Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

My understanding is that this was introduced in 2000 and was very specific to carers supporting an elderly parent or whatever. It was only in such a case that a tax benefit would be accrued. It was opened around 2004 to amount to a gift to children. The Minister has read some recent information, with the investigation indicating that in 2005, properties with a value in excess of €1 million had been inherited entirely tax free on 19 occasions and given as gifts, tax free, on four occasions. The Minister was not in the Department at the time, as it would have been under a Fianna Fáil Minister. The change was made under that Minister for Finance, who must have been aware of what was going on. It remained that way until 2014, when there were again investigations into the process. The Minister has sat on it since 2014 and not just last year. There were whistleblowers and the Department and Revenue Commissioners explained what was going on, but nothing was done. It is really important we get this report done and the people see what went on and how it went on. We must ensure this does not happen again. It is not for me to question the political connections of parties like Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael and what they might do to support them, as that is another story. We must find out exactly what went on as it was outrageous.

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