Results 43,161-43,180 of 46,267 for speaker:Simon Harris

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: I hear what the Deputy is saying but I am not familiar with it. The Government is committed to job creation and one can only presume that the Tánaiste was talking about doing everything possible to continue to create jobs. I have outlined the specific references to SARP in the legislation, and this is not in it.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: Let me start with Deputy Creighton's points, as she perhaps has more eloquently outlined what I have been trying to outline since we started our discussion on section 13. There is a jobs benefit in terms of attracting these people and every job that is created is to be welcomed. I have given members the figures. The creation of 25 jobs is not something to be sneered at, but it is about...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: I am not sure where the figure of 5,000 jobs, to which the Deputy alludes is coming from. I am not sure whether it was ever a stated intention that this relief would deliver 5,000 jobs.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: With the permission of the Chair, I must respond because I do not want Deputy Doherty to get upset if I do not answer his question. This is part of the roadmap for Ireland's tax competitiveness. It is important to convey that this is not just a stand-alone measure. It is one of the offerings to attract more foreign direct investment to Ireland. The figure of 100 people alluded to by the...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: This is where my clawback comes into play. If the person arrives in June or July Deputy Doherty is correct that he or she is eligible for it for a portion of the year, but the person will have given a commitment under the legislation to be here for a minimum of 12 months. Should he or she leave before this 12 months he or she will not be eligible for the next portion of it in the next year,...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: I stand by what I said, if the person does not spend 12 months as a relevant employee he or she will not be eligible and will be reassessed for any potential eligibility which had derived from the period he or she was here in the previous year. The person must stay the 12 months and this is how Revenue will administer the scheme.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: The Deputy is correct that one is eligible for the relief from day one, but a commitment must have been given to be here for 12 months and should the person not be here for the full 12 months he or she is no longer eligible and therefore can be reassessed by Revenue. The Deputy is correct one is eligible for the relief from day one, but this eligibility is tied in with being here for a...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: I accept the argument made by the Deputy, but I have outlined how Revenue administers the scheme with regard to somebody who does not stay for the 12 months. The Deputy reads the legislation as he does, it is administered by Revenue on the basis I have outlined. I will seek further clarity.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: They must, and if they do not perform the duties for 12 months the relief can be clawed back.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: I do not want to get overly pedantic, but the legislation is legally interpreted in the way I have outlined. One could argue the legislation does not state "who performed the duties for 12 months" but "who performs the duties for 12 months" therefore someone is eligible from day one. I do not mean to be pedantic, I am just giving my reading of it, which tallies with how Revenue interprets...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: The provision with regard to 12 months has.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: Yes.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: Correct.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: Yes.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: We will have Revenue sent a note to the committee in advance of Report Stage so members can examine this further.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: This question refers to amendments Nos. 9 and 10, which I know were ruled out of order but we can speak about the general issue. They sought to undo two of the enhancements to SARP provided for in the section. Amendment No. 10 would retain the current upper income threshold of €500,000, which we have discussed already, while amendment No. 9 would retain the current requirement for an...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for the amendment. I do not propose to accept it because I understand the Revenue Commissioners will shortly publish statistical information for the 2012 tax year and for the first time this material will include information about SARP. The material will then be updated on an annual basis. Therefore, the Minister for Finance does not see the need to have a separate...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: I do not see why it cannot do so. The information I have includes the number of employees availing of the scheme, the number of employees with employees availing of the scheme, the amount of income in respect of which tax was not deducted, the amount of tax foregone, the number of employees whose education fees were paid, the amount of education fees paid, the number of jobs created and the...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: I read this earlier but I am happy to do so again. I do not have a figure for 2014, but the provisional figure for 2013 is 25 and the final figure for 2012 is five.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: Correct.