Results 44,941-44,960 of 46,267 for speaker:Simon Harris

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners
Chapter 7 - Audit of Revenue 2011
Chapter 8 - Revenue Outturn 2011
Chapter 9 - Revenue Debt Collection
Chapter 10 - Increasing Tax Compliance (21 Feb 2013)

Simon Harris: Ms Feehily need not provide specific examples but is she of the view that State agencies are doing enough to ensure that they are meeting their tax liabilities? She made some comments, which are both helpful and alarming, in respect of the fact that State agencies do not use tax advisers. Before she arrived, we engaged in a discussion on the substantial sums of money with which some of...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners
Chapter 7 - Audit of Revenue 2011
Chapter 8 - Revenue Outturn 2011
Chapter 9 - Revenue Debt Collection
Chapter 10 - Increasing Tax Compliance (21 Feb 2013)

Simon Harris: I do not expect Ms Feehily to delve into the area of policy. I refer to a story in the media which has been circulating around these corridors, that Revenue made it clear to Government officials that it could only take on one additional project this year. It was said that Revenue told Government it could not deal with any other project this year if it were to deal with the property tax. It...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners
Chapter 7 - Audit of Revenue 2011
Chapter 8 - Revenue Outturn 2011
Chapter 9 - Revenue Debt Collection
Chapter 10 - Increasing Tax Compliance (21 Feb 2013)

Simon Harris: It has been useful to hear that clarification from Ms Feehily. The numbers of Revenue staff have been reduced in line with all other public service organisations. The Revenue Commissioners said that cuts of €15 million to their budget could lead to losses for the taxpayer of €434 million in 2013. That seems an astonishing assertion.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners
Chapter 7 - Audit of Revenue 2011
Chapter 8 - Revenue Outturn 2011
Chapter 9 - Revenue Debt Collection
Chapter 10 - Increasing Tax Compliance (21 Feb 2013)

Simon Harris: I think they did. It was in a response to a parliamentary-----

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners
Chapter 7 - Audit of Revenue 2011
Chapter 8 - Revenue Outturn 2011
Chapter 9 - Revenue Debt Collection
Chapter 10 - Increasing Tax Compliance (21 Feb 2013)

Simon Harris: I take Ms. Feehily's point. Regardless of who said what or the order of it, could a cut of €15 million actually result in nearly half a billion less in tax being taken in?

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners
Chapter 7 - Audit of Revenue 2011
Chapter 8 - Revenue Outturn 2011
Chapter 9 - Revenue Debt Collection
Chapter 10 - Increasing Tax Compliance (21 Feb 2013)

Simon Harris: That is very useful information. I have three further questions. What joint investigations have been carried out with the Department of Social Protection in the past year? What have been the yields from those investigations? What sectors produced those yields?

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners
Chapter 7 - Audit of Revenue 2011
Chapter 8 - Revenue Outturn 2011
Chapter 9 - Revenue Debt Collection
Chapter 10 - Increasing Tax Compliance (21 Feb 2013)

Simon Harris: This is an issue that rings alarm bells in the minds of every public representative. I suppose that is the challenge for the Revenue because we are always telling Departments to talk to each other and when that happens, we give out about the way it is done. With hindsight, the issue caused a lot of concern. I ask Ms Feehily to evaluate how that was dealt with.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners
Chapter 7 - Audit of Revenue 2011
Chapter 8 - Revenue Outturn 2011
Chapter 9 - Revenue Debt Collection
Chapter 10 - Increasing Tax Compliance (21 Feb 2013)

Simon Harris: Will the Revenue use online media?

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners
Chapter 7 - Audit of Revenue 2011
Chapter 8 - Revenue Outturn 2011
Chapter 9 - Revenue Debt Collection
Chapter 10 - Increasing Tax Compliance (21 Feb 2013)

Simon Harris: Ms Feehily had referred extensively to the valuation model that Revenue has in place. If I am living in a house and I put in an extension next year, for example, a downstairs bedroom and bathroom, in my house, is there some way the Revenue model can work that out? If I am in that scenario will I have to pay for a valuation?

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners
Chapter 7 - Audit of Revenue 2011
Chapter 8 - Revenue Outturn 2011
Chapter 9 - Revenue Debt Collection
Chapter 10 - Increasing Tax Compliance (21 Feb 2013)

Simon Harris: If I am going to put in an extension, it would be best to wait until June or July. In the interests of public information, what is the position on the issue of proof? Let us suppose I decide to get a private valuation.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners
Chapter 7 - Audit of Revenue 2011
Chapter 8 - Revenue Outturn 2011
Chapter 9 - Revenue Debt Collection
Chapter 10 - Increasing Tax Compliance (21 Feb 2013)

Simon Harris: I should keep it rather than send it to the Revenue. Then, if Ms Feehily or one of her colleagues comes looking for it, I give it up at that stage. Is that correct? Ms Feehily has dealt with the issue of aerial photographs. We have been hearing a good deal as well in the media in recent weeks about the snitch clause. If I buy a house from another party and that party has under-declared...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners
Chapter 7 - Audit of Revenue 2011
Chapter 8 - Revenue Outturn 2011
Chapter 9 - Revenue Debt Collection
Chapter 10 - Increasing Tax Compliance (21 Feb 2013)

Simon Harris: It is helpful to put that message out. Ms Feehily referred earlier to the option of paying by cash. She indicated that the Revenue was in discussion with various service providers. I presume the Revenue is in discussion with An Post.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners
Chapter 7 - Audit of Revenue 2011
Chapter 8 - Revenue Outturn 2011
Chapter 9 - Revenue Debt Collection
Chapter 10 - Increasing Tax Compliance (21 Feb 2013)

Simon Harris: Deferrals and exemptions have been mentioned. Does Revenue have an estimate of the number of people who will be eligible for an exemption?

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners
Chapter 7 - Audit of Revenue 2011
Chapter 8 - Revenue Outturn 2011
Chapter 9 - Revenue Debt Collection
Chapter 10 - Increasing Tax Compliance (21 Feb 2013)

Simon Harris: Can Mr. O'Leary break that down between exemptions and deferrals?

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners
Chapter 7 - Audit of Revenue 2011
Chapter 8 - Revenue Outturn 2011
Chapter 9 - Revenue Debt Collection
Chapter 10 - Increasing Tax Compliance (21 Feb 2013)

Simon Harris: I would be interested if the Department could do so. That would be useful. My understanding is that there will be a liability on local authority housing but that the liability will be met by the local authorities. This means the Revenue will be corresponding with the local authorities in the same way as with private owners.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners
Chapter 7 - Audit of Revenue 2011
Chapter 8 - Revenue Outturn 2011
Chapter 9 - Revenue Debt Collection
Chapter 10 - Increasing Tax Compliance (21 Feb 2013)

Simon Harris: That work is ongoing.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners
Chapter 7 - Audit of Revenue 2011
Chapter 8 - Revenue Outturn 2011
Chapter 9 - Revenue Debt Collection
Chapter 10 - Increasing Tax Compliance (21 Feb 2013)

Simon Harris: That is interesting. The delegation has been here for one and a half hours. The property tax is probably the most pressing issue on the minds of the public but Revenue is involved in some other bits and pieces on an ongoing basis.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners
Chapter 7 - Audit of Revenue 2011
Chapter 8 - Revenue Outturn 2011
Chapter 9 - Revenue Debt Collection
Chapter 10 - Increasing Tax Compliance (21 Feb 2013)

Simon Harris: I would like to get a sense from the delegation of what, if anything, is suffering in Revenue as a result of the property tax. Obviously, it has presented a significant onus or task, as outlined by Ms Feehily today, and it seems to me that the Revenue is meeting it well. I hope that I will be able to say as much when Ms Feehily is next here after the tax has been implemented. What is not...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners
Chapter 7 - Audit of Revenue 2011
Chapter 8 - Revenue Outturn 2011
Chapter 9 - Revenue Debt Collection
Chapter 10 - Increasing Tax Compliance (21 Feb 2013)

Simon Harris: I thank Ms Feehily and her team for their attendance today. I am struck by the huge contrast between Ms Feehily's appearance today and that of officials from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in the past concerning the household charge. I assume a significant number of lessons have been learned as a result of how the campaign to collect the household charge...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (21 Feb 2013)

Simon Harris: I recently submitted a raft of parliamentary questions and correspondence with State agencies about the amount of money various State agencies and local authorities have on deposit. I estimate there could be up to €3 billion on deposit in hundreds of accounts throughout the country. These are public accounts and I will not read all of the figures into the record but, for example, the...