Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I agree with Deputy Rabbitte that people who abuse the tax system, avoid or evade tax or operate outside the tax code are committing a serious offence against compliant taxpayers, not to mind against the law, and nobody should do that. This Government and Governments of which I have been a member have, in the past ten years and more, strengthened our legislation and enhanced the powers and capacity of the Revenue Commissioners to become a very efficient organisation in stopping breaches and defaulters.

As the Deputy knows, individual cases are not brought to the attention of the Government other than through the publication of cases by the Revenue Commissioners, a document we will all receive later in the year. I hope this case is true as it will show the success of the system and prove that the powers we have put in place, the laws we have enacted and the procedures that are operated are working effectively and that large settlements of tens of millions of pounds, the amount of money that ordinary people would not understand, are now being made by many people.

Most Members of this House are not against wealth creators but we are against people operating against the laws of the land and the Revenue Commissioners. In this case, if it is true, I congratulate the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Finance, which works with Revenue to enact the laws and procedures that ensure people are tax compliant. As far as Bovale or any other company is concerned, I am glad it was caught and has to pay up.

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