Written answers

Wednesday, 26 October 2011

Department of Finance

Tribunals of Inquiry

10:00 pm

Photo of Dara CallearyDara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 22: To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding the investigations by the Revenue Commissioners into the findings of the Moriarty Tribunal Report. [31616/11]

Photo of Michael NoonanMichael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that, following the publication of the report of the Moriarty Tribunal, a Revenue official was appointed to examine its contents. The officer has examined the Report and there are a number of matters which have been progressed and others which are still under consideration. The Tribunal recommended that the independence of the Revenue Commissioners be put on a statutory footing, and this has been implemented by Section 101 of the Ministers and Secretaries Act 2011.

The Tribunal also made a recommendation in relation to representations by office holders to the Revenue Commissioners, and I am considering this in the context of the Government's overall approach to political and parliamentary reform in conjunction with my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. However, separately, in the interests of transparency, the Revenue Commissioners publish data on the volume of representations made by each Deputy and Senator.

The Tribunal referred to the difficulties raised for Revenue and the taxpayer by the mutual tension between criminal and civil aspects of investigations and I am advised that Revenue has put administrative arrangements in place which are designed to enable the civil and criminal aspects of appropriate cases to be managed separately when required.

A further recommendation related to the transmission to other agencies of information obtained by Revenue under bilateral agreements has been considered. These agreements are international treaties which are very precisely drawn as to the purpose for which information may be used and would not permit such transmission. However if opportunities arise in the future, the Commissioners will consider the matter further. The Deputy will appreciate that Revenue is not in a position to comment on matters relating to individuals for reasons of taxpayer confidentiality.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.