Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 January 2017
137. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Finance if the auditor that failed to detect the wrongdoing at an organisation (details supplied) and was subsequently reported to the Revenue Commissioners by a whistleblower, was then subsequently reported by the Revenue Commissioners to the Chartered Accountants Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2613/17]
View answerI am informed by Revenue that they are legally prevented from making any comments in relation to specific cases on the grounds of taxpayer confidentiality.
Section 851A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (inserted by the Finance Act 2011) placed on a formal statutory basis the long-standing and accepted obligation on Revenue to treat all taxpayer information confidentially. The general position is that all taxpayer information is confidential, and may only be disclosed in accordance with the terms of that provision or under any other statutory provision that allows the disclosure of such information.
