Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 February 2022
286. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Finance the number and value of voluntary salary and pension surrenders for 2020 and 2021, by Department in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4539/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that Section 483 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, provides for a gift on an annual basis to be made to the Minister for Finance to be applied for any purpose for or towards the cost of which public moneys are provided.
Gifting of salary is a personal matter for individual taxpayers. If an official wishes to gift part of his or her salary, the relevant Department is required to put in place administrative arrangements to facilitate this.
The tax affairs of individual taxpayers cannot be disclosed due to the obligation to protect taxpayer confidentiality as provided for by section 851A of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997. Furthermore, I understand that there are considerations under General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in relation to the disclosure of personal data.
However, aggregate information in relation to money received from Government Departments is reported in the Finance Accounts - Audited Financial Statements of the Exchequer, Statement 1.2 Non-Tax Revenue – Current and Capital, which are audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General and published each year.
