I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 to 184, inclusive, together.
On 17th July 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.