Results 1-20 of 1,065,196 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:John McGuinness OR speaker:Michael Healy-Rae OR speaker:Claire Kerrane OR speaker:Maurice Quinlivan OR speaker:Neale Richmond OR speaker:Carol Nolan OR speaker:Gerald Nash OR speaker:Colm Brophy OR speaker:Heather Humphreys)

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

John McGuinness: I will not labour the point. The retailers have reported it to me, the Garda and any public representative they have met in this House. It seems there is almost a reluctance to tackle that illegal activity head-on and prevent it. They refer to the lack of scanners at the various entry points to the country. I am highlighting it here because my background was in retail at one stage, and I...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Neale Richmond: I thank Deputy Durkan. On the Chairperson's point, I assure him I will undertake the two latter issues he raised, particularly regarding the issue of the illicit smuggling of cigarettes. I am more than happy to make sure Revenue has, as I said, the adequate resources it requires. I share the Chair's concern in that regard. On the other two issues regarding the legal case and public...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

John McGuinness: Since it is placed on record, the Minister of State might send the committee a copy of a note to that effect and maybe raise it with the chairman of Revenue and ask him to correspond with the committee, whoever is here after 29 November, or whenever it is going to be. We will be able to take it up. They are genuine, honest-to-God cases.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Neale Richmond: I thank the Deputy. I will make sure a letter is sent from me to the Chair and make sure a copy is furnished to the committee. I will allow the Chair to make sure the copy is circulated to all members of the committee.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

John McGuinness: I thank the Minister of State.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Neale Richmond: I was doing a little bit of mathematics in my head. I appreciate Deputy Durkan raising this issue. The total amount the taxpayer has paid so far is €68.5 million to the end of this year, which will cover the required costs at Rosslare post Brexit.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Neale Richmond: All the installations.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Neale Richmond: It is important to note that approximately €51 million of the money for Rosslare, most of it, qualified for Brexit adjustment reserve funding through our good friends across the European Union.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

John McGuinness: I propose that we agree that consideration of Supplementary Estimates for the Department of Finance has concluded. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Message to the Dáil (5 Nov 2024)

John McGuinness: In accordance with Standing Order 101, the following message will be sent to the Dáil: The Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach has completed its consideration of the following Supplementary Estimate for public services for the year ending 31 December 2024: Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

John McGuinness: We will continue our consideration of the Estimates. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, and his team of officials. As usual, we will have an opening statement and members can then question the Estimates.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Neale Richmond: I am pleased to have the opportunity to appear before the committee today to discuss the 2024 Supplementary Estimates. As Minister of State at the Department of Finance, I will be discussing one of the four Votes within the finance group of Votes, namely, Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners. I look forward to a fruitful and positive exchange. The Office of the Revenue...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

John McGuinness: Does Deputy Conway-Walsh wish to contribute?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

John McGuinness: Can the Minister of State fill us in a little on the boat that is being held? The Minister of State outlined it there. It is a €20 million cost.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Neale Richmond: I am limited in what I can say because it is subject to court proceedings.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

John McGuinness: That is okay.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Neale Richmond: The boat has been held for some time in order to allow it be submitted as evidence to those court proceedings and it is hoped that process will conclude in the coming months. It requires quite a bit of maintenance through this period. We hope we will not require it much longer than another month or so.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

John McGuinness: Who gains from the payment of that €20 million? How does it happen?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Neale Richmond: The €20 million is paid to the people who maintain the boat and are harbouring it in the Port of Cork. This is keeping the scene preserved in order that it can be used in court proceedings.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

John McGuinness: I understand. Can the Minister of State tell me a little about the black economy and the Revenue Commissioners' examination of containers that come in through our ports relative to cigarette smuggling, alcohol smuggling and so on? We have been told by those at the coalface of retail business that there is a huge amount of undetected cigarettes and alcohol coming through the ports and that...