Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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288. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on Ireland’s position on the indicative roadmap on the introduction of new EU own resources over the 2021 to 2027 period agreed by the EU on 10 November 2020 which includes a plastics-based contribution as of 2021, an emissions trading system-based own resource from 2023, possibly linked with a carbon border adjustment mechanism, a digital levy from 2023, a financial transactions tax-based own resource in addition to a financial contribution linked to the corporate sector or a new common corporate tax base from 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37116/20]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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 As the Deputy will be aware, on 21 July 2020, Heads of State and Government at European Council reached agreement on the Post-2020 MFF and Next Generation EU, totalling €1.82 trillion. I welcome this agreement and think this is a fair and balanced outcome and demonstrates that Europe can work collectively to deal with this once-in-a-generation crisis.

That agreement included the introduction of a plastics-based own resource in 2021, along with the expectation that the Commission will put forward proposals on a digital levy and a carbon border adjustment in 2021 and on an amended Emissions Trading System, and that the Union would work towards other new own resources, possibly including a financial transactions tax.

The agreement was then subject to discussions with the European Parliament with a view to securing its consent. The German Presidency of the Council of the EU on 10 November reached a political agreement with the European Parliament’s negotiators in those talks. The deal will now be submitted to Member States for endorsement.

Part of that agreement includes an indicative roadmap on the introduction of new own resources over the 2021 to 2027 period. This sets out that a plastics-based own resource will be introduced in 2021, and Commission proposals are expected in the coming years on own resources based on the Emissions Trading System, a carbon border adjustment mechanism, a digital levy, and possibly a financial transactions tax and/or a financial contribution linked to the corporate sector/new common corporate tax base.

If and when such proposals are received, Ireland will consider them on their merits and engage in constructive negotiations in Council following the applicable procedures under the Treaties.