I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and hopefully the debate will help clarify some of the issues raised by him which have caused legitimate confusion earlier on in the scheme. The CRSS is a targeted support for businesses significantly impacted by restrictions introduced by the Government under public health regulations to combat the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The support is available to companies, self-employed individuals and partnerships who carry on a trade or trading activities, the profits from …

By way of information, so the public watching will be aware of the current position, up to yesterday 15,000 businesses had registered for the scheme, covering 17,900 premises. A total of 2,400 new applications have been received in the past day or so. Claims totalling €111.6 million in respect of 15,300 premises have been received, and €110 million has already been processed for payment. Therefore, the rate of payment processing in respect of valid applications is 99%. The Deputy mentioned the possibility of re-exa…

I thank the Senator. The recommendation differs from that put forward on Committee Stage in that it proposes to exempt the PUP from taxation for the period prior to 5 August, rather than maintaining that the payment is not currently taxable. The Senator has accepted that the payments have been taxable since August and is now proposing that payments from March, when they were introduced, until that date in August be non-taxable. I repeat that the PUP is and always was taxable. There is no question here about retrosp…

As set out in the legislation to which I have referred, that is, the Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Act 2020, the period of applicability in the context of the payment is from 13 March onwards. That legislation was passed by this House on 29 July and then brought into effect on 5 August. I wish to confirm that those are the dates in question. I do not agree with the Senator's interpretation: it was always taxable from day one. I never had a different view. Most people do not have a different view. I accept t…

We discussed the issue, the principle, the background and the information that led Senator Mullen to put this recommendation forward on previous Stages. We had quite a detailed discussion and the Senator provided a lot of information on the matter. Section 195 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides for the exemption of certain earnings of writers, composers and artists and allows the Revenue Commissioners to make determinations in respect of artistic works in the following categories only: a book or other wri…

We are not excluded from making an artistic contribution to the country.

Regarding otherwise high-earning individuals, in addition to the €50,000 cap, those claiming the exemption that also avail of other specified reliefs, continue to be subject to the high earners' restriction, which limits the amount of tax relief that can be utilised in any one year to €80,000 before the restriction begins to apply. It is now a more limited scheme targeted at supporting artists on low incomes and individuals who, without the exemption, may have to earn their income elsewhere to continue in their art…

Recommendation No. 5 calls for a report on carbon pricing and carbon levies, outlining how the Government intends to apply the aforementioned principle between individuals and corporations, and the potential implications of such pricing and levies as regards costs associated with EU emission reduction commitments and future liabilities under investment protection schemes. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC, principle of common but differentiated responsibility acknowledges that the gl…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill and I thank the Deputies for their contributions to this Stage of the debate. I want to put a few points on the record. I agree with Deputy Doherty that this legislation has improved from its original iteration in the previous Dáil in that there are greater procedures in place to identify the beneficial owners. Other than that, I disagree with everything that has been said in the past 20 minutes. It was said that this legislation is being rushed through the Oireachtas…

I thank both Senators for raising this issue. The Government recognises the important role credit unions play in society as a volunteer co-operative in the area of financial institutions. In the current environment, credit unions are appropriately focusing on the health and well-being of their volunteers and staff, and on continuing to serve the needs of their members. Credit unions are important at local and national level given the community presences they have across the country. In accordance with the Credit Un…

As I already said, the Central Bank is independent in its role but I hope it is aware of this debate and takes it into consideration. It will not change its view on the matter but, at least, it will hear what is being said about it. The various credit unions should contact the Central Bank where they feel they need to make these payments. They can propose a mixture of a small dividend, large interest rebate, or 50:50 or whatever the local arrangements historically have been. If the credit union is satisfied that th…

I thank Deputy Ellis for raising the issue, which is obviously a very difficult one for the family concerned that wanted to purchase their own home. While I have an appreciation of the difficulties individuals may find themselves in as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, neither I, the Minister for Finance, nor the Central Bank of Ireland can interfere in the provision or pricing of insurance products nor do we have the power to direct insurance companies to provide cover to specific individuals or businesses. This …

I thank Deputy Ellis for his remarks. There are some cases where a person getting a mortgage for a house may not require life cover but that does not apply in this case. In some cases it may be purchased with a higher cost. I met representatives of Insurance Ireland today and raised this matter. The meeting was nicely timed because I had notice of the Deputy's matter. They told me there can be difficulties. There is no commitment but I suggest the Deputy or the people on whose behalf he speaks might contact Insuran…

I thank the Senators for raising this issue. The Minister, the Government and I have been consistent from the beginning. This payment was taxable from the day it was introduced. It always has been. There is a mass misconception about the taxation of the payment, which has always been possible. I hope to put the record straight. People who are not watching this meeting might not get the reality of the situation regarding the taxation of the PUP, but at least the correct position will be on the record of the House, e…

I wish to make a couple of points. The date of 5 August was mentioned because it was put on a statutory footing, but Senator Sherlock says it should be in the power of the Government to sort this out. Thank God we live in a democracy and the Government cannot do what it likes. It must go to the Dáil and the Seanad to change legislation when it affects people's income. I am worried about what the Senator suggested, that if she felt it was appropriate, the Government could change the taxation of people's earned or un…

They are the words she used. She suggested the Government has the power to do this. Thankfully, the Government has no power to do it. Only the Oireachtas has the power and that is why we are here today. We do not have the power. The Government cannot unilaterally change the tax law.

I will repeat what was said. Senator Sherlock said the Government should have the power to do this and should have done it anyway. Thank God we do not have the power. I do not subscribe to the philosophy that a Minister can sit in Merrion Street and change people's taxation regimes without reference to this House. It is essential that no Government should have the power to do this without coming before both Houses of the national Parliament.

It is the Oireachtas that makes these changes. As to suggesting that the Government has the power to do what it likes on Report Stage, it does not. If the Government does not have the numbers to carry what it wants on Report Stage, it does not carry. The Dáil and the Seanad carry it. A Minister or a Government does not run this House-----

-----aside from the numbers voting to support a Minister's point of view. No Minister can unilaterally change anything when it comes to these taxation matters, and I say "Thank God" for that and that we have a parliament. I would not like to have the route that was suggested. It might not have been intentionally suggested, but that is what was said today. The other point I wish to make is important. There is a Schedule to the social welfare legislation of social welfare payments that are exempt from income tax. The…

I take the Senator's clarification on what she meant. She meant the Government here in the Oireachtas tabling the recommendation. I interpreted her as suggesting the Government could unilaterally make a change by statutory instrument, through a Minister in his office. I accept she meant the Government could put it through the House because it has the numbers to do so. I take the point. I interpreted it one way and the Senator is clarifying that is not what she meant. I accept that. It is important to recognise that…