Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

This is a very good result on the part of the Revenue Commissioners. The Minister took a decision that was contrary to the position I and others took in the debate on the budget when we argued that the six months' notice was excessive. Notwithstanding the six months' notice, which allowed people with more to hide to make other arrangements, by April there were about 530 disclosures. As it was extended to 4 May, in the last few days 2,500 people have declared. That has produced €73 million according to the Minister's own figures.

I wish the Minister well in his retirement, but he may have a longer stay in finance depending on how quickly the party's internal procedures and the discussions with Fianna Fáil proceed. Would it not be right and proper to strengthen the Revenue audit section to find those people who are imposing on people who are working hard and paying a lot of tax, and get them to pay their fair share as well?

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