asked the Minister for Finance if he will state in respect of each of the joint stock banks operating within the State (a) the amount payable by way of income-tax on the property held by each such bank, and (b) the total amount of income-tax paid by each such bank during each of the last five years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Joint Stock Banks' Income-tax.
I regret that it is not possible, having regard to secrecy obligations affecting income-tax, to divulge particulars in relation to any individual case.
Am I to understand that the Minister had the information before him that some of these banks were not paying income-tax in this country when he decided not to apply Emergency Order No. 83 to them?
The Deputy need not understand that.
I want to know was the Minister not aware, when he did not apply Emergency Order No. 83 in regard to the recent increase by the banks of their charges, that five of the nine banks were not paying income-tax of any kind to this Government?
That is not the question the Deputy asked.
Had the Minister full knowledge of that fact when he did not apply Emergency Order No. 83?
I had full knowledge of all the necessary information.
Therefore a few banks are more important than the people of the country.