Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

The Minister has proposed major new amendments to the Finance Bill. The proposed amendments to section 58 will significantly water down the penalties imposed on advisers, bankers and others who are involved in aiding and abetting tax evasion. The imposition of a guillotine on the Report Stage debate will deprive the House of an opportunity to discuss the amendments, which are shameful and disgraceful, especially in light of this country's series of tax evasion scandals, which have cost ordinary and decent taxpayers a great deal of money. The Government's guillotine will, in effect, preclude the possibility of a debate on the new amendments being introduced by the Minister.

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