Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Apr 2000

Vol. 517 No. 3

Written Answers. - Tax Collection.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

152 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Finance the amount of tax recovered since the Tribunal of Inquiry into the Beef Processing Industry; the amount of tax still being pursued; the amount of tax collected annually which would not have been offered or sought other than on foot of information recovered or changes in administration or statute resulting from tribunals of inquiry and companies Acts investigations or inspectorates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9583/00]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

The first two parts of the Deputy's question seem to relate to the Tribunal of Inquiry into the Beef Processing Industry. Detailed investigations were undertaken in a number of cases which were highlighted by that tribunal of inquiry. In one particular case, all plants of a company and its subsidiaries were visited by Revenue investigators and a settlement of £4 million approximately was reached; this covered liabilities in respect of untaxed payments to employees and all of this sum has been paid. All other marts and beef factories in the State, some 250 cases, were visited by Revenue auditors in 1994. Many of these cases would have been revisited on a number of occasions since then as part of normal district compliance and audit programmes.

Specific audit statistics are available in relation to the beef processing sector, as distinct from the meat processing sector generally, only for the years 1998 and 1999. The following table shows the results for audits where the yield was in excess of £10,000.

Year	No. of Audits	Total Yield
1998	9	£281,000
1999	12	£3,639,000

Another case which came to light subsequent to the beef tribunal's report was the subject of a successful criminal prosecution in 1999 and a settlement of £3.3 million approximately was obtained in respect of PAYE-PRSI liabilities.

The remaining parts of the Deputy's question seem to relate to other tribunals and follow-up to Companies Act investigations. This would include the McCracken and Moriarty tribunals, and related Company Act investigations, as well as the investigations into the Ansbacher accounts, but would not include inquiries as regards deposit interest retention tax. Work in all these areas is ongoing. The Deputy will be aware that the Revenue Commissioners yesterday announced agreement on a settlement of £1 million in respect of one case covered by the McCracken tribunal. Payments on account totalling some £3 million have also been obtained in respect of other cases covered by the tribunals-investigations mentioned. These sums do not include receipts from National Irish Bank cases where inquiries were initiated separately.

It is not possible to isolate specific amounts collected annually as a result of changes in administration or statute as a result of the various disclosures of tax evasion.

Parts of the Deputy's question have been expressed in very broad terms. If there is any more specific information that he is seeking I will be happy to see if it can be provided.