Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister asked that I reiterate that the sooner the ICIJ makes the papers publicly available, the better. Revenue has already spoken to the Minister. As far as I know, the Minister was with the finance committee and said he discussed this matter with the chairman of the Revenue Commissioners. The Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners has assured the Minister that as soon as the papers become publicly available and the revelations which are currently circulating in the media are published, Revenue stands ready to investigate them.

Everybody in the House would agree that the Minister for Finance and for Public Expenditure and Reform will not and has not been found wanting in respect of issues in the past. We do not have evidence that significant issues affecting Revenue will arise but if they do when the papers are published, the Minister has committed to dealing with them. He will not be found wanting on the issue.

As he stated in the reply I have given to the House, the sooner these papers are published and made available the better because it will allow Revenue and other tax authorities around the world, with which we will co-operate, to act. As I stated, it is in Ireland's interests to have as clean a reputation as possible.

6 o’clock

We have no interest in having a question mark over our reputation and it is certainly not the way the Revenue Commissioners operate. Deputy Burton was a Minister and knows it is in Ireland's best interest to continue to have an intact and good reputation. This Government and its predecessor has taken any necessary steps in our tax code to ensure our reputation is maintained. I have no doubt the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, is prepared to continue that process. I encourage the House to give its co-operation in this respect.

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