Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am sure we can dip in and out of that debate during the course of the day.

The Government is very mindful of the sacrifices made by low and middle income families. Budget 2015 was the first step in an attempt to alleviate some of those burdens. This relief is an attempt to attract key decision-makers into boardrooms in Ireland. Let us be realistic. There are massive companies with headquarters in various parts of the world with key crucial and influential personnel sitting in their boardrooms. This country must make a decision as to whether we want to attract those people to come here. They are very mobile, and they are not paying any tax in Ireland because they are not living here. If we can get them to come here, they will be paying tax, albeit less tax than they would be paying without SARP, but I contend they would not be here without SARP. In addition and much more important than the tax contribution they make to the State, they are bringing influence to Dublin, to Cork, to Ireland. They are bringing decision-making capacity to this country and they have the opportunity to see what this country has to offer in terms of locating a new product or a new element of their business.

Deputy McGrath asked what other countries have such schemes and how these schemes operate. I have information on the Netherlands, France, Sweden, Luxembourg and Switzerland. I can provide the Deputy with that information if he wishes. The report is available on the Department's website. The Netherlands has a scheme commonly known as the 30% rule.

This scheme provides an exemption from tax on 30% of the salary for up to ten years for qualifying assignees. France provides a special exemption scheme for expatriates who have not been tax resident in France for the previous five years. The scheme is available for a maximum of five years and exemptions are capped at 50%. Switzerland has quite a complex tax system. Its tax is charged at federal and canton level. While each of its 26 cantons has its own tax rates, local tax rates can be negotiated individually and principally for companies as cantons compete with each other to attract multinationals and individuals. There is no national rule in Switzerland. However, most cantons give assignees some level of preferred tax treatment.

In terms of what these changes will cost, the Government does not have a specific target for the number of people who will avail of the relief. It is not possible to anticipate accurately how many will do so. The IDA and others promoting Ireland around the world and trying to attract key decision-makers here, some of whom I had an opportunity to meet when in London last week, are the people looking for such measures to be put in place.

Deputies Michael McGrath, Richard Boyd Barrett, Pearse Doherty and Brian Walsh asked about loss of tax. I dispute the way that is presented because I would contend that these individuals are not coming here for SARP. On the number of employees, we do not have the 2013 confirmed figures. However, I can give the provisional figures. The number of employees who availed of the scheme in 2013 is 36; the number of employers with employees availing of the scheme in Ireland is 31; the amount of income in respect of which tax was not deducted is €46,276; the amount of tax forgone is €18,973; and the total figure in respect of the amount of tax forgone in 2012 is €111,721.60. The provisional figure for 2013 in respect of the number of jobs created and retained is 25 and 4, respectively. While this is about jobs and individual job numbers, it is also about having the capacity in Ireland for it to be considered as a location for further expansion. The international financial services companies based here want people, when making a decision about expansion or a new product, to consider locating here.

This scheme is time limited. Also, it is important to point out that there is no exemption in relation to USC or PRSI.