Vol. 422 No. 4
47 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Finance if the Government have yet received the reports it requested last September from the Revenue Commissioners into aspects of the Greencore/Sugar Company affair; if it is intended to publish the reports; the action, if any, the Government have taken on the basis of these reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
In relation to the affairs of Siúicre Éireann c.p.t./Greencore, the Government on 10 September 1991 decided, inter alia,“to request the Revenue Commissioners to carry out a complete investigation into all relevant matters which come within their jurisdiction”.
On foot of this decision and under the statutory powers vested in my predecessor as Minister for Finance the Revenue Commissioners were requested to provide the report in question.
The Revenue Commissioners' investigation is still ongoing. The adequacy of existing legislation has been reviewed and certain measures have been included in the 1992 Finance Act. In addition, the tax liabilities of persons involved have been under examination. This examination, covering individuals and companies, has not been concluded but substantial progress has been made. Because of the scope of the inquiry, uncertainty and possible litigation concerning some basic facts and the possibility of appeals to the courts concerning taxation aspects arising, it may not be possible to reach finality on all revenue aspects for some time yet.
The Deputy will appreciate that the Revenue Commissioners are precluded by their confidentiality obligations from disclosure of the details of taxpayers' tax affairs except in certain specific circumstances. Outside of these circumstances, it would not be appropriate to publish more detailed information about the liabilities arising. The circumstances allowing publication include certain appeals, prosecutions, judicial proceedings and settlements in lieu of court proceedings. The disclosure criteria will apply in the normal way in relation to matters arising from the Greencore inquiry.
