Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will get the Deputy the detailed figures, but in 2010, for instance, 2,400 people were questioned; in 2011, 3,400 people were interviewed as a consequence of checkpoints; in 2012, 2,672 people were interviewed; and so far this year there have been 24 checkpoints and 20 detections, resulting in a saving of approximately €130,000. I refer to a number of examples. Members will be familiar with inspections at taxi ranks which are popular with legitimate taxi drivers, both at the airport and other ranks. At an MAVC the driver of a Volkswagen Caddy was interviewed by the SIU. He described himself as a self-employed IT engineer working on contract to various companies with no employees. On checking with Revenue, he had made no return since 2006. Revenue carried out an audit, agreed a settlement of €30,500 and the individual concerned made a payment in full within one month of being interviewed. He was obviously fully occupied but not paying tax. Elsewhere, a passenger in a van being driven by someone in the building trade admitted that he was working for the driver and gave a false name. Further investigations revealed his true identity and the employer co-operated to give details of his earnings. He was in receipt of social welfare payments and subsequently interviewed under caution. His case has been recommended for prosecution. People who have been out sick sign off soon after being stopped at a checkpoint.

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