Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 83: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of Revenue Commissioners staff and the time allocated to working in joint investigation units with the Department of Social and Family Affairs; the amount of additional allowances payable; the number receiving those additional allowances for each of the years 2000 to 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2352/08]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have been informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the official complement of joint investigation unit officers is 15, with officers working to varying time allocations. The number of officers on joint investigation unit duties at the beginning of 2008 was nine. They spend between 25% and 100% of their time on joint investigation unit duties. An allowance of €5,954 is paid to higher executive officers and executive officers for full-time joint investigation unit duties, with pro rata amounts for those working 50% or 25% of their time on such duties. There has been a great deal of movement of officers in recent years as a result of promotions, transfers and decentralisation etc.

It is not possible to give the exact number of joint investigation unit officers who served between 2000 and 2007. However, I can outline the number of officers who, according to the records available to me, were in receipt of the joint investigation unit allowance at some point during the years in question. There was the equivalent of 14 full-time posts in 2000; there was the equivalent of 16.5 full-time posts in 2001; there was the equivalent of 16.75 full-time posts in 2002; there was the equivalent of 15.75 full-time posts in 2003; there was the equivalent of 16.25 full-time posts in 2004; there was the equivalent of ten full-time posts in 2005; there was the equivalent of 11.75 full-time posts in 2006; and there was the equivalent of 11 full-time posts in 2007. The Revenue Commissioners are in the process of filling the vacancies.

The Revenue Commissioners have decided, in the context of the expanded labour market and with the support of the Department of Finance, to increase the number of joint investigation unit officers to 32, all of whom will be full time. This more than exceeds the commitment under Towards 2016. It is intended that the officers will be assigned to joint investigation unit duties by the end of February of this year. The bulk of the work to be carried out by the officers will be project work with the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the National Employment Rights Authority. They will act on information received from those bodies. Their work will include work previously done by audit staff.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Given that the number of people working in the public service has been soaring in recent years, does the Minister agree that it is an indictment of the Government that the number of officials assigned to these important joint investigations has decreased so dramatically? I remind the House of some of the areas which are investigated. Some rogue employers who are not properly registered do not complete their tax and insurance dealings in a proper manner. More importantly, the capital of some businesses might come from illegal activities, such as money laundering, particularly in the drugs field. The work of joint investigation units in such areas should be co-ordinated with the work of the Department of Social and Family Affairs. We know about people in various parts of Limerick and Dublin who have no visible means of support other than social welfare, but are able to do their houses up beautifully.

If we are to be serious about tackling rogue employers and the godfathers of crime and drugs in this country, surely we must investigate how such people managed to accumulate vast assets. Such efforts, with the policing work of the Garda, should be at the heart of the attack. We have to ensure that there is co-operation between the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the Revenue Commissioners. Al Capone was finally sent to jail in the United States when he was convicted of tax evasion, rather than the other crimes in which he was involved. Given that crime and illegal activity is at unbelievable levels in various parts of the country, is there any chance that the Minister will take a personal interest in this matter?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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.