Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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90. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is considering making changes to the forthcoming finance Bill to deal with past issues pertaining to other sectors of the agricultural industry, similar to those in the poultry industry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40689/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware a legislative measure was introduced in Finance Act 2016, which enables me to exclude by Ministerial Order, from the Flat Rate Scheme, any specified agricultural sector where the business structures or models employed result in a systematic excess of flat-rate addition payments over input costs borne by flat-rate farmers within that sector.

This legislative measure applies to all agricultural sectors. I can make an order for exclusion where the Revenue Commissioners has carried out a review on an agricultural sector and I am satisfied that, because of the business structures, contractual arrangements or models in place, the application of the flat-rate addition within that sector has resulted in, and would otherwise continue to result in, a systematic excess of flat-rate addition payments over input costs incurred by flat-rate farmers in that sector.

I am advised by Revenue that they are conscious of the risks and are actively looking for indications of the emergence of similar structures and contractual arrangements in other agricultural sectors. I am currently aware of claims concerning one particular agricultural sector, the poultry sector, but I am not aware of other such instances. I would encourage the Deputy to provide any information he has concerning such activities to Revenue.