my Department on legal fees for the past three years are set out in the table.
|
|
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
Legal Fees |
€2,198,330 |
€757,172 |
€2,426,753 |
*Recoupment of certain expenses in relation to the stabilisation of the banking sector over the same period amounted to €2,419,248.
My Department regularly publishes information on legal and consultancy payments on its website, at https://www.finance.gov.ie/corporate/obligations/financials/consultancy/.
A detailed breakdown for the full year of 2017 is due to be published shortly, as is a report on the first two quarters of 2018.
178. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has contracted the legal services of a company (details supplied) at any point over each of the past six years; if so, the costs involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32641/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has no record of contracting the legal services of the company in question over each of the past six years.
179. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 57 of 5 July 2017, his views on whether the debt refinancing loan sale Project Nantes relating to a company (details supplied) may have constituted a substantial loss to the taxpayer; if the loans related to Project Nantes were sold for €26.6 million and had a nominal value of €352 million; if his attention has been drawn to a conflict of interest with regard to the company that purchased the loans and the original debtor; if he will make immediate enquiries with NAMA in relation to this sale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32695/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs I have already highlighted in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 57 of 5 July 2017, Section 9 of the NAMA Act 2009 provides that NAMA is independent in the performance of its functions and that I, as Minister for Finance, have no role in relation to its commercial decisions. I am advised by NAMA that it is satisfied that it obtained the best achievable financial return from this transaction.
Under sections 99 and 202 of the NAMA Act, NAMA is legally prohibited from disclosing information relating to its debtors or the assets securing their loans. As Project Nantes constituted a debt refinancing transaction NAMA is not in a position to disclose any additional information in relation to this transaction.
180. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Finance the total tax yield from taxes and other duties and so on in relation to transport and transport related items as a proportion of the overall annual budget in each of the years 2014 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [32725/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by Revenue that the tax yield on a sectoral basis is published on the Revenue website at link: https://www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/statistics/receipts/receipts-sector.aspx. The information is based on the NACE sectoral classification and the relevant information is taken from the tax receipts of the combined transport and storage sector.
The table below includes tax receipts from the sector, as well as combined receipts from Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT), Excise Duties and carbon taxes on petrol and diesel and the share of these receipts in total taxation for 2014 through 2017. Comparable information for 2018 is not presently available.
Transportation & Storage (€m)
|
|
VAT |
PAYE |
Income Tax |
Corporation Tax |
Capital Gains Tax |
VRT/Excise/Carbon |
Total Receipts Across all Sectors |
% of Total Receipts from Transport |
|
2014 |
200 |
461 |
43 |
88 |
3 |
2,734 |
41,383 |
8.5% |
|
2015 |
225 |
483 |
45 |
175 |
6 |
2,947 |
45,786 |
8.5% |
|
2016 |
254 |
500 |
54 |
243 |
6 |
3,173 |
47,954 |
8.8% |
|
2017 |
269 |
531 |
51 |
271 |
6 |
3,096 |
50,758 |
8.3% |
181. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance his plans to reform the pension system to ensure that a greater number of pension plans are exempted from the pension levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32730/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Pension Scheme Levy was introduced in 2011. For the years 2011, 2012 and 2013 the rate was 0.60% of the scheme assets. For the year 2014, the rate was 0.75% of the assets and for the year 2015, the final year of the levy, the rate was 0.15%.
Under the legislation, the payment of the levy was treated as a necessary expense of a pension scheme and the trustees or insurer, as appropriate, were entitled, where needed, to adjust current or prospective benefits payable under a scheme to take account of the levy. It was up to the trustees or insurer to decide whether, when and how the levy was passed on and to what extent this should take place, given the particular circumstances of the pension schemes for which they were responsible.
The legislation also included safeguards aimed at ensuring that should the option of reducing scheme benefits be taken, it would be applied in an equitable fashion across the different classes of scheme members that could include active, deferred and retired members. In no case could the reduction in an individual member's or class of member's benefits exceed the member's or class of member's share of the levy. Where pension scheme trustees or an insurer took the decision to treat the levy as an expense of the pension scheme, they would have adjusted current or prospective benefits payable to members under that scheme. The consequence of this treatment by the trustees or insurer could be a permanent reduction in members' benefits.
The Pension Scheme Levy has ceased since 2015.
182. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Finance the amount raised in 2017 through VAT on female menstrual hygiene products. [32847/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the sale of sanitary towels and tampons is subject to Value-Added Tax (VAT) at the zero rate and as such no VAT is collected on the sale of these products. The Deputy may note that an extensive list of products and services linked to the applicable rate of VAT is available on the Revenue website at:
http://www.revenue.ie/en/vat/vat-rates/search-vat-rates/VAT-rates-database.aspx.
183. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the procedures that apply in relation to the exceptional circumstances procedure in the fiscal rules by which a member state may be permitted to spend above and beyond that which is normally permitted under the fiscal rules; if he is satisfied that there is an adequate flexibility under the EU and domestic fiscal rules at present to enable the drawdown of funds from the proposed rainy day fund as required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32870/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe preventive arm of the Stability & Growth Pact (SGP) includes flexibility measures to modulate Member States' fiscal adjustments with the economic cycle.
Regulation (EC) 1466/97 further provides that: “In the case of an unusual event outside the control of the Member State concerned which has a major impact on the financial position of the general government or in periods of severe economic downturn for the euro area or the Union as a whole, Member States may be allowed temporarily to depart from the adjustment path towards the medium-term budgetary objective referred to in the third subparagraph, provided that this does not endanger fiscal sustainability in the medium term.”
A temporary deviation from the adjustment path to the medium term objective (MTO) is linked to the following principles:
- the additional spending should be directly linked to the unusual event;
- he deviation is only allowed on a temporary basis;
- the deviation should only reflect the additional cost required to address the unusual event;
- the burden of proof is with the Member State, which must substantiate the request for a deviation with detailed information.
The clause is granted on the basis of individual case-by-case assessment. To date it has been granted to six Member States in light of refugee-related costs and to three Member States based upon security-related expenditures.
The national fiscal rules, set out in the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2012, also allows for a deviation from the adjustment path to the MTO provided it is "only as a result of exceptional circumstances" and "does not endanger fiscal sustainability in the medium-term".
Legislation to establish the Rainy Day Fund is being drafted with regard to the fiscal rules.
The fund will not be used to support ordinary expenditure. It is envisaged that drawdowns from the fund be linked to a force majeure event such as:
- A natural disaster
- Public emergency
- Other unforeseen one-off occurrences
Furthermore withdrawals from the fund will be subject to Dáil oversight.
In such unusual events a temporary increase in expenditure as a result of Rainy Day Fund drawdowns would be permissible under the fiscal rules.
184. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance his plans for tax incentives for culture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32875/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe question of State support for the arts and culture, including the creative industries, is a matter for the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in conjunction with other Ministers as appropriate, including the Minister for Finance. Such support may include assistance in the form of direct expenditure and it may also be provided through the tax system in certain circumstances.
In this regard, I would draw the Deputy's attention to my Department's Tax Expenditure Guidelines 2014 which set out the conditions in which support through the tax system is most appropriate. The Guidelines provide that tax expenditures should be limited to circumstances where there is a demonstrable market failure and where a tax based incentive would be more efficient than a direct expenditure intervention.
The Guidelines, which form part of the 2014 Report on Tax Expenditures, are available at the following link:
http://www.budget.gov.ie/Budgets/2015/Documents/Tax_Expenditures_Oct14.pdf.
As the Deputy will be aware, significant direct expenditure supports, as identified in Culture 2025 - Éire Ildánach and Project Ireland 2040, form part of the Programme for Government. In addition, there are a number of tax incentives already in operation which support culture and the arts, these include:
- the artist's tax exemption;
- tax relief for investment in films;
- tax relief on the donation of heritage items;
- tax relief on the donation of heritage properties;
- tax relief for expenditure on significant buildings and gardens; and
- tax relief for donations to approved bodies.
Furthermore, in relation to personal and corporation tax, there are a number of other tax incentives in operation which are designed to support entrepreneurship and job creation; these may be available to those who start a cultural or artistic enterprise; they include:
- Start Up Refunds for Entrepreneurs (SURE);
- Start Your Own Business relief (SYOB);
- tax relief for certain start-up companies; and
- the Employment and Investment incentive (EII).
If it is considered that there are lacunae in support for the Arts through the tax system, such issues may be directed in the first instance to the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
185. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Finance the number of help-to-buy grant approvals on a monthly basis since the scheme was launched up to 29 June 2018; the number of drawdowns in this regard since the scheme was introduced to 29 June 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32902/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI assume that the Deputy is seeking the number of applications received, the number of applications that reached claim stage and the number of claims approved under the Help to Buy (HTB) scheme, since its inception in July 2016.
There are two stages involved in the Help to Buy Incentive process. Stage 1 is the application stage, wherein prospective applicants can query whether they qualify for the incentive. They can also get clarity on the maximum amount of rebate they could potentially benefit from, based on their tax paid in a four-year period. Stage 2 is the claims stage, wherein applicants that decide to proceed with purchasing or building a qualifying property must provide documentary evidence of the relevant property transaction or their mortgage draw down.
I am advised by Revenue that the monthly breakdown of this data is as set out in the tables below:
Applications Received
|
Month |
Monthly |
Cumulative |
|
March 2017 |
3,856* |
3,856 |
|
April 2017 |
1,162 |
5,018 |
|
May 2017 |
850 |
5,868 |
|
June 2017 |
1,044 |
6,912 |
|
July 2017 |
1,094 |
8,006 |
|
August 2017 |
845 |
8,851 |
|
September 2017 |
778 |
9,629 |
|
September 2017 |
918 |
10,547 |
|
October 2017 |
820 |
11,367 |
|
November 2017 |
618 |
11,985 |
|
December 2018 |
379 |
12,364 |
|
January 2018 |
1,110 |
13,474 |
|
February 2018 |
1,257 |
14,731 |
|
March 2018 |
862 |
15,593 |
|
April 2018 |
1,101 |
16,694 |
|
May 2018 |
736 |
17,430 |
|
June 2018 |
647 |
18,077 |
Reached Claim Stage
|
Month |
Monthly |
Cumulative |
|
March 2017 |
614* |
614 |
|
April 2017 |
535 |
1,149 |
|
May 2017 |
405 |
1,554 |
|
June 2017 |
483 |
2,037 |
|
July 2017 |
615 |
2,652 |
|
August 2017 |
495 |
3,147 |
|
September 2017 |
478 |
3,625 |
|
September 2017 |
463 |
4,088 |
|
October 2017 |
399 |
4,487 |
|
November 2017 |
454 |
4,941 |
|
December 2018 |
451 |
5,392 |
|
January 2018 |
255 |
5,647 |
|
February 2018 |
358 |
6,005 |
|
March 2018 |
417 |
6,422 |
|
April 2018 |
488 |
6,910 |
|
May 2018 |
429 |
7,339 |
|
June 2018 |
414 |
7,753 |
Number of Claims Approved
|
Month |
Monthly |
Cumulative |
|
March 2017 |
260* |
260 |
|
April 2017 |
405 |
665 |
|
May 2017 |
380 |
1,045 |
|
June 2017 |
437 |
1,482 |
|
July 2017 |
553 |
2,035 |
|
August 2017 |
494 |
2,529 |
|
September 2017 |
469 |
2,998 |
|
September 2017 |
453 |
3,451 |
|
October 2017 |
431 |
3,882 |
|
November 2017 |
520 |
4,402 |
|
December 2018 |
422 |
4,824 |
|
January 2018 |
336 |
5,160 |
|
February 2018 |
369 |
5,529 |
|
March 2018 |
394 |
5,923 |
|
April 2018 |
430 |
6,353 |
|
May 2018 |
427 |
6,780 |
|
June 2018 |
440 |
7,220 |
*It should be noted that the relief was first made available for individuals who purchased or built between 19 July 2016 and 31 December 2016 with effect from 1 January 2017 onwards. As a result of the processing timeline, the first data for March 2017 is the cumulative figure of applications and claims up to that point.
186. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Finance the tax relief provided for under section 481 in each of the past five years; and the number of staff directly employed by the largest 12 recipients of section 481 tax reliefs. [32931/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by Revenue that the total cost of Section 481 tax credit per annum is shown on the Revenue statistics website at: https://www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/statistics/tax-expenditures/costs-expenditures.aspx.
The available information in respect of the numbers of staff employed is sourced from matching Corporation Tax returns against Employer returns. This information is only available for companies claiming the relief under the restructured credit available to producer companies since 2015.
The numbers directly employed by the top 12 claimants in 2015 was 363. Data for earlier years (prior to the restructuring of the scheme) is not available. The data for 2016 is currently being analysed and will be available in the coming months.
187. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance his plans to reduce the VAT payable on sales of local and regional newspapers which are the highest rates in Europe to ensure the viability of a strong independent media; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32944/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe VAT rating of goods and services is subject to EU VAT law, with which Irish VAT law must comply. Ireland applies the second reduced VAT rate of 9% to the supply of printed newspapers. It is not possible under EU VAT law to distinguish VAT rating by regional location, hence it is not possible to apply a different VAT rate to newspapers supplied regionally or locally versus nationally.
Of the VAT rates applied to newspapers in the EU, Ireland applies the joint eight highest rate, alongside Estonia and Lithuania. Six Member States, including the UK, apply rates of VAT below 5% under an historic derogation, whereby they can retain this special VAT rating if it applied on and since 1 January 1991. Ireland’s zero rating of printed books falls into this category, but as we did not apply a zero rate or a rate of less than 5% to newspapers on and since 1991 it is not possible to introduce it now.
Three Member States apply their standard VAT rate of over 20% to newspapers but the majority of Member States apply a reduced VAT rate to newspapers of between 5% and 12%. It would be legally possible for Ireland to reduce the VAT rate on newspapers to 5% but in order to do so all activity at the 9% would have to be reduced to that rate at an estimated cost to the Exchequer of €470m.
188. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the amount paid for consultancy services in each of the years 2012 to 2017; the details of these payments; the companies that received the payments; the amount received by each company; the hourly rates that applied to each company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32970/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra189. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the amount paid for external legal services in each of the years 2012 to 2017; the details of these payments; the companies that received the payments; the amount received by each company; the hourly rates that applied to each company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32971/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 189 together.
The information requested by the Deputy for 2012 to 2016 is contained in the attached documents. These documents are already available at https://www.finance.gov.ie/corporate/obligations/financials/consultancy/
The information requested for 2017 is contained in the table below. Figures for the full year of 2017 and for 2018 to date are due to be published on the website shortly.
The majority of these contracts have set fees and hourly rates would not apply. Where hourly rates have been charged, these would be considered commercially sensitive, and therefore we are not in a position to make this information available.
|
Solicitors |
Details |
Amount |
|
Arthur Cox |
Legal advice on restructuring of Irish banking system, related litigation and further emerging issues (part recoupable). |
€286,961 |
|
Behaviour & Attitudes |
Credit Demand Survey (Recoupable) |
€64,575 |
|
Colm McCarthy & Associates |
Provision of expert economic consultancy services |
€4,920 |
|
CSSO |
Legal Services - State Aid |
€461,517 |
|
Hayes Solicitors |
Legal Advice |
€1,449 |
|
Indecon |
Impact Assessment of the Help to Buy tax incentive |
€67,121 |
|
Mamo TCV |
Legal Research |
€2,000 |
|
McCann FitzGerald |
Legal Advice |
€3,754 |
|
McCann FitzGerald |
Legal Consultancy Services |
€9,009 |
|
pTools Software |
Web Design |
€8,050 |
|
Reveal Data Corporation - eDiscovery |
IT Consultancy |
€15,867 |
|
Seamus Coffey |
Corporation Tax Review |
€6,293 |
|
William Fry |
Legal Advice |
€850,707 |
|
William Fry |
Legal Services - State Aid |
€813,040 |
|
Total |
€2,595,263 |
190. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the amount the Revenue Commissioners paid for consultancy services in each of the years 2012 to 2017; the details of these payments; the companies that received the payments; the amount received by each company; the hourly rates that applied to each company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32972/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by Revenue that the amounts paid for consultancy services by Revenue in each of the years 2012 to 2017 are set out below. Hourly rates are not available. Consultancy support is procured where it is necessary to obtain specialist services that are not available within Revenue in order to deliver on Revenue’s wide range of business programmes.
|
Year |
Count |
Company |
Consultancy Reason |
Cost € |
|
2012 |
1 |
BOWE SYSTEC (IRE) LTD |
Report commissioned on facilities for print & mail centre |
7,260.00 |
|
|
2 |
BAKER TILLY RYAN GLENNON |
Advice on employment law |
12,374.00 |
|
|
3 |
CATALYST CONSULTANTS |
Advice on employment law |
4,800.00 |
|
|
4 |
ACHILLES PROCUREMENT |
Technical advice on procurement |
5,243.00 |
|
|
5 |
OHSS |
Health & Safety – air quality control |
1,919.00 |
|
|
6 |
AUTHENTIC |
Technical advice on procurement |
775.00 |
|
|
7 |
GARTNER |
Sourcing and vendor advice |
19,680.00 |
|
|
|
|
2012 Total |
52,051.00 |
|
2013 |
1 |
ARTHUR COX SOLICITORS |
HR advice |
13,478.99 |
|
|
2 |
AUTHENTIC SOLUTIONS LTD |
Energy management project support |
7,011.00 |
|
|
3 |
KASHAN CARPETS AND FLOORING |
Valuation assistance |
56.75 |
|
|
4 |
GARTNER |
Sourcing and vendor advice |
47,601.00 |
|
|
5 |
OHSS SAFETY CONSULTANTS |
Environment testing |
4,324.27 |
|
|
6 |
SUMMERHILL VETERINARY CTR |
Veterinary services |
41.50 |
|
|
|
|
2013 Total |
72,513.51 |
|
2014 |
1 |
ADAMS |
Valuation assistance |
615.00 |
|
|
2 |
ARTHUR COX SOLICITORS |
HR advice |
5,160.71 |
|
|
3 |
BAKER TILLY RYAN GLENNON |
Advice on employment law |
10,387.35 |
|
|
4 |
AUTHENTIC SOLUTIONS LTD |
Energy management project support |
885.60 |
|
|
5 |
ACHILLES PROCUREMENT SERV |
Technical advice on procurement |
12,304.31 |
|
|
6 |
GARTNER |
Sourcing and vendor advice |
16,713.00 |
|
|
7 |
LEYDEN CONSULTING ENG |
Workstation assessment |
787.20 |
|
|
8 |
OHSS SAFETY CONSULTANTS |
Air quality monitoring |
1,265.06 |
|
|
9 |
BNP PARIBAS REAL EST ADV PROP MNGT |
Valuation advice |
3,690.00 |
|
|
10 |
ANIED TRAINING AND EDUCATION CENTRE |
Assessment advice |
227.55 |
|
|
11 |
DR FRANK MATTHEWS |
Seafarer Medical |
300.00 |
|
|
|
|
2014 Total |
52,335.78 |
|
2015 |
1 |
ACHILLES PROCUREMENT SERV |
Technical advice on procurement |
3,545.48 |
|
|
2 |
BANNON COMM PROPERTY CONS LTD |
Valuation advice |
1,168.50 |
|
|
3 |
ARTHUR COX SOLICITORS |
HR advice |
28,378.85 |
|
|
4 |
ELLIOT AND FITZGERALD LTD |
Valuation advice |
1,845.00 |
|
|
5 |
GARTNER |
PKI Strategy review, WCM review |
54,485.00 |
|
|
6 |
SHARON GALLAGHER |
Software assessment |
3,000.00 |
|
|
7 |
HOOKE AND MACDONALD LTD |
Valuation advice |
485.85 |
|
|
8 |
LEYDEN CONSULTING ENG |
Workstation assessment |
2,269.35 |
|
|
9 |
DR FRANK MATTHEWS |
Seafarer Medical |
150.00 |
|
|
10 |
CROSSWOOD DEVELOPMENTS LTD |
Health & Safety advice |
953.25 |
|
|
|
|
2015 Total |
96,281.28 |
|
2016 |
1 |
OHSS SAFETY CONSULTANTS |
Carrying out air & water quality test |
15,652.00 |
|
|
2 |
PHILIP LEE SOLICITORS |
Professional fees in respect of procurement advice |
15,282.00 |
|
|
3 |
ARTHUR COX SOLICITORS |
HR consultancy |
8,000.00 |
|
|
4 |
LEYDEN CONSULTING ENG |
Workplace assessment & VDU assessment |
7,127.00 |
|
|
5 |
DOWNING COMMERCIAL |
Valuation of commercial property |
3,147.00 |
|
|
6 |
GLENSIDE ENVIRON SERVS LTD |
Carrying out air quality tests |
1,476.00 |
|
|
7 |
HBE IRELAND LTD |
Carry out a legionella assessment |
923.00 |
|
|
8 |
NEWBRIDGE RESEARCH CENTRE |
Preparation & microscopic analysis of samples |
750.00 |
|
|
9 |
ALS LIFE SCIENCES LTD |
Water analysis |
99.00 |
|
|
10 |
ELLIOT AND FITZGERALD LTD |
Valuation service |
92.00 |
|
|
11 |
GARTNER |
Sourcing and vendor review |
58,791.00 |
|
|
|
|
2016 Total |
111,339.00 |
|
2017 |
1 |
HOOKE AND MACDONALD LTD |
Valuation advice |
11,925.00 |
|
|
2 |
LEYDEN CONSULTING ENG |
Workplace assessment & VDU assessment |
10,822.00 |
|
|
3 |
OHSS SAFETY CONSULTANTS |
Carrying out air & water quality test |
7,048.00 |
|
|
4 |
PHOENIX ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY |
Asbestos monitoring before during and after works |
4,805.00 |
|
|
5 |
MCSTAY LUBY |
Share valuation expert |
3,075.00 |
|
|
6 |
GARTNER |
Sourcing and vendor review |
31,843.00 |
|
|
7 |
BNP PARIBAS REAL ESTATE |
Valuation Advice |
615.00 |
|
|
8 |
FRANK MATTHEWS |
Seafarer Medical |
300.00 |
|
|
|
|
2017 Total |
70,433.00 |
191. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the amount the Revenue Commissioners paid for external legal services in each of the years 2012 to 2017; the details of these payments; the companies that received the payments; the amount received by each company; the hourly rates that applied to each company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32973/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by Revenue that while the Revenue Solicitor’s Division provides the vast proportion of the legal services required by the Revenue Commissioners, Revenue engages external counsel and solicitors to provide it with legal services. Payments to counsel are based on the nature of the work, the complexity of the case, the skill and experience of the counsel and the time expended on the case rather than on the basis of an hourly rate. The Office of the Attorney General also approves brief fees more than €10,000 in accordance with Government Circulars.
For particularly specialised work external solicitors are engaged to assist the Revenue Commissioners. Solicitors are engaged at an hourly rate. These rates are negotiated at the outset. There is a range of rates depending upon the nature of the work and the experience of the solicitor dealing with a particular aspect of a case. Generally, the rates range from €80 an hour for a trainee to €390 an hour for a senior partner.
I am advised that Revenue also engage external solicitors to provide legal services for the purpose of collecting outstanding tax and interest. Solicitors are paid under an agreed fee scale for certain stages of the process and are paid a percentage of any debt that they recover. The amount of the fee paid depends at what stage of the legal process the debt is paid.
The details of the various legal expenditure by the Revenue Commissioners for each year (exclusive of VAT) are set out below.
Revenue Commissioners
|
|
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
Counsel Fees |
€2,168,905.17 |
€1,712,074.69 |
€1,757,908.86 |
€2,301,398.70 |
€2,449,105.00 |
€2,397,402.00 |
|
External Solicitor Fees |
€4,987,865.91 |
€5,363,417.56 |
€5,452,921.61 |
€5,316,528.46 |
€4,763,029.32 |
€5,335,598.61 |
|
Total |
€7,156,771.08 |
€7,075,492.25 |
€7,210,830.47 |
€7,617,927.16 |
€7,212,134.32 |
€7,733,000.61 |
Details
|
2012 |
Firm or Individual |
€ |
|
Counsel Fees |
ALISON KEIRSE BL |
11,712.06 |
|
|
ANDREW BECK BL |
2,460.00 |
|
|
ANTHONY ASTON SC |
121,162.38 |
|
|
ANTHONY KERR SC |
10,111.35 |
|
|
ANTHONY M COLLINS SC |
267,770.55 |
|
|
AOIFE GOODMAN SC |
54,565.26 |
|
|
ARTHUR CUNNINGHAM BL |
13,692.36 |
|
|
BENEDICT O FLOINN BL |
47,281.57 |
|
|
BRENDAN CONWAY BL |
1,217.70 |
|
|
BRIAN KEARNEY BL |
6,958.11 |
|
|
BRIAN MURRAY SC |
21,351.57 |
|
|
CIAN FERRITER S C |
2,546.10 |
|
|
CIARAN RAMSAY SC |
144,976.41 |
|
|
CONOR BOURKE BL |
241,635.04 |
|
|
DAVID QUINN BL |
4,389.86 |
|
|
DEARBHLA CUNNINGHAM BL |
4,865.88 |
|
|
DENIS MCDONALD S C |
81,135.23 |
|
|
DERMOT CAHILL B L |
49,924.76 |
|
|
DERMOT SHEEHAN BL |
9,517.74 |
|
|
DESMOND O NEILL SC |
75,817.20 |
|
|
EILEEN FINN BL |
40,246.83 |
|
|
ELAINE GRIER BL |
31,491.69 |
|
|
ELIZABETH COGAN BL |
9,939.63 |
|
|
EOGHAN FITZSIMONS S C |
2,489.52 |
|
|
EOIN CLIFFORD SC |
17,940.78 |
|
|
FIONA CRAWFORD BL |
1,357.92 |
|
|
GENEVIEVE COONAN BL |
2,432.94 |
|
|
GRAINNE CLOHESSY SC |
257,669.01 |
|
|
GRAINNE DUGGAN BL |
18,097.24 |
|
|
HELEN O MARA BL |
5,261.94 |
|
|
JAMES DWYER BL |
1,230.00 |
|
|
JAMES DWYER SC |
4,073.76 |
|
|
JEANANNE MCGOVERN B L |
22,616.50 |
|
|
JENNIFER M O CONNELL BL |
10,580.46 |
|
|
JOHN BYRNE BL |
40,005.79 |
|
|
JOHN DONNELLY BL |
1,740.45 |
|
|
JOHN LUCEY SC |
7,015.92 |
|
|
JONATHAN TOMKIN BL |
1,230.00 |
|
|
JOSEPH DALBY B L |
10,332.00 |
|
|
JUSTIN DILLON SC |
7,569.76 |
|
|
KELLEY SMITH BL |
137,868.49 |
|
|
KERIDA NAIDOO BL |
2,314.13 |
|
|
KEVIN SEGRAVE BL |
792.12 |
|
|
KIERAN BINCHY BL |
7,784.67 |
|
|
KIERAN KELLY ESQ BL |
12,149.20 |
|
|
LORNA GALLAGHER BL |
10,516.50 |
|
|
LOUIS HARKIN BL |
4,300.08 |
|
|
MARK O MAHONY BL |
39,719.16 |
|
|
MICHAEL RAMSEY BL |
3,202.92 |
|
|
NIALL O HANLON BL |
15,276.60 |
|
|
OISIN CLARKE BL |
1,993.90 |
|
|
PATRICK QUINN SC |
114,968.10 |
|
|
PAULINE CODD B L |
1,867.14 |
|
|
RAY BOLAND BL |
1,476.00 |
|
|
ROBERT BARRON SC |
40,302.18 |
|
|
ROBERT E BOURKE BL |
2,152.50 |
|
|
ROSEMARY HEALY RAE BL |
17,734.14 |
|
|
RUDI NEUMAN SHANAHAN BL |
24,504.31 |
|
|
SEAMUS CLARKE BL |
3,813.00 |
|
|
SHELLEY HORAN BL |
17,860.83 |
|
|
TOM POWER BL |
8,741.62 |
|
|
UNA TIGHE BL |
25,459.43 |
|
|
WILL FENNELLY BL |
7,694.88 |
|
|
TOTAL |
2,168,905.17 |
|
|
|
|
|
External Solicitor Fees |
ARTHUR P MCLEAN & CO |
76.00 |
|
|
PCL HALPENNY AND SON |
718.33 |
|
|
PTK DONAGHY & CO |
2,862.00 |
|
|
HOLMES O’MALLEY SEXTON |
897,396.24 |
|
|
IVOR FITZPATRICK |
1,046,747.37 |
|
|
LAVELLE COLEMAN |
607,907,62 |
|
|
MASON HAYES AND CURRAN |
703,014.32 |
|
|
MATHESON ORMSBY PRENTICE |
816,472.89 |
|
|
PIERSE AND FITZGIBBON |
900,217.12 |
|
|
BEHAN AND ASSOCIATES |
393.60 |
|
|
MCDOWELL PURCELL |
12,060.44 |
|
|
TOTAL |
4,987,865.91 |
Details
|
2013 |
Firm or Individual |
€ |
|
Counsel Fees |
ALISON KEIRSE BL |
37,533.45 |
|
|
ANTHONY ASTON SC |
79,796.25 |
|
|
ANTHONY KERR BL |
5,339.68 |
|
|
ANTHONY M COLLINS SC |
98,398.77 |
|
|
AOIFE GOODMAN B L |
71,278.50 |
|
|
ARTHUR CUNNINGHAM B L |
28,290.00 |
|
|
BENEDICT O FLOINN BL |
35,445.52 |
|
|
BRENDAN CONWAY BL |
12,383.64 |
|
|
BRIAN KEARNEY BL |
4,821.60 |
|
|
BRIAN MURRAY SC |
8,303.73 |
|
|
CATHERINE DONNELLY BL |
3,505.50 |
|
|
CIARAN RAMSAY SC |
136,591.50 |
|
|
CLIONA KIMBER BL |
2,172.67 |
|
|
CONOR BOURKE BL |
62,331.48 |
|
|
DAVID QUINN BL |
9,354.15 |
|
|
DEARBHLA CUNNINGHAM BL |
22,263.00 |
|
|
DENIS MCDONALD SC |
78,351.00 |
|
|
DERMOT CAHILL BL |
21,820.20 |
|
|
DERMOT SHEEHAN BL |
13,929.75 |
|
|
DESMOND DOCKERY BL |
3,198.00 |
|
|
DOROTHY COLLINS BL |
9,225.00 |
|
|
EILEEN FINN BL |
34,378.50 |
|
|
ELAINE GRIER BL |
26,678.70 |
|
|
ELIZABETH COGAN BL |
8,382.45 |
|
|
EOGHAN FITZSIMONS S C |
10,750.20 |
|
|
EOIN CLIFFORD ESQ BL |
23,702.10 |
|
|
EOIN MCCULLOUGH SC |
1,845.00 |
|
|
FERGUS RYAN B L |
28,966.50 |
|
|
GRAINNE CLOHESSY SC |
184,413.90 |
|
|
GRAINNE DUGGAN BL |
25,015.26 |
|
|
IMOGEN MCGRATH BL |
5,018.65 |
|
|
JAMES DWYER SC |
4,674.00 |
|
|
JANE HYLAND BL |
922.5 |
|
|
JEANANNE MCGOVERN BL |
44,858.10 |
|
|
JENNIFER M O CONNELL BL |
30,319.50 |
|
|
JOHN BYRNE BL |
13,049.07 |
|
|
JOHN DONNELLY BL |
369.00 |
|
|
JOHN LUCEY SC |
645.75 |
|
|
JONATHAN TOMKIN BL |
12,730.50 |
|
|
KELLEY SMITH BL |
126,193.10 |
|
|
KEVIN SEGRAVE BL |
4,118.04 |
|
|
KIERAN BINCHY BL |
15,614.85 |
|
|
KIERAN KELLY ESQ BL |
30,731.55 |
|
|
LORCAN CONNOLLY BL |
4,637.10 |
|
|
LORCAN STAINES BL |
6,150.00 |
|
|
LORNA GALLAGHER BL |
20,590.20 |
|
|
MARK O MAHONY BL |
39,540.20 |
|
|
MAURICE COLLINS SC |
15,375.00 |
|
|
MICHAEL RAMSEY BL |
12,300.00 |
|
|
NIALL O HANLON BL |
17,664.28 |
|
|
OISIN CLARKE BL |
1,230.00 |
|
|
PATRICK QUINN SC |
64,378.20 |
|
|
PAUL ANTHONY MCDERMOTT L |
8,302.50 |
|
|
PHILIP SHEAHAN BL |
2,346.84 |
|
|
ROBERT BARRON SC |
19,249.50 |
|
|
ROBERT E BOURKE BL |
1,537.50 |
|
|
ROSEMARY HEALY RAE BL |
18,825.15 |
|
|
RUDI NEUMAN SHANAHAN BL |
1,418.19 |
|
|
SALLY GLYNN O NEILL BL |
5,043.00 |
|
|
SARAH KATE FOLEY BL |
307.50 |
|
|
SEAMUS CLARKE BL |
4,416.93 |
|
|
SERENA BENNETT BL |
393.60 |
|
|
SHELLEY HORAN BL |
35,799.15 |
|
|
THOMAS RICE BL |
2,479.68 |
|
|
TOM POWER BL |
39,089.41 |
|
|
UNA TIGHE BL |
9,938.40 |
|
|
WILL FENNELLY BL |
3,351.75 |
|
|
TOTAL |
1,712,074.69 |
|
|
|
|
|
External Solicitor Fees |
BARRY C GALVIN AND SON |
10.00 |
|
|
PTK DONAGHY & CO |
2,166.00 |
|
|
HOLMES O'MALLEY SEXTON |
888,107.18 |
|
|
IVOR FITZPATRICK |
1,092,107.85 |
|
|
LAVELLE COLEMAN |
717,486.79 |
|
|
MASON HAYES AND CURRANS |
894,981.86 |
|
|
MATHESON ORMSBY PRENTICE |
824,739.34 |
|
|
PIERSE AND FITZGIBBON |
929,781.35 |
|
|
GEORGE V. MALONEY |
558.20 |
|
|
ARTHUR COX SOLICITORS |
13,478.99 |
|
|
TOTAL |
5,363,417.56 |
Details
|
2014 |
Firm or Individual |
€ |
|
Counsel Fees |
ALEXIS MINA BL |
615.00 |
|
|
ALISON KEIRSE BL |
25,645.50 |
|
|
ANTHONY ASTON SC |
105,257.30 |
|
|
ANTHONY KERR BL |
2,257.05 |
|
|
AOIFE GOODMAN B L |
88,232.82 |
|
|
ARTHUR CUNNINGHAM BL |
55,310.02 |
|
|
BENEDICT O FLOINN BL |
93,647.91 |
|
|
BRENDAN CONWAY BL |
12,423.00 |
|
|
BRIAN MURRAY SC |
64,882.50 |
|
|
CATHERINE DONNELLY BL |
1,968.00 |
|
|
CIARAN RAMSAY SC |
162,052.50 |
|
|
CLIONA KIMBER BL |
2,816.70 |
|
|
COLM O BRIAIN BL |
984.00 |
|
|
CONOR B FAHY BL |
1,407.12 |
|
|
CONOR BOURKE BL |
64,230.60 |
|
|
DAMIEN COLGAN SC |
5,535.00 |
|
|
DAVID QUINN BL |
14,698.50 |
|
|
DEARBHLA CUNNINGHAM BL |
16,789.50 |
|
|
DENIS MCDONALD SC |
64,206.00 |
|
|
DERMOT CAHILL BL |
32,988.60 |
|
|
DERMOT SHEEHAN BL |
2,841.30 |
|
|
EILEEN BARRINGTON SC |
34,346.52 |
|
|
EILEEN FINN BL |
39,685.95 |
|
|
ELAINE GRIER BL |
28,855.80 |
|
|
EOGHAN FITZSIMONS SC |
19,293.78 |
|
|
EOIN CLIFFORD ESQ BL |
22,601.25 |
|
|
FERGUS RYAN BL |
65,343.75 |
|
|
GEORGE MAGUIRE BL |
455.10 |
|
|
GRAINNE CLOHESSY SC |
177,735.00 |
|
|
GRAINNE DUGGAN BL |
25,341.45 |
|
|
GRAINNE O NEILL BL |
2,214.00 |
|
|
HELEN O MARA BL |
6,605.10 |
|
|
JACQUELINE O BRIEN SC |
20,541.00 |
|
|
JEANANNE MCGOVERN BL |
42,785.55 |
|
|
JENNIFER M O CONNELL BL |
20,596.35 |
|
|
JOHN BYRNE B L |
22,752.54 |
|
|
JOHN DONNELLY BL |
13,010.94 |
|
|
JOHN MADDEN BL |
910.20 |
|
|
JOHN P GALLAGHER BL |
2,435.40 |
|
|
KIERAN BINCHY B L |
32,742.60 |
|
|
KIERAN KELLY ESQ BL |
51,892.47 |
|
|
LORCAN CONNOLLY BL |
369.00 |
|
|
LORCAN STAINES BL |
2,152.50 |
|
|
LORNA GALLAGHER BL |
43,834.00 |
|
|
MARK O MAHONY BL |
35,711.82 |
|
|
MAURICE COLLINS SC |
20,602.50 |
|
|
MICHAEL RAMSEY BL |
6,242.25 |
|
|
NIALL O HANLON BL |
9,298.80 |
|
|
NOEL J TRAVERS SC |
3,510.42 |
|
|
OISIN CLARKE BL |
4,305.00 |
|
|
PADRAIC HOGAN BL |
3,308.70 |
|
|
PATRICK QUINN SC |
47,970.00 |
|
|
PAUL ANTHONY MCDERMOTT BL |
1,845.00 |
|
|
PAUL MURPHY BL |
430.50 |
|
|
ROBERT BARRON SC |
5,166.00 |
|
|
ROBERT E BOURKE BL |
430.50 |
|
|
ROSEMARY HEALY RAE BL |
21,943.20 |
|
|
SALLY GLYNN O NEILL BL |
19,590.15 |
|
|
SHELLEY HORAN BL |
11,666.55 |
|
|
SORCHA CRISTIN WHELAN BL |
5,150.00 |
|
|
THOMAS RICE BL |
4,569.45 |
|
|
TOM POWER BL |
11,955.60 |
|
|
UNA TIGHE BL |
43,388.25 |
|
|
WILL FENNELLY BL |
5,535.00 |
|
|
TOTAL |
1,757,908.86 |
|
|
|
|
|
External Solicitor Fees |
ARTHUR COX SOLICITORS |
6540.71 |
|
|
PTK DONAGHY & CO |
2,836.00 |
|
|
COAKLEY MOLONEY |
430.5 |
|
|
HOLMES O MALLEY SEXTON |
976,414.46 |
|
|
IVOR FITZPATRICK |
1,330,961.74 |
|
|
LAVELLE COLEMAN |
949,842.00 |
|
|
MASON HAYES AND CURRANS |
822,289.85 |
|
|
MATHESON ORMSBY PRENTICE |
623,420.62 |
|
|
PIERSE AND FITZGIBBON |
740,185.73 |
|
|
TOTAL |
5,452,921.61 |
|
2015 |
Firm or Individual |
€ |
|
Counsel Fees |
AILBHE O NEILL BL |
5,744.10 |
|
|
ALEXIS MINA BL |
1,230.00 |
|
|
ALISON KEIRSE BL |
63,554.10 |
|
|
ANTHONY ASTON SC |
67,404.00 |
|
|
ANTHONY KERR BL |
19,089.60 |
|
|
AOIFE GOODMAN BL |
140,404.50 |
|
|
ARTHUR CUNNINGHAM BL |
83,037.48 |
|
|
BENEDICT O FLOINN BL |
112,787.90 |
|
|
BRIAN KEARNEY BL |
5,412.00 |
|
|
BRIAN MURRAY SC |
21,057.60 |
|
|
CIARAN RAMSAY SC |
131,118.00 |
|
|
CLAIRE BRUTON BL |
3,874.50 |
|
|
CLIONA KIMBER BL |
4,735.50 |
|
|
CONOR BOURKE BL |
98,049.45 |
|
|
DAVID QUINN BL |
41,518.65 |
|
|
DEARBHLA CUNNINGHAM BL |
23,800.50 |
|
|
DENIS MCDONALD SC |
13,591.50 |
|
|
DERMOT CAHILL BL |
25,209.98 |
|
|
DERMOT SHEEHAN BL |
6,671.52 |
|
|
DONAL T MCCARTHY BL |
4,257.03 |
|
|
EDWARD MURRAY BL |
250.00 |
|
|
EILEEN BARRINGTON SC |
6,088.50 |
|
|
EILEEN FINN BL |
37,638.00 |
|
|
ELAINE GRIER BL |
7,902.75 |
|
|
ELIZABETH COGAN BL |
7,355.40 |
|
|
EOGHAN FITZSIMONS SC |
19,067.46 |
|
|
EOIN CLIFFORD ESQ BL |
50,245.50 |
|
|
FERGUS RYAN BL |
92,643.60 |
|
|
GENEVIEVE COONAN BL |
1,131.60 |
|
|
GRAINNE CLOHESSY SC |
254,477.20 |
|
|
GRAINNE DUGGAN BL |
33,891.42 |
|
|
GRAINNE O NEILL BL |
2,546.10 |
|
|
HELEN O MARA BL |
3,560.85 |
|
|
IMELDA KELLY BL |
2,952.00 |
|
|
JACQUELINE O BRIEN SC |
118,756.50 |
|
|
JAMES DWYER SC |
2,460.00 |
|
|
JANE ANNE ROTHWELL BL |
1,783.50 |
|
|
JEANANNE MCGOVERN BL |
25,615.37 |
|
|
JENNIFER M O CONNELL BL |
20,725.50 |
|
|
JOHN BYRNE BL |
25,683.63 |
|
|
JOHN DONNELLY BL |
1,365.30 |
|
|
KIERAN BINCHY BL |
44,107.80 |
|
|
KIERAN KELLY ESQ BL |
67,998.09 |
|
|
LORCAN CONNOLLY BL |
393.60 |
|
|
LORNA GALLAGHER BL |
66,856.65 |
|
|
MARK O MAHONY BL |
66,565.14 |
|
|
MAURICE COLLINS SC |
33,517.50 |
|
|
MICHAEL RAMSEY BL |
2,521.50 |
|
|
MICHELLE SMITH DE BRUIN BL |
6,150.00 |
|
|
NIALL O HANLON BL |
101,312.60 |
|
|
OISIN CLARKE BL |
922.5 |
|
|
PATRICK QUINN SC |
131,856.00 |
|
|
PAUL ANTHONY MCDERMOTT BL |
1,968.00 |
|
|
ROBERT E BOURKE BL |
861.00 |
|
|
ROSEMARY HEALY RAE BL |
17,511.51 |
|
|
SALLY GLYNN O NEILL BL |
41,005.79 |
|
|
SEAMUS CLARKE BL |
2,405.88 |
|
|
SHANE MURPHY SC |
4,305.00 |
|
|
SHELLEY HORAN B L |
9,501.75 |
|
|
SIOBHAN STACK SC |
11,033.10 |
|
|
SORCHA CRISTIN WHELAN BL |
3,500.00 |
|
|
TERESA PILKINGTON SC |
10,455.00 |
|
|
THOMAS RICE BL |
2,027.04 |
|
|
TOM POWER BL |
17,090.86 |
|
|
UNA TIGHE BL |
64,095.30 |
|
|
WILL FENNELLY BL |
3,075.00 |
|
|
KEVIN PROSSER QC |
1,673.70 |
|
|
TOTAL |
2,301,398.70 |
|
|
|
|
|
External Solicitor Fees |
PHILIP LEE SOLICITORS |
49,617.17 |
|
|
FERGUS MULLEN |
3,750.00 |
|
|
KIERAN LIDDY |
307.50 |
|
|
KIERAN MADDIGAN |
2,460.00 |
|
|
PTK DONAGHY & CO |
1,800.00 |
|
|
JOHN P BOLLARD SOLICITOR |
452.78 |
|
|
HOLMES O MALLEY SEXTON |
804,636.20 |
|
|
IVOR FITZPATRICK |
769,381.17 |
|
|
LAVELLE COLEMAN |
746,909.77 |
|
|
MASON HAYES AND CURRAN |
799,628.14 |
|
|
MATHESON ORMSBY PRENTICE |
1,027,824.81 |
|
|
PIERSE AND FITZGIBBON |
739,571.46 |
|
|
BYRNE WALLACE |
144,320.76 |
|
|
DENIS I. FINN |
197,489.85 |
|
|
ARTHUR COX SOLICITORS |
28,378.85 |
|
|
TOTAL |
5,316,528.46 |
|
Details |
|
|
|
2016 |
Firm or Individual |
€ |
|
Counsel Fees |
ALISON KEIRSE BL |
12,546.00 |
|
|
ANTHONY ASTON SC |
188,153.00 |
|
|
ANTHONY KERR BL |
14,293.00 |
|
|
AOIFE GOODMAN BL |
145,780.00 |
|
|
ARTHUR CUNNINGHAM BL |
81,709.00 |
|
|
BENEDICT O FLOINN BL |
163,479.00 |
|
|
BRIAN MURRAY SC |
95,879.00 |
|
|
CIARAN RAMSAY SC |
65,498.00 |
|
|
CLIONA KIMBER BL |
2,454.00 |
|
|
CONOR BOURKE BL |
194,057.00 |
|
|
DAVID GOY QC |
10,557.00 |
|
|
DAVID QUINN BL |
42,324.00 |
|
|
DEARBHLA CUNNINGHAM BL |
46,802.00 |
|
|
DENIS MCDONALD SC |
65,621.00 |
|
|
DERMOT CAHILL BL |
54,403.00 |
|
|
DOMINIC MCGINN SC |
21,525.00 |
|
|
DONAL T MCCARTHY BL |
2,230.00 |
|
|
EILEEN BARRINGTON SC |
47,199.00 |
|
|
EILEEN FINN BL |
24,772.00 |
|
|
ELIZABETH COGAN BL |
431.00 |
|
|
EOGHAN FITZSIMONS SC |
9,053.00 |
|
|
EOIN CLIFFORD ESQ BL |
37,331.00 |
|
|
FERGUS RYAN BL |
105,682.00 |
|
|
GERARD KIELY SC |
11,070.00 |
|
|
GRAINNE CLOHESSY SC |
316,295.00 |
|
|
GRAINNE DUGGAN BL |
42,324.00 |
|
|
GRAINNE O NEILL BL |
1,932.00 |
|
|
IRENE SANDS BL |
1,506.00 |
|
|
JACQUELINE O BRIEN SC |
126,998.00 |
|
|
JEANANNE MCGOVERN BL |
49,655.00 |
|
|
JENNIFER M O CONNELL BL |
8,143.00 |
|
|
JOHN BYRNE BL |
21,229.00 |
|
|
KEVIN PROSSER QC |
5,990.00 |
|
|
KIERAN BINCHY BL |
105,104.00 |
|
|
KIERAN KELLY ESQ BL |
32,301.00 |
|
|
LORNA GALLAGHER BL |
12,362.00 |
|
|
MARGUERITE BOLGER SC |
923.00 |
|
|
MARK O MAHONY BL |
17,036.00 |
|
|
MAURICE COLLINS SC |
43,665.00 |
|
|
NIALL O HANLON BL |
32,601.00 |
|
|
NOEL J TRAVERS SC |
7,534.00 |
|
|
OISIN CLARKE BL |
3,468.00 |
|
|
PATRICK QUINN SC |
38,499 |
|
|
ROSEMARY HEALY RAE BL |
18,942.00 |
|
|
SALLY GLYNN O NEILL BL |
61,792.00 |
|
|
SHELLEY HORAN BL |
15,252.00 |
|
|
SIOBHAN STACK SC |
396.00 |
|
|
SORCHA CRISTIN WHELAN BL |
1,750.00 |
|
|
TERESA PILKINGTON SC |
1,691.00 |
|
|
THOMAS RICE BL |
923.00 |
|
|
TOM POWER BL |
431.00 |
|
|
UNA TIGHE BL |
30,135.00 |
|
|
WILL FENNELLY BL |
7,380.00 |
|
|
TOTAL |
2,449,105.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
External Solicitor Fees |
BARRY HEALY |
14,416.00 |
|
|
WILLIAM FRY |
62,722 .00 |
|
|
PHILIP LEE SOLICITORS |
93,035.00 |
|
|
HOLMES O’MALLEY SEXTON |
777,195.12 |
|
|
H.D. KEANE |
185.00 |
|
|
FERGUS MULLEN |
1,250.00 |
|
|
IVOR FITZPATRICK |
996,180.52 |
|
|
LAVELLE COLEMAN |
181,743.91 |
|
|
MASON HAYES AND CURRAN |
937,446.25 |
|
|
MATHESON ORMSBY PRENTICE |
162,526.08 |
|
|
PIERSE AND FITZGIBBON |
511,961.69 |
|
|
BYRNE WALLACE |
514,898.72 |
|
|
DENIS I. FINN |
501,469.02 |
|
|
ARTHUR COX SOLICITORS |
8,000.00 |
|
|
TOTAL |
4,763,029.32 |
|
2017 |
Firm or Individual |
€ |
|
Counsel Fees |
GRAINNE CLOHESSY SC |
257,132.00 |
|
|
CONOR BOURKE BL |
167,029.00 |
|
|
AOIFE GOODMAN BL |
181,573.00 |
|
|
DENIS MCDONALD SC |
142,496.00 |
|
|
JACQUELINE O BRIEN SC |
119,495.00 |
|
|
ARTHUR CUNNINGHAM BL |
115,196.00 |
|
|
FERGUS RYAN BL |
113,598.00 |
|
|
DAVID QUINN BL |
92,453.00 |
|
|
CIARAN RAMSAY SC |
84,009.00 |
|
|
UNA TIGHE BL |
81,795.00 |
|
|
SALLY GLYNN O NEILL BL |
77,959.00 |
|
|
KIERAN BINCHY B L |
77,330.00 |
|
|
JEANANNE MCGOVERN BL |
72,361.00 |
|
|
KIERAN KELLY ESQ BL |
67,215.00 |
|
|
BENEDICT O FLOINN BL |
61,076.00 |
|
|
ALISON KEIRSE BL |
55,719.00 |
|
|
NOEL J TRAVERS SC |
51,322.00 |
|
|
DERMOT CAHILL BL |
49,065.00 |
|
|
ANTHONY ASTON SC |
48,339.00 |
|
|
DEARBHLA CUNNINGHAM BL |
46,802.00 |
|
|
ROSEMARY HEALY RAE BL |
42,035.00 |
|
|
EOGHAN FITZSIMONS SC |
38,511.00 |
|
|
GRAINNE DUGGAN BL |
35,030.00 |
|
|
EOIN CLIFFORD ESQ BL |
27,798.00 |
|
|
BRIAN MURRAY SC |
27,491.00 |
|
|
MAURICE COLLINS SC |
23,985.00 |
|
|
PATRICK QUINN SC |
22,940.00 |
|
|
JAMES DWYER SC |
22,017.00 |
|
|
SHANE MURPHY SC |
18,635.00 |
|
|
SHELLEY HORAN BL |
16,851.00 |
|
|
LORCAN CONNOLLY BL |
16,674.00 |
|
|
JOHN BYRNE BL |
13,480.00 |
|
|
JENNIFER M O CONNELL BL |
12,823.00 |
|
|
EILEEN BARRINGTON SC |
11,562.00 |
|
|
KEVIN SEGRAVE BL |
11,077.00 |
|
|
SUNNIVA MCDONAGH SC |
10,455.00 |
|
|
SIOBHAN STACK SC |
10,332.00 |
|
|
LAURENT SYKES QC |
10,007.00 |
|
|
ANTHONY KERR BL |
8,979.00 |
|
|
DERMOT SHEEHAN BL |
8,376.00 |
|
|
TONY MCGILLICUDDY BL |
6,150.00 |
|
|
PAUL ANTHONY MCDERMOTT BL |
4,920.00 |
|
|
PATRICIA MCLAUGHLIN BL |
4,859.00 |
|
|
MICHELLE SMITH DE BRUIN BL |
4,674.00 |
|
|
ELIZABETH COGAN BL |
4,157.00 |
|
|
WILL FENNELLY BL |
3,583.00 |
|
|
TERESA PILKINGTON SC |
3,383.00 |
|
|
PHILIPP RAHN BL |
2,814.00 |
|
|
GRAINNE O NEILL BL |
2,768.00 |
|
|
IMELDA KELLY BL |
2,011.00 |
|
|
NUALA E JACKSON SC |
1,538.00 |
|
|
THOMAS RICE BL |
1,538.00 |
|
|
OISIN CLARKE BL |
1,500.00 |
|
|
FIONA CRAWFORD BL |
1,107.00 |
|
|
MICHAEL RAMSEY BL |
923.00 |
|
|
TOM POWER BL |
461.00 |
|
|
TOTAL |
2,397,402 |
|
|
|
|
|
External Solicitor Fees |
WILLIAM FRY |
614,159.00 |
|
|
PHILIP LEE SOLICITORS |
38,372.00 |
|
|
PTK DONAGHY AND COMPANY |
2,224.00 |
|
|
ENDA MCEVOY |
2,071.00 |
|
|
AMOSS SOLICITORS |
935.00 |
|
|
MICHAEL HOULIHAN AND PARTNERS |
92.00 |
|
|
HOLMES O MALLEY SEXTON |
754,062.54 |
|
|
IVOR FITZPATRICK |
1,102,254.15 |
|
|
MASON HAYES AND CURRAN |
919,730.31 |
|
|
PIERSE AND FITZBIGGON |
506,110.48 |
|
|
BYRNE WALLACE |
591.663.43 |
|
|
DENIS I. FINN |
803,921.70 |
|
|
TOTAL |
5,335,598.61 |
192. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the amount NAMA paid for consultancy services in each of the years 2012 to 2017; the details of these payments; the companies that received the payments; the amount received by each company; the hourly rates that applied to each company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32974/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnfortunately, it has taken NAMA longer than anticipated to extract the relevant information and it has not been possible provided a complete answer in the timeframe allowed by the Question. I will write to the Deputy in the near future with information provided by NAMA.
193. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the amount NAMA paid for external legal services in each of the years 2012 to 2017; the details of these payments; the companies that received the payments; the amount received by each company; the hourly rates that applied to each company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32975/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that, on a regular basis, the National Asset Management Agency requires the assistance of specialist legal services in order to assist it in meeting its statutory objective of obtaining the best achievable financial return for the State. A key criterion in the selection of service providers by NAMA is the extent to which they can provide value for money for the taxpayer.
In 2012, NAMA established a number of panels of legal firms to advise the Agency on the various aspects of the business, including enforcement, legal due diligence associated with loan acquisition, enforcement and general corporate legal services. As NAMA is a contracting authority which is subject to EU Directive 2004/18/EC (as implemented in Ireland by the European Communities (Award of Public Authorities’ Contracts) Regulations 2006 (the “Regulations”)), in respect of the procurement of goods, works and services above certain values (the “EU Thresholds”), an open procurement process was carried out under public procurement guidelines to establish these panels.
It is not possible to provide the Deputy with the hourly rates quoted by each company, as these rates, which continue to apply, are commercially sensitive to each particular company, and release of this information could have a negative impact on their businesses. However, I am advised that in each individual case, NAMA seeks to negotiate a reduction in the amount of fees charged, rather than simply relying on hourly rates. This can depend on the nature of the legal services provided, the complexity of a specific matter, or the length of time spent on providing legal services.
The fees paid to each legal firm on an annual basis from 2012-2017 is set out in the table below.
|
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
Grand Total |
|
|
McCann Fitzgerald |
273,377 |
634,216 |
581,671 |
471,688 |
110,484 |
1,153,116 |
3,224,552 |
|
Arthur Cox Solicitors |
472,707 |
310,532 |
283,272 |
258,401 |
430,015 |
353,240 |
2,108,166 |
|
EUGENE F COLLINS |
271,958 |
1,888,120 |
244,892 |
343,853 |
100,442 |
221,072 |
3,070,336 |
|
A&L Goodbody Solicitors |
300,976 |
29,734 |
115,935 |
487,113 |
198,599 |
269,602 |
1,401,960 |
|
Matheson |
402,647 |
95,907 |
128,734 |
417,853 |
14,931 |
47,643 |
1,107,715 |
|
SERVULO & ASSOCIADOS |
321,619 |
12,423 |
394,936 |
766,512 |
1,495,490 |
||
|
ALLEN & OVERY LLP |
46,078 |
571,358 |
19,458 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
636,893 |
|
BEAUCHAMPS SOLICITORS |
9,111 |
308,791 |
240,417 |
209,299 |
206,869 |
219,032 |
1,193,519 |
|
DLA PIPER UK LLP |
2,451 |
183,328 |
739,915 |
202,129 |
18,632 |
0 |
1,146,455 |
|
McCarter & English LLP |
835,058 |
276,367 |
8,796 |
79,048 |
0 |
1,199,269 |
|
|
William Fry Solicitors |
7,309 |
77,716 |
41,155 |
90,729 |
48,907 |
1,289 |
267,105 |
|
MAPLES AND CALDER |
59,948 |
100,897 |
132,166 |
66,459 |
0 |
359,470 |
|
|
BYRNE WALLACE |
116,311 |
62,144 |
130,478 |
326,399 |
74,698 |
39,200 |
749,230 |
|
Eversheds Sutherland |
48,221 |
170,847 |
112,216 |
94,127 |
0 |
161,868 |
587,279 |
|
HOGAN LOVELLS INTERNATIONAL LLP |
1,243 |
7,990 |
- 408,395 |
26,563 |
12,350 |
405,527 |
45,278 |
|
HAYES SOLICITORS |
25,196 |
36,116 |
188,494 |
161,357 |
153,870 |
350,512 |
915,545 |
|
RONAN DALY JERMYN SOLICITORS |
107,076 |
410,111 |
153,392 |
81,555 |
38,697 |
790,832 |
|
|
SIMMONS & SIMMONS LLP |
319,531 |
138,024 |
57,186 |
35,651 |
3,039 |
0 |
553,431 |
|
Mason Hayes & Curran |
37,717 |
208,431 |
84,791 |
203,950 |
1,995 |
536,884 |
|
|
TAYLOR WESSING LLP |
19,048 |
13,284 |
138,809 |
39,064 |
12,519 |
26,526 |
249,249 |
|
Quarles & Brady LLP |
18,479 |
66,752 |
39,574 |
65,477 |
201,700 |
0 |
391,982 |
|
PAUL SREENAN |
169,282 |
40,590 |
0 |
0 |
11,685 |
221,557 |
|
|
LK SHIELDS SOLICITORS |
23,556 |
32,956 |
200,784 |
49,382 |
9,696 |
0 |
316,374 |
|
Gartlan Furey Solicitors |
23,157 |
36,745 |
9,336 |
0 |
28,694 |
97,932 |
|
|
Vroninks & Ricker |
303,918 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
303,918 |
||
|
Bayern LB |
113,454 |
178,775 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
292,230 |
|
|
Lavelle Solicitors |
150,762 |
119,727 |
0 |
4,877 |
275,366 |
||
|
Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co |
98,174 |
151,483 |
0 |
0 |
249,657 |
||
|
ARTHUR COX NORTHERN IRELAND |
38,204 |
34,471 |
97,878 |
10,980 |
1,719 |
0 |
183,252 |
|
Hogan Lovells International LLP (Madrid) |
0 |
0 |
- |
142,819 |
41,880 |
0 |
184,699 |
|
Dillon Eustace |
0 |
0 |
16,336 |
46,853 |
5,848 |
64,245 |
133,282 |
|
Graf von Westphalen |
109,764 |
65,615 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
175,379 |
|
|
Cian Ferriter |
128,904 |
33,518 |
- |
0 |
0 |
0 |
162,422 |
|
Burges Salmon LLP |
0 |
153,511 |
0 |
153,511 |
|||
|
Uria Menedez |
95,715 |
14,194 |
21,618 |
0 |
131,527 |
||
|
Alfred Thornton & Company |
5,931 |
12,243 |
50,050 |
12,300 |
34,363 |
515 |
115,401 |
|
McCann Fitzgerald London Solicitors |
123,663 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
123,663 |
||
|
Taylor Wessing LLP (Munchen) |
69,259 |
52,846 |
0 |
0 |
122,105 |
||
|
OLSWANG LLP |
43,694 |
- |
0 |
0 |
0 |
43,694 |
|
|
Parker, Hudson, Rainer & Dobbs LLP |
45,704 |
62,357 |
- |
0 |
0 |
0 |
108,061 |
|
Wierzbowski Eversheds |
85,638 |
24,956 |
0 |
110,594 |
|||
|
Addleshaw Goddard LLP |
75,118 |
- |
0 |
0 |
6,954 |
82,072 |
|
|
Various Suppliers - cumulative < 100k |
426,512 |
745,851 |
1,449,555 |
120,058 |
275,262 |
204,000 |
3,221,238 |
|
Grand Total |
3,276,378 |
6,817,596 |
6,949,056 |
4,436,886 |
2,981,856 |
4,376,801 |
28,838,573 |
194. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the amount the Central Bank paid consultancy services in each of the years from 2012 to 2017; the details of these payments; the companies that received the payments; the amount received by each company; the hourly rates that applied to each company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32976/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt was not possible for the Central Bank to compile the information requested in the time allowed, therefore I will make arrangements to send the Deputy a deferred reply in line with Standing Orders.
195. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the amount the Central Bank paid for external legal services from 2012 to 2017; the details of these payments; the companies that received same; the amount received by each company; the hourly rates that applied to each company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32994/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Central Bank has provided me with the table below in relation to amounts paid for external legal services from 2012 to 2017:
|
Year |
Euro Amount |
|
2012 |
2,217,245.13 |
|
2013 |
1,749,844.25 |
|
2014 |
4,822,879.09 |
|
2015 |
4,230,516.53 |
|
2016 |
5,967,633.36 |
|
2017 |
6,498,266.36 |
Legal Service Providers are not named individually by the Central Bank on the basis that the provision of individual names may prejudice the effectiveness of "tests, examinations, investigations, inquiries or audits conducted... or the procedures or methods employed for the conduct thereof" (exemption under Section 30 of the Freedom Of Information Act 2014).
The majority of these fees were paid to five legal firms during the period 2012 – 2017:
|
Supplier |
Euro Amount |
|
Legal firm A |
8,541,717.99 |
|
Legal firm B |
8,019,189.62 |
|
Legal firm C |
3,115,271.50 |
|
Legal firm D |
664,262.86 |
|
Legal firm E |
474,496.85 |
This information captures all of the amounts paid by the Central Bank in the period from 2012 – 2017 in relation to costs posted to the Legal expense codes. However, there may be some relevant costs grouped within the capital expense codes of the Central Bank, which are not separately identifiable as Legal.
196. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the amount the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund paid for consultancy services from 2012 to 2017; the details of these payments; the companies that received same; the amount received by each company; the hourly rates that applied to each company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32995/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt was not possible for the National Treasury Management Agency to provide the information sought in the time available and, therefore, I will make arrangements to provide the information in line with Standing Orders.
197. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the amount the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund paid for external legal services from 2012 to 2017; the details of these payments; the companies that received same; the amount received by each company; the hourly rates that applied to each company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32996/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt was not possible for the National Treasury Management Agency to provide the information sought in the time available and, therefore, I will make arrangements to provide the information in line with Standing Orders.
198. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if the current reporting exemptions for social finance providers, that is, charities, will exist under the markets in financial instruments Bill; if such an exemption is not in place, if he will insert such an exemption; the potential obstacles for inserting such exemptions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33014/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the question relates to the reporting requirements to the Central Credit Register (CCR), as provided for in the Credit Reporting Act 2013, and if I will include an amendment to that Act in the Markets in Financial Instruments Bill 2018 in order exclude "social finance providers" from these CCR reporting requirements.
The CCR was established by the Central Bank of Ireland under the Credit Reporting Act and it is being implemented on a phased basis. Phase 1 is now complete and credit reports covering credit cards, mortgages, personal loans and overdraft facilities provided to consumers are now available for lenders and borrowers. Phase 2 covers lending to sole traders, partnerships, clubs and associations along with incorporated entities. This phase commenced on 30 March 2018, and lenders have until 30 September 2018 to submit information on their loans, with all information backdated to 30 March 2018.
The purpose of the CCR is to capture data on the majority of loans and credit applications in the economy so that credit providers will have access to the most comprehensive, accurate and up to-date information on a borrower's total exposure when considering an application for credit. Therefore, the CCR will contribute to overall financial stability and consumer protection by:
- providing lenders with a better analysis of borrowers’ creditworthiness;
- giving information to borrowers on their financial profile;
- giving the Central Bank a better insight into financial markets; and
- supporting the Central Bank’s role of supervising the financial sector and ensuring inancial stability.
The provisions of the Credit Reporting Act apply to all lenders that fall within the scope of the Act and the particular regulatory status of an individual lender is not a relevant factor in that context. Accordingly, there are institutions outside the regulatory remit of the Central Bank which nevertheless will fall within the scope of the Credit Reporting Act and accordingly will have to comply with the reporting and other requirements of that Act. The exclusion of certain lenders or certain classes of lenders would have the effect of diluting the comprehensive nature of the CCR and the value of the data held by the CCR. The effect of such an exclusion would be that certain types of loans are not reported and consequently such loans would not be visible to other lenders and emerging risk concentrations may not be fully understood. As such, it could restrict the achievement of the overall objectives of the CCR.
In the context of providing for a comprehensive CCR, as the Deputy is aware, the amendment to the Credit Reporting Act contained in the Markets in Financial Instruments Bill 2018 (which is currently at Dáil report stage) is solely intended to ensure that hire purchase and similar types of credit agreement will fall within the scope of the CCR. I have no plans to propose any further amendment to the Credit Reporting Act in that Bill.
199. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the estimated way in which European Central Bank interest rate increases of 0.1%, 0.25% and 0.5% would impact the level of yearly sovereign debt repayments in each year until 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33107/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) that increases in European Central Bank (ECB) interest rates would not affect the level of Ireland’s annual sovereign debt repayments in the coming years.
As of end-June 2018, the volume of medium/long-term Irish sovereign debt due to mature over the 5½ year period to end-2023 is close to €63 billion. This is just less than 30% of total Gross National Debt currently outstanding.
Any increases in ECB interest rates will not impact on those maturities although it is possible that increases in ECB interest rates could affect the cost of servicing debt. While this maturing debt is at fixed rates of interest, the cost of refinancing it could become more expensive if the ECB were to raise interest rates.
However, it is not possible to quantify in isolation the impact of any increases in ECB interest rates as there are numerous other factors affecting the yield on Irish government debt.
What I can say is that since the beginning of 2015 the NTMA has issued circa €50 billion in benchmark Irish government bonds at a weighted average yield of just above 1%. The additional full year interest impact on this level of borrowing had the average yield been 0.1%, 0.25% or 0.5% higher would be of the order of €50 million, €125 million and €250 million respectively.
Finally, I should add that the debt interest estimates set out in the April Stability Programme Update are based on prudent assumptions and reflect an increase in rates on Exchequer borrowing over the forecast period to 2021.
200. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the estimated resources that would be borrowed to spend at minimum compliance with the fiscal rules in each year until 2021, including figures for gross borrowing and additional borrowing above Government levels. [33108/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials have outlined for the Deputy the manner in which fiscal space is calculated.
As I have outlined in the Summer Economic Statement, budgetary policy will be set in order to support sustained, incremental improvements in public services and living standards. The Government will not adopt pro-cyclical policies that would threaten the living standards of Irish people – this has been tried before and we are still living with the consequences. I trust the Deputy is aware that the ratio of debt to GNI* is over 110 per cent.
201. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if the decision by his predecessor to extend to 100% the value of intangible assets that could be used to write off profit was linked to the abolition of the double Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33155/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy predecessor as Minister for Finance made it clear on many occasions that the ‘Double Irish’ was notpart of the Irish tax offering. This arrangement was just one example of the many international tax-planning arrangements which have been designed and developed by tax and legal advisers to take advantage of mismatches between the tax rules in two or more countries. This is why my predecessor made amendments to Irish company residency rules in Finance Act 2014 to bring an end to this arrangement.
I recognise the importance of ensuring effective taxation of multinational companies and believe that this should be achieved through internationally-agreed solutions to counter aggressive tax planning. Ireland has fully engaged with international efforts to counter aggressive tax planning, through both the OECD’s BEPS project and the subsequent co-ordinated action at EU level leading to the agreement of the two Anti-Tax Avoidance Directives (ATADs). Work is ongoing in Ireland, and across Europe, to implement the agreed ATAD measures and other OECD BEPS recommendations.
As I have stated previously, capital allowances for intangible assets were introduced in Finance Act 2009 to support the development of the knowledge economy and the provision of high quality employment. When the capital allowances were introduced, to ensure that a measure of tax remained in charge annually, a restriction was provided to cap the amount of income that the allowances could be used against in any year at 80%. The restriction did not deny the use of the capital allowances, it merely lengthened the time period over which they could be utilised.
Ireland is not unique in providing capital allowances for intangible assets and the tax treatment of intangible assets is similar to the approach taken in other countries, such as the UK and the US.
In Finance Act 2014, the cap of 80% was increased to 100%, effective for accounting periods commencing on or after 1 January 2015. The rationale for increasing the cap was to bring the tax treatment of intangible assets into line with the tax treatment of similar assets in other jurisdictions and to enhance the competitiveness of the Irish regime for intangible assets to make Ireland an attractive location for companies to develop intellectual property. This was in recognition of the fact that investment and growth in OECD economies is increasingly driven by investment in intangible assets.
Noting a significant increase in the use of the capital allowances in 2015, the Coffey Review recommended that, to ensure some smoothing of corporation tax revenue over time, the 80% cap should be restored, and this recommendation was acted on in Finance Act 2017. Again the cap does not affect the overall capital allowances available but merely lengthens the time frame over which they can be used.
