Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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180. To ask the Minister for Finance the length of time the pension levy for Aer Lingus pensioners has been in place; and the amount collected each year since the pension levy on Aer Lingus pensioners was put in place. [36694/25]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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181. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will end the end the pension-annuity levy on Aer Lingus pensioners; if he will compensate the Aer Lingus pensioners for the money removed from their pensions-annuities, given the removal of the income cap to senior management at a bank (detail supplied), which makes it immoral to withhold the pensions-annuities of former staff. [36695/25]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 181 together.

I assume the pension levy the Deputy is referring to is the levy which was charged on pension schemes from 2011 to 2015 in accordance with section 125B Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999. This levy was not specific to Aer Lingus but was rather a levy that applied to pension schemes generally.

The levy was introduced in 2011 during the wake of the financial crash. It was charged on the market value of assets in pension schemes held on 30 June in each year at a rate of 0.6% (2011 to 2013), 0.75% (2014) and 0.15% (2015). It is important note that this levy was discontinued from 2016 and therefore is no longer in force.

Liability for the levy rested with trustees of pension schemes and others responsible for the management of pension fund assets. Under the legislation, the payment of the levy was treated as a necessary expense of a pension scheme and it was a matter for the trustees or insurers to decide when and how the levy should be passed on to scheme members and to what extent, given the particular circumstances of the pension schemes for which they were responsible.

I have no detailed information on the decisions made by any pension fund trustees or others in relation to the passing on of the full or a partial impact of the levy to the current, deferred or former (retired) members of pension schemes. Therefore, I am not in a position, nor is it within my remit, to comment on the specifics relating to the application of the pension levy to Aer Lingus pensions.

I am aware, however, that where trustees have made the decision to pass on the impact or part of the impact of the levy to pensioners that a smaller reduction in pension payments over the lifetime of the pension may have been made in many cases in preference to a larger reduction over a shorter period.

I have no plans to introduce any compensation measures to pensioners affected by the levy as suggested by the Deputy. The value of the funds raised by way of the levy have been used to protect and create jobs and this has helped to create the improving financial and economic position of the State during a time that the economy was in serious difficulties.

I am advised by Revenue, that they are precluded under section 851A Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, from commenting on the tax affairs of an individual, business or entity. Revenue is, therefore, not in a position to comment on the specific case or details referred to in this question.

However statistical information in respect of the pension levy is published on the Revenue website at: www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/statistics/capital-taxes/stamp-duty/receipts.aspx