Results 2,981-3,000 of 9,252 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: EU Budgetary Proposals: Department of Finance (4 Oct 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Has the €25 billion allocated by the Union to Ukraine to date been provided in a similar way by way of subsidies and loans?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: EU Budgetary Proposals: Department of Finance (4 Oct 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: On the second track issues, Mr. Tobin spoke of the unanimity not being required in the second track. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: EU Budgetary Proposals: Department of Finance (4 Oct 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Is unanimity required with regard to Ukraine?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: EU Budgetary Proposals: Department of Finance (4 Oct 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: So it does require unanimity at EU level.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: EU Budgetary Proposals: Department of Finance (4 Oct 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Has the decision been made already or is this something we must look to make in the future?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: EU Budgetary Proposals: Department of Finance (4 Oct 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: The witnesses are not politicians but is there any concern that we may not be able to achieve that unanimity because of political or governance changes taking place in some member states?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: EU Budgetary Proposals: Department of Finance (4 Oct 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I appreciate that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: EU Budgetary Proposals: Department of Finance (4 Oct 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: It would be €2.5 billion then.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: EU Budgetary Proposals: Department of Finance (4 Oct 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I apologise to Mr. Tobin as I should know this myself but what contribution does Ireland make annually to the EU at present?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: EU Budgetary Proposals: Department of Finance (4 Oct 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Okay. I get the gist of it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: EU Budgetary Proposals: Department of Finance (4 Oct 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I will ask Mr. Tobin a few questions on the second track issues which he said are not as urgent. Am I correct in stating that in respect of some of those proposals on emissions, we are supportive of them, but when it comes to the corporate own resources, CPOR, we are not supporting that. Is that a correct analysis?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: EU Budgetary Proposals: Department of Finance (4 Oct 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Do they make that directly to the EU or is it to the member states?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: EU Budgetary Proposals: Department of Finance (4 Oct 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: So it is just another method of revenue raising by the European Union.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: EU Budgetary Proposals: Department of Finance (4 Oct 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: And we are supportive of CBAM and the emissions trading system.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: EU Budgetary Proposals: Department of Finance (4 Oct 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Then there is the corporate own resources. Will Mr. Tobin explain how that would operate in practice if it were introduced?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: EU Budgetary Proposals: Department of Finance (4 Oct 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: The countries pay, the companies do not pay, so is not an extra tax on corporations in Ireland. Their surplus is assessed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: EU Budgetary Proposals: Department of Finance (4 Oct 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: However, the surplus is assessed, the mathematical calculation is done and then there is a figure the country has to pay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: EU Budgetary Proposals: Department of Finance (4 Oct 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Due to Ireland's strong corporate activity, it could be a very high figure for us, could it not?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: EU Budgetary Proposals: Department of Finance (4 Oct 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Certainly, when it is a decision that is made that does not require unanimity-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: EU Budgetary Proposals: Department of Finance (4 Oct 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: It requires unanimity. Okay. Obviously, if it is going to be contrary to the self-interest of Ireland, we are entitled to assert our self-interest economically.