Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

What people should take from this is that they should place their trust in the integrity, competence and professionalism of the Office of the Revenue Commissioners to deal with this matter comprehensively as it has dealt with other matters that come to its attention. That is what people should make of it. I have spoken to the Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners, who comes to visit me from time to time regarding developments and issues that arise, and he has my total confidence. That is based on an outstanding performance by him and his staff. Compliant taxpayers may be assured that anyone who has been involved in tax evasion, which is an offence, will be dealt with and that the returns to the taxpayer will be what one would expect based on the investigations which are continuing.

Neither the Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners nor anyone else is in a position, because it is too early in the investigations, to comment on the likely receipts. That issue, with a range of factors, will be considered in forecasting tax revenue. This issue has been under investigation by the Revenue Commissioners. The preparatory work has been done. Revenue has an outstanding record of success in dealing with the most difficult task of tracing income which was not declared for tax purposes. The Office of the Revenue Commissioners will get to the bottom of this, as it has got to the bottom of other matters.

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