Eoghan Harris (Independent)

I know the Minister takes this seriously. I am concerned that Revenue seems to press most strongly on those who are tax compliant because it is easier to deal with them. Those who are not tax compliant are more trouble than they are worth.

The Revenue Commissioners need powers and I would give the Criminal Assets Bureau all the powers it needs to track down criminals. I am fully in favour of giving the utmost Eliot Ness powers to the Revenue Commissioners in respect of criminals. In respect of the public, however, the Revenue Commissioners need to change their culture and take a more liberal and compassionate view of the genuine difficulties most people have in understanding the tax code. We should make the distinction between compliant business entities and the criminal classes. Our legislation and the information on legislation is not set in stone. It is a matter of interpretation——