Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

This type of work is not just carried out by officers from the joint investigation unit, it is also done by compliance officers from the Revenue Commissioners, who actively engage in similar duties as part of their routine daily audit and compliance activities in sectors like construction, private security and entertainment. There has been an ongoing exchange of information with the Department of Social and Family Affairs. The work of joint investigation unit officers forms a small part of the response of the Revenue Commissioners to the problems posed by the hidden economy. The Revenue Commissioners employ more than 1,000 audit, investigation and compliance officers, who engage in outdoor work to combat tax evasion. Such officers continued to detect tax evasion when the joint investigation unit complement was under strength. Site visits have been enhanced by improvements in information technology and various administrative changes. In 2006 there were 1,615 site visits; the number of unregistered cases was 1,188; the number of subcontractors reclassified as employees was 447; the number of additional taxes registered was 2,479; the number of C2s withdrawn was 712; and the number of C2s refused was 456. With regard to construction-related audits, of the 14,286 audits conducted last year, 3,807 were construction-related. This is an indication of the level of activity of a far broader cohort than simply the JIU officers, whose numbers are being increased to 32 by the end of this month.

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