Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 420: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of civil servants in her Department who have made settlements with the Revenue Commissioners as tax defaulters; her views on whether this is appropriate in view of her Department's auditing role regarding EU and national schemes in education and science; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15273/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In accordance with section 23 of the Ethics in Public Office Act 2001, officers of Departments at or above deputy secretary level must make a statutory declaration that they are tax-compliant within one month of taking up office. In addition, such officers must forward to the Standards in Public Office Commission a tax clearance certificate issued by the Revenue Commissioners within nine months of taking up office.

Apart from the aforementioned officers, all matters relating to tax are regarded as a private issue between the individual and the tax authorities and I would not, therefore, be aware of the number of civil servants in my Department who have made tax settlements with the Revenue Commissioners. Any extension of the scope of section 23 of the above Act of 2001 to other designated officers in Departments, including auditors, would require amendment of the legislation.