Written answers

Monday, 11 September 2023

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Energy Policy

Photo of Darren O'RourkeDarren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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179. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated revenue that would be generated in 2024 if the temporary solidarity contribution were applied from 1 January to 31 December 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38971/23]

Photo of Darren O'RourkeDarren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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180. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated revenue that would be generated in 2024 if the temporary solidarity contribution at a rate of 80% were applied from 1 January to 31 December 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38974/23]

Photo of Darren O'RourkeDarren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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181. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated revenue that would be generated in 2024 if the temporary solidarity contribution at a rate of 85% were applied from 1 January to 31 December 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38976/23]

Photo of Darren O'RourkeDarren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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182. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated revenue that would be generated in 2024 if the temporary solidarity contribution at a rate of 90% were applied from 1 January to 31 December 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38979/23]

Photo of Darren O'RourkeDarren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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183. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated revenue that would be generated in 2024 if the temporary solidarity contribution at a rate of 95% were applied from 1 January to 31 December 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38981/23]

Photo of Darren O'RourkeDarren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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184. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated revenue that would be generated in 2024 if the temporary solidarity contribution at a rate of 100% were applied from 1 January to 31 December 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38983/23]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 to 184, inclusive, together.

On 17thJuly 2023, the Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Act 2023 passed through the Houses of the Oireachtas and was signed into law by the President.

The Act introduces a temporary solidarity contribution to fossil fuel companies on earned unexpected surplus profits (“windfall gains”) for the years 2022 and 2023 as a result of the Ukraine war. Through the Act, taxable profits which are more than 20% above the baseline period from 2018 to 2021 will be subject to the temporary solidarity contribution at a rate of 75%.

In accordance with Article 18 of Council Regulation 2022/1854, the temporary solidarity contribution is a temporary measure and is only to apply to fiscal years 2022 and 2023 and there is no legal basis for it to be continued to 2024.

In addition, a significant component of the model used to estimate revenue from the temporary solidarity contribution is taxable profits for the relevant year. As the 2024 taxable profits will not be known until the companies publish their 2024 Financial Accounts during 2025, my Department are not in a position to currently provide an estimate of the potential revenue that would be raised from a continuation of the temporary solidarity contribution into 2024.

Photo of Darren O'RourkeDarren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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185. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated revenue generated by temporary solidarity contributions in 2023 if the temporary solidarity contribution set at a rate of 100% was applied from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2023. [39019/23]

Photo of Darren O'RourkeDarren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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186. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated revenue generated by the temporary solidarity contribution in 2023 if the temporary solidarity contribution set at a rate of 95% was applied from 1 January 2022 to December 2023. [39020/23]

Photo of Darren O'RourkeDarren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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187. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated revenue generated by temporary solidarity contributions in 2023 if the temporary solidarity contribution set at a rate of 90% was applied from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2023. [39021/23]

Photo of Darren O'RourkeDarren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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188. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated revenue generated by temporary solidarity contributions in 2023 if the temporary solidarity set at a rate of 85% was applied from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2023. [39022/23]

Photo of Darren O'RourkeDarren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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189. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated revenue generated by temporary solidarity contribution in 2023 if the temporary solidarity contribution set at a rate of 80% was applied from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2023. [39023/23]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 to 189, inclusive, together.

On 17thJuly 2023, the Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Act 2023 passed through the Houses of the Oireachtas and was signed into law by the President.

In accordance with Council Regulation 2022/1854, the Act introduces a temporary solidarity contribution to fossil fuel companies on earned unexpected surplus profits (“windfall gains”) for the years 2022 and 2023 as a result of the Ukraine war. Through the Act, taxable profits which are more than 20% above the baseline period from 2018 to 2021 will be subject to the temporary solidarity contribution at a rate of 75%.

A rate of 75% is considered appropriate and is one of the highest in Europe (e.g. Slovakia 70%, Romania 60%, Czechia (60% for 2023)). Other countries have implemented the minimum rate of 33% in the Council Regulation. As the rate of 75% is contained within commenced legislation, any subsequent efforts to amend this legislation would likely carry significant risks to Ireland’s reputation and credibility.

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