Before coming to the Order of Business I propose to deal with a number of related notices under Standing Order 31 from Deputies Owen, Joe Higgins, Quinn and Rabbitte. I propose to call on the Deputies in the order in which they submitted their notices to my office. I call on Deputy Owen to state the matter of which she gave me notice.
Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31.
I seek to move the Adjournment of the Dáil to discuss the extraordinary allegations in Magill magazine concerning the relationship and settlements between the Revenue Commissioners and Allied Irish Banks on the taxation liability on non-resident accounts; the alleged agreement between the commissioners and the bank concerning non-prosecution and secrecy; and any further investigations by the commissioners into this matter.
(Dublin West): I wish to move the Adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following matters of urgent public importance; the revelation of large-scale tax evasion by Allied Irish Banks; the alleged writing off of evaded taxes by the Revenue Commissioners; whether Ministers in the present or previous Administrations were aware of this scandal; whether political representations were made to the Revenue Commissioners on behalf of Allied Irish Banks and whether large-scale financial contributions by Allied Irish Banks to major political parties in this State were in any way connected to the alleged settlement with the Revenue Commissioners.
I call Deputy Quinn.
Deputy McDowell will speak on this.
I wish to seek the Adjournment of the business of the House to discuss a matter of immediate and fundamental importance, the failure of the Central Bank to inform the Government of the extent of bogus non-resident accounts being held in Irish banks in the late 1980s and early 1990s; the excessively lenient settlement terms arrived at between the Revenue Commissioners and the associated banks in question in respect of unpaid tax liabilities, arrears and penalties due by the banks to this State; and the subsequent excessive tax burden which compliant taxpayers were obliged to carry during this period of tax evasion.
In accordance with Standing Order 31, I request leave to move the Adjournment of the Dáil to discuss the following specific matter of public interest: reports that Allied Irish Banks gave false information to the Revenue Commissioners about the extent of bogus non-residential accounts, thus evading tax liability to the State; the extent, if any, to which the Revenue Commissioners agreed to write off taxes legally due; the role of the Department of Finance, the Revenue Commissioners and the Central Bank in the supervision of banks at the relevant time; and the implications of these allegations for compliant taxpayers and the tax system generally.
Having considered the matters fully, I do not consider them to be contemplated by Standing Order 31 and, therefore, I cannot grant leave to move the motions.