Written answers

Wednesday, 18 November 2009

9:00 pm

Photo of Seymour CrawfordSeymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of money received by the Exchequer from the sale of alcohol from 2004 to 2008; the amount he has received to date in 2009; his views on whether there is a major transfer of tax into Northern Ireland; if he will ensure that budget 2010 will recognise same and resolve this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42312/09]

Photo of Brian Lenihan JnrBrian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the yield received by the Exchequer from the sale of alcohol from 2004 to 2008 is in respect of Alcohol Products Tax and VAT, are as follows:

Alcohol Products Tax Yield

BeerSpiritsWineCiderTotal
€ m€ m€ m€ m€ m
2004458.2314.9184.864.21,022.1
2005457.3319.8195.166.11,038.3
2006460.7338.0209.269.21,077.1
2007464.8367.6230.268.31,130.9
2008427.1350.9231.360.61,069.9
2009 (Jan to Oct)338.4200.2194.048.5781.1

The data on Alcohol Products Tax for 2009 is for the period January to the end of October 2009 and is provisional.

The VAT yield provided below in respect of alcohol is estimated, as the information to be furnished on VAT returns does not require the yield from particular sectors of trade to be identified.

Estimated VAT Yield

200420052006200720082009(Jan to Oct)
AlcoholEst.Est.Est.Est.Est.Est.
€m€m€m€m€m€m
Beer510521532542536397
Spirits218226240270259197
Wine & Cider258275302310294223
Total9861,0221,0741,1221,089816

A Report prepared by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and the Central Statistics Office into the implications of Cross Border Shopping for the Irish Exchequer, was published in February this year and is available on my Department's website. The Report noted that the main causes for the change in price differentials between goods in Northern Ireland and the Republic over recent years has been the rapid depreciation of Sterling against the Euro. It is a long-standing practice for the Minister for Finance not to comment in advance of the Budget on any tax or expenditure matters that might be the subject of Budget decisions and I do not propose to deviate from that practice.

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