asked the Minister for Finance if an inquiry was made by any section of his Department into tax evasion by a company (name supplied); and what action, if any, was taken in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Alleged Tax Evasion.
34.
The tax affairs of individual persons and companies must be treated as strictly confidential. I am, therefore, unable to reply either in the negative or the affirmative to the first part of the Deputy's question or to give him any information in the matter.
Will the Minister not agree that this is a very important company to which a member of the Government was attached and that there have been inquiries into it which are being deliberately withheld from the public?
I cannot hear what the Deputy is saying but I want to say that I think it would be deplorable if the practice were to grow that the tax situation of any individual or any company should be referred to in this House.
Surely the Minister will agree that if people break the law of the land they should be summoned and brought to court. Why this differentiation? Why this selective justice for this firm in which there were people who were closely connected with the Government for a long number of years? This firm is evading tax and the whole thing is being kept from the public. Will the Minister not agree that there was an inquiry into it by his representatives?
I repeat that, if there is to be any degree of confidentiality at all in the system of tax collection operated by the Revenue Commissioners, matters of this nature just cannot be dealt with by the Minister for Finance.
Will the Minister not agree that there is a difference between tax collection and tax evasion? When people break the law of the land, irrespective of who they are, there should be no such thing as selective justice. They should all be brought before the courts, irrespective of who they are.
The responsibility for questions as to whether there should be prosecutions in regard to any breaches of the laws relating to taxes rests with the Revenue Commissioners. I have had no complaints about their failure to carry out their responsibilities in that regard.
When a small trader is concerned they have no hesitation in sending the sheriff to his door, irrespective of what goods he may have. I want to see the same law applying to all.
The Deputy is making a speech. Question No. 35.
Will the Minister agree that his inspectors have been investigating the taxes of this firm, that there has been tax evasion, and that it is being kept from the public?
I will agree to no such thing. The Deputy should try to have some degree of responsibility in a matter like this.
The Deputy is carrying the whole Fine Gael can today.
Is it only when a person is refused unemployment assistance or a medical card that his or her financial means are disclosed in this House?
Is Deputy Corish suggesting that matters for liability of tax should be publicly disclosed?
I am telling the Minister that there is a contradiction in what he said.
There is not——
There is.
——and the Deputy knows it. He can come down on one side or the other but not on the fence.
If it is a poor person with £7 or £8 a week the Dáil and the country are told about it.
If the Deputy is suggesting that this kind of thing should be made public, then let him say that and stand over it. If he is not suggesting that he need not imply the opposite.
If there is evasion of income tax it is the Minister's job to investigate it, the same as he investigates applications for medical cards or unemployment assistance.