Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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130. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the revenue that has been collected from the temporary solidarity contribution to date; the impact this legal challenge is having on the collection of the temporary solidarity contribution (details supplied); if he has engaged with the Revenue Commissioners on the matter; if the temporary solidarity contribution is being withheld; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28630/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1854 on an emergency intervention to address high energy prices provides for a temporary solidarity contribution on unexpected surplus profits (“windfall gains”) in the fossil fuel production and refining sectors as a result of the Ukraine war.

The temporary solidarity contribution was implemented in Ireland through the Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Act 2023. This Act provides for two payments of temporary solidarity contribution in respect of the years 2022 and 2023 and also provides the Revenue Commissioners with the legislative powers to administer, collect, and enforce the temporary solidarity contribution. The payment deadline for the 2022 temporary solidarity contribution was 23 September 2023 and the payment deadline for the 2023 temporary solidarity contribution is 23 September 2024.

To date, €167,221,000 has been collected by the Revenue Commissioners and remitted to the Exchequer. The total proceeds of temporary solidarity contribution collected in 2023 were utilised towards the Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme III.

It would not be appropriate to give any comment on active legal cases that are before the courts.