Consultation update
Details of significant consultation exercises currently being carried out by government departments, and other State and European bodies. Queries on individual consultations should be referred to the organisation concerned, as outlined.
Áras an Uachtaráin
A presidency of ideas
Since taking office, the President has pledged a presidency of ideas “recognising and open to new paradigms of thought and action” with a practical focus on improving the lives of citizens. Seminars will review how Ireland has made choices since 2000 and the potential alternatives going forward. The first will focus on young people and the second will turn to the importance of ethics. Dates and locations of seminars are not yet available but interest groups and members of the public can find out more information by contacting:
Áras an Uachtaráin, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8
Tel: 01 617 1000
Email: webmaster@president.ie
European Commission
EU citizenship and future of the union
Opened 9 May
The Commission is preparing a report entitled ‘EU citizens – Your rights, your future’. All citizens across the continent are asked to report any obstacles that they encounter when living, studying, working, shopping or travelling within the EU.
Citizens are also asked how they would like the European Union to develop in the near future and the kind of EU in which they would like to live in 2020.
EU citizenship rights also include voting and standing in other member states’ local and European elections, receiving assistance from other EU country embassies or consulates, and lobbying the European Parliament, European Ombudsman and European Commission. A previous Citizenship Report was published in 2010.
Comments and responses should be submitted by 9 September to: Directorate General for Justice, European Commission
B-1049 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: 00 800 6789 1011
Email: JUST-EUCITIZENSHIP-CONSULTATION@ec.europa.eu
Online questionnaire: ec.europa.eu/yourvoice/consultations
Department of Finance
Tax residence rules
Opened 1 May
The Programme for Government committed the Government to ensuring that ‘tax exiles’ made a fair contribution to the Exchequer. This was followed by the abolition of the citizenship condition for payment of the domicile levy in Budget 2012. The purpose of the levy is to ensure that individuals with strong links with Ireland make a minimum tax contribution.
Further changes are planned in 2013. The Commission on Taxation recommended that the current test for determining the tax residence of an individual (183 days in a tax year or 280 days over two consecutive years) should be supplemented by additional criteria, including a permanent home test and a test based on an individual’s ‘centre of vital interests’.
The Minister welcomes views on whether or not, and how, the current day counting rules should be amended (or supplemented); the appropriateness of citizenship as a basis for taxation; whether or not, and how, the conditions for and/or the range of application of the domicile levy should be changed; and whether or not the domicile levy should continue in place if the rules for determining residence were modified.
Comments and responses should be submitted by 1 August to:
Residence Consultation, Capital and Savings Taxation Policy Unit, Economic and Taxation Division, Department of Finance, Government Buildings, Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2
Tel: 01 676 7571
Email: residence.consultation@finance.gov.ie
