Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Finance if he expects all employees and or advisors to Ministers to pay tax here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34343/12]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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In relation to all tax matters, I expect everybody – including Government Departments, other public bodies and Government advisers – to comply with our tax laws by paying all tax due and by operating the correct deduction systems. The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies which was previously published by my Department sets out at paragraph 19, certain principles in relation to tax compliance including that “State bodies should be exemplary in their compliance with taxation laws and should ensure that all tax liabilities are paid on or before the relevant due dates”. I consider that these principles, which I endorse, apply equally to Government Departments.

I am aware that the Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners has written to Secretaries General of Government Departments reminding them of the provisions of the Code, encouraging them to consider how best to integrate tax compliance into the corporate governance framework for their MAC or Management Board, how best a culture of good tax compliance may be inculcated in the agencies/public bodies under their Departments’ aegis, and drawing their attention to the Code of Practice for Revenue Audit.