asked the Minister for Finance if he will state whether accounts submitted by manufacturers to his Department are treated as confidential documents; and, further, whether they are available to persons other than the civil servants employed in his Department; and, if so, on what grounds and on whose authority they are made so available.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Manufacturers' Accounts.
Manufacturers' accounts are submitted to the Revenue Commissioners for tax purposes. They are treated as confidential to the commissioners and their officers and are not made available to persons outside the office of the commissioners. The point referred to in the third part of the question does not, therefore, arise.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary give the House a definite assurance that no figures submitted to the income-tax authorities have ever been disclosed to any other authority?
Not that I am aware of.
That would be a very serious matter if it was done.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether manufacturers are compelled to submit their accounts to his Department, or any section of his Department.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether all manufacturers have submitted accounts to his Department and, if they have not, who selected the names of such manufacturers as were asked to submit accounts and why such manufacturers only were selected.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether accounts submitted by manufacturers to his Department are treated as confidential documents and, further, whether they are made available to persons other than the civil servants employed in his Department; and, if so, on what grounds and on whose authority are they made so available.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 19 and 20 together.
I have powers under the provisions of the Emergency Powers Orders, as continued in force by the Supplies and Services (Temporary Provisions) Acts, to require trading concerns to submit accounts to my Department.
I have required manufacturers to submit their accounts in all cases where I considered accounts were necessary for controlling prices and profits.
The accounts submitted to my Department are regarded as strictly confidential and are available only to civil servants employed in the Department and to the members of the Prices Advisory Body. The accounts are made available to the Prices Advisory Body for the purpose of keeping under review the prices of commodities and services. I may add that the practice of requiring the submission of accounts has been in existence since the establishment of the Prices Commission in 1934.