Vol. 497 No. 7
127 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Finance the action, if any, he has taken to ensure that the flat rate of VAT refund of 3.6 per cent is not being paid on the estimated 20,000 lambs imported from Northern Ireland by Irish meat plants each week. [26155/98]
I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that audit and investigation programmes are in oper ation to monitor tax compliance for all taxes across all business sectors, including the meat trade.
Furthermore, the commissioners have con firmed that following the receipt of information earlier this year relating to discrepancies involving the payment of flat rate VAT refunds on lambs sourced outside the State, revenue inspectors carried out investigations on a num ber of meat factories. These investigations resulted in the recovery of a significant sum in respect of irregular payments made under the flat rate refund system. A further company is scheduled to be audited in January 1999. Rev enue will continue to monitor all meat plants to help to ensure that the 3.6 per cent VAT refund is not claimed in respect of lambs imported into the State.
