Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 168: To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of revenue generated arising from memorandums of understanding (details supplied) with tobacco companies in 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009. [42946/09]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 184: To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of revenue that has been generated arising from memorandums of understanding between his Department and tobacco companies in each of the years 2007, 2008 and to date for 2009. [43078/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 184 together.

I assume that the Deputy is referring to the Anti-Contraband and Anti-Counterfeit Agreements concluded between the European Community together with participating Member States and Philip Morris International (PMI) and Japan Tobacco International (JTI) on 9 July 2004 and 14 December 2007 respectively. These agreements provide a legal basis for co-operation between the European Anti Fraud Office, together with the Customs Services of the participating Member States and the tobacco manufacturers concerned in tackling the illicit trade in counterfeit and contraband cigarettes. This is implemented through a combination of sharing of information on counterfeit cigarettes and ensuring that legitimate product is not diverted into the illicit trade, through a combination of tracking and tracing consignments and carrying out due diligence checks on customers. The agreements also provide for both an upfront payment to be divided between the participating Member States and the European Commission and also payments in respect of certain qualifying seizures of cigarettes.

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the payments received to date under these agreements are as follows:

2007 - No payments received.

2008 - €965,378.52 received on 5 September 2008 in respect of 2007 from JTI.

- €959,703.49 received on 24 December 2008 in respect of 2008 from JTI.

2009 – No payment received to date but payment is expected before the end of 2009 from JTI.

These payments are in respect of Ireland's portion of the phased payments due over 15 years under Article 8 of the JTI Agreement. Ireland is ineligible for similar payments from PMI because it did not accede to this Agreement until 19 April 2005.

No seizure payments, (i.e. payments in respect of seizures of genuine branded cigarettes of 50,000 cigarettes or more manufactured by the companies concerned that have not been released for consumption in the European Union) have been received from the companies concerned between 2007 and the present date. However one payment of €18,101.22 was received on 22 December 2006 in respect of a seizure of Philip Morris cigarettes made at New Ross, County Wexford on 6 December 2005. In addition to these agreements, Revenue also concluded a national Memorandum of Understanding with JTI on 4 November 2009 which provides for co-operation and exchange of relevant information. While no payments flow directly from this type of agreement, it is valuable in developing intelligence in the fight against tobacco smuggling.

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 169: To ask the Minister for Finance the Exchequer's annual indirect taxation income on a county basis from 2005 to date in 2009 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42948/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the exact information sought for indirect taxation on a county basis is not available. However, Revenue sheriffs, county registrars or their officers operate for the purposes of enforcement of tax debt within certain geographical boundaries known as a "bailiwick" which equates geographically with "county". Data on the net receipts of some taxes can be linked to bailiwicks to provide an estimated breakdown of receipts on a county basis.

The following table sets out the estimated breakdown of net receipts for VAT (Domestic) for the years 2005 to 2008 inclusive. Basic data is not recorded in such a manner as would enable a breakdown by county to be provided in respect of the yield from Customs, Excise and VAT at the point of Import. Corresponding figures for 2009 will not be available until some time after the end of the year.