Results 9,601-9,620 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Michael Noonan: The figure is 8.03%. It is worth noting that the structure of tobacco taxation was changed in the Finance Act 2012, which resulted in a higher specific component than had been the case and the introduction of a minimum excise rate. This was mainly to protect excise revenues in the event that the price of a pack of 20 cigarettes was reduced to below €7.75. If the approach suggested...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Michael Noonan: I must correct the figure; it is 8.83%.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Michael Noonan: Deputy Donnelly explained the position very well. We did a major restructuring last year. When we did the research we also provided for a minimum rate of excise to avoid a downward leveraging of the price. This minimum rate ensures there is a threshold beyond which the cigarette companies will not lower prices further. We built this into the restructuring. Many issues arise with regard...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Michael Noonan: We would not be able to do so under EU law.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Michael Noonan: The principle is that manufacturers are free to determine price. Increases in taxes will not necessarily impact on tobacco companies' profits.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Michael Noonan: Lobbying is constant in Europe on different issues. I am sure there is room to lobby on this matter as well. However, it is also true that, across the 27 member states, attitudes to smoking vary widely. Parts of Europe have not made the connection between health and tobacco smoking that we have made. Obviously, their medical experts know, but people on the street do not. The prohibition...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Michael Noonan: I move amendment No. 71: In page 108, subsection (1)(b), line 1, to delete "and".This amendment deletes the provision in mineral oil tax law that makes it a criminal offence to purchase petrol or auto diesel from a retailer who does not hold the appropriate mineral oil trader's licence. No prosecutions are taken for this offence because persons who purchase petrol and auto diesel from...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Michael Noonan: I move amendment No. 72: In page 108, line 29, to delete "return."." and substitute the following:"return.",and (d) in section 102(1) by deleting paragraph (c).".

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Michael Noonan: The proposed amendment to subsection (5)(b) of the new section will have the effect of permanently disqualifying a transport operator from the benefits of the repayment scheme for any breach of mineral oil tax licensing requirements or for any breach of control requirements set down in the mineral oil tax regulations. This would be disproportionate for minor failures and breaches of, for...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Michael Noonan: A qualifying transport operator for the purpose of the repayment scheme is defined in subsection (1) by reference to the provisions of the national and EU laws under which transport operators are required to be licensed. The proposed amendment would add two EU regulations in respect of food hygiene and livestock transport to the provisions mentioned. The amendment is not required. While...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Michael Noonan: The rebate was introduced specifically for persons with road haulage licences. The motivation related to those who transported goods abroad. If our model for recovery is export-led growth, one can justify in policy terms a rebate for the people who carry our exported goods into other countries. Rebates were available in Belgium and France. Instead of buying diesel in Ireland, hauliers...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Michael Noonan: Having decided on the policy, my big concern was to ensure that it was not abused, and that it would be focused on the people the policy intended to assist. That is why the reference to the haulage licence and tax compliance was included. Members are familiar with people in the haulage business who are not tax compliant nor compliant with many other requirements either. We want to rule...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Michael Noonan: There is potentially a significant loss of yield on the measure. The measure will be in operation for 12 months or 18 months before we know exactly what the costs are. I want to keep the measure focused on the area where the policy change is intended to assist.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Michael Noonan: The amendment seeks a doubling of the rebate. We are allowing 7.5 cent but it seeks a doubling to 15 cent. The Deputy could say that with the rise and fall of fuel prices, there will be periods of time when the rebate will be lower than that but it is within those margins. All the risk is on the Exchequer; nobody other than the Exchequer takes any risk. I am cautious about this measure...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Michael Noonan: The 7.5 cent is based on approximately €1.54 at the pumps. If the Deputy looks at the prices when he is driving home, he will see they are drifting above that already.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Michael Noonan: The risk is coming towards the Exchequer.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Michael Noonan: Amendment No. 75 is the proposed amendment to subsection (5)(b) of the new section and would have the effect of permanently disqualifying a transport operator from the benefits of the repayment scheme for any breach of mineral oil tax licensing requirements and for any breach of control requirements set down in the mineral oil tax regulations. I appreciate the intention of the amendment is...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Michael Noonan: I think there might be a misunderstanding. The scheme envisages that it will cover purchases by fuel card and bulk purchases from an oil supplier. That is provided for already. The amendment to subsection (8)(b) and (d) of the new section, which concern the additional matters relating to the relief that may be covered by regulation made by the Revenue Commissioners, includes the setting of...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Michael Noonan: It is another excise increase. There had been no general excise increase on alcohol products since 1994. In the circumstances in which we find ourselves it is legitimate to increase excise duty on alcohol. First, it involves discretionary expenditure. Rather than increase tax where people had no choice but to pay it, it was decided to tax items where there was real choice, as in the case...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Michael Noonan: We will examine it.