Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 6 October 2020

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach

Revised Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance (Revised)
Vote 8 - Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Revised)
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revised)
Vote 10 - Tax Appeals Commission (Revised)

Photo of Steven MatthewsSteven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for missing the first meeting but it clashed with a housing committee meeting and I was unable to attend. I congratulate the Chairman on his appointment. I thank the Minister of State for his attendance today and his statement.

I take up the Chairman's point on the requirement for investment in better roll-on and roll-off facilities or a direct port connection to Europe. Rosslare Europort springs to mind in that regard. It is a port that has land and capability around it for expansion and improvement. It also has the advantage of being connected by rail to the Dublin-Belfast rail line. A small portion of the port is not connected to the western rail corridor, which is the section between Rosslare strand and Waterford central. There is a rail line there so has the Department considered the prominence that Rosslare Europort may take because of Brexit? Will it actively consider engaging with the Department of Transport to look at the section between Rosslare strand and Waterford central with a view to providing a commuter, tourist or sail and rail link from Europe and facilitating shipping and freight services along the line?

Page 34 of the Estimates document refers to receipts in respect of the environmental levy. This is a charge with respect to the "Department of Environment, Community and Local Government" and that may have been the name of the Department when the plastic bag levy was introduced. The cost or charge to the Department seems to remain steady and this is in line with previous years. Does this charge remain constant, regardless of the levy? I imagine the levy must be considerably lower than what it was when introduced. Why does the charge to the Department remain constant if the levy is much smaller?

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