Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

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 Commissioners plays a vital role in our economy by collecting taxes and duties due to the State. In 2023, Revenue collected a record €127.9 billion in gross receipts against total administrative costs of €585.1 million.

The UK's departure from the European Union has had a major impact on Irish businesses and necessitated a shift in trade patterns, supply chains and the system of customs and other controls. The Revenue Commissioners and other State agencies are required by law to comply with customs controls, sanitary and phytosanitary checks and regulations in respect of goods moving between the United Kingdom and Ireland. The advent of such checks has necessitated investment in our ports and the need to replace temporary facilities with permanent infrastructure.

The infrastructure at Rosslare Europort is being developed by the Office of Public Works on behalf of Revenue and other Departments and agencies. The permanent infrastructure project consists of the construction of terminal 7, enabling works and a new border control post. The works consist of various phases of construction that will deliver new and improved facilities, entry and exit access, and significant upgrading of the infrastructure across several areas. The total cost for the Rosslare project is €236 million inclusive of VAT. Costs are being apportioned across the relevant Departments and agencies. The apportionment ratio in respect of the Revenue Commissioners is 34.4%, with Revenue's total portion over the lifetime of the project expected to cost €81.3 million. The funding requirements for the remainder of 2024 for Rosslare are €17.2 million.

Also included in the Supplementary Estimate is funding for the continued detention of the MV Matthew. It was seized in October 2023 and it has since been held at the Port of Cork in connection with ongoing court proceedings against eight persons who have been charged in relation to the seizure of more than 2,253 kg of cocaine from the vessel. In order to meet the remaining Rosslare infrastructure costs along with funding for the continued detention of the MV Matthew, a Supplementary Estimate of just under €20 million is required by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners.

I thank members for their attention. I commend the 2024 substantive and technical Supplementary Estimate for the Revenue Commissioners to the committee and I am happy to address any questions that members may have.