David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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I want to be clear. This was not some mistake; this was intentional. If one goes to the trouble of incorporating part of one's income, one does so because one wants to reduce one's tax liability, and that is allowed. I have my own view as to whether it is morally right but it is allowed. If one then goes to the further trouble of evading tax, that is intentional and purpose-driven. That is what was happening here, and these are high-wealth individuals already benefiting from carrying out private practices in public hospitals. If the Revenue Commissioners established that this was a practice in this sector, and if there are individuals who can incorporate parts of their income like this, the question is whether it is a practice in other sectors. One example that jumps out at me is the many landlords who have multiple properties that they let out. Are there examples of individuals who own perhaps five, ten or 20 properties which they let and who incorporate the rental profits through a company? For a landlord, all rental income is taxable, is it not?