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Updated at 3.22pm
THE REVENUE COMMISSIONERS have been accused of being “grossly negligent” and part of a political cover-up over their claimed failure to fully investigate Ansbacher accounts linked to high-profile figures.
An Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was told the officials had ignored the evidence from a “black briefcase” which contained a “secret ledger” with information relating to alleged tax evasion via the offshore accounts.
The claim came from the dossier of Jobs Department whistleblower Gerry Ryan which was detailed at the committee today.
But the PAC also heard Revenue’s privacy provisions meant it was possible the allegations had been fully investigated and some of the figures may have even reached settlements without Ryan knowing.
Revenue officials, including chairwoman Josephine Feehily, were hauled before the committee this morning to explain their probe into the infamous offshore bank accounts which a number of former politicians allegedly used to evade Irish tax.
She said she had not seen the latest dossier Ryan had assembled and the commissioners’ dealings with the whistleblower, who was appointed as an authorised officer to investigate Ansbacher accounts between 2003 and 2004, had ended after he finished supplying them with information – the bulk of which had come before 2008.
I don’t know what (Ryan) has to substantiate his view. I don’t have the dossier.”
‘No effective action’ on Ansbacher accounts
Independent TD Shane Ross said the dossier included claims that several government ministers, the Revenue Commissioners and the Garda fraud squad, among others, failed to properly investigate the claimed wrongdoing.
“The problem that we have to address here today is what you didn’t do,” he told Feehily.
“(Ryan) goes on to talk about the failure, including by the Revenue Commissioners … (he says they) ‘took no effective action, by any of these agencies, to pursue these matters’.”
Ross said the whistleblower claimed two ministerial reports on the Ansbacher allegations were sent to Revenue without any meaningful action being taken into the “very lengthy” tax evasion, which had come at the expense of the Irish taxpayer.
(Ryan claimed) there was a failure on the part of the agencies of this state who were made aware of this information to act upon it and it is grossly negligent,” he said.
Mary Lou naming names
Under Dáil privilege, Sinn Féin TD Mary Lou McDonald yesterday named several former government ministers and TDs mentioned in Ryan’s dossier.
Many of those identified have strenuously denied any wrongdoing, while former Tánaiste Mary Harney denied being the one who shut down the inquiries because her colleagues were involved.
Today Feehily said it was the first time she had heard the allegations that Revenue had neglected its duty to investigate the claims.
“These allegations haven’t been made to me by him or his ministers,” she said.
She said every document which had been given to Revenue relating to Ansbacher accounts had been investigated and to date 289 cases had been identified, netting €113 million in payouts for unpaid taxes, interest and penalties.
In addition, about €140 million extra had come from “spin-off” investigations, she added.
‘Political interference’
Ross said Ryan thought he had been “stymied” in his investigations was because of “political interference” aimed at top Garda, Revenue and ODCE officials.
What he is saying here is that he believes that there is a connection. (That they) didn’t properly investigate this because … there was a connection between them and the fact that the people at the top were politically appointed,” he said.
But Feehily said she “absolutely did not agree” that she had ever been subject to political interference. She added that Revenue had got very little new information about the Ansbacher accounts after 2003, when Ryan was working on the investigation.
She later agreed with Fine Gael TD John Deasy, who this morning accused McDonald of using the PAC for “political ends”, when he suggested some of those named in Ryan’s dossier may have reached settlements with Revenue and the whistleblower wouldn’t know.
Abandoning the Israeli state? Surely you mean preventing the unwarranted expansion of the Israeli state?
@Kevin Higgins: Exactly. How many tens of billions in aid was recently granted to Israel by the US, while its own citizwens drank poison water in Flint, Michigan?
Israel sounding moer and more like a spoiled sweet 16 who mouths off at daddy while he’s on the phone clearing her credit card.
Yes Obama recently increased military aid to Israel and also by vote in Congress to 3 billion dollars per year Also Egypt gets 1.5 billion Jordan 1 billion and the Palestinian authority 800 million dollars in US aid per year
@John003: You consider billions in aid ‘abandonment’? Starting to sound like that spoiiled sweet sixteen I mentioned.
You you like a lend of a few full stops and commas?
* Would you
@For Connolly – for someone who berates others for poor punctuation and spelling, your own is flucking dreadful!
Check out the spelling and grammar of your first few comments here and then cop on to yourself.
@Colin Moran: It’s polite to try to make your posts as readable as possible. Punctuation is our friend.
Israel has been the most consistently rogue state in modern times, over 70 years of slaughter and genocide of an indigenous population unchecked and backed by the US purely because successive Presidents are petrified of losing the support of AIPAC.
The only decent leader they had, Yitzhak Rabin, whilst not perfect, but a reasonable politician and statesman, was of course assassinated by his fellow countrymen because he got too close to achieving an everlasting peace with the Palestinians.
Since then the megalomaniacs in charge have stepped up their ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people at a pace that would make the most evil men in history blush.
@Joey Westland: When Israel was founded in 1948 there were at most 600,000 Palestinians now there are 2 million in Israel itself and several more million in Gaza and West bank
Israel has not committed slaughter and genocide against any indigenous population
In contrast in all the Arab countries the indigenous Jewish population over 800000 were driven out in the 1950;s and 60′s
@John003: I don’t need a history lesson from you John, I hold a PhD in the subject and am well read on the history of the region.
You’ve a PhD on BS that is.
@John003: Its a common misconception that genocide requires an intention to wipe out an entire people. I’ve heard whats happening in Israel, the west bank and Gaza strip described as ‘genocide by a thousand cuts’ of the palestinial people, which may be more accurate.
@Nazerene: Those of us who have attended Third-Level education would say ‘in BS’.
@For Connolly: Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 All the settlers and military left
With all the money it gets from the EU and Gulf countries Gaza could have a good economy even a tourist industry
HAMAS choose to put all their efforts to attacking Israel
Even their Arab brothers who fought 3 wars for them Egypt, want nothing to do with them now
@John003: Do you even believe what you put in that post? Its like the 101 of standard issue israel apologist claptrap. To use an analogy, the warden may have left the prison, but still controls what goes in and out and can still kill the inmates on the other side of the fence.
@For Connolly: Much like your apologist claptrap of IRA/SF.
‘It’s', ‘West Bank’ and ‘Palestinian’ are all spelt incorrectly.
Punctuation is our friend.
‘Spoiled’ is spelt incorrectly.
‘You you’ is poor grammar.
Punctuation is our friend.
Abstaining should be abolished ff abstain a lot as well in our dail.America is another words in full support of Zionist Israel by abstaining.Surprise surprise ! America is a rouge state out of control.
The Sharia field manual is not a third level education.
Bobby, this will be viewed by Nathan Yahoo as a major slap in the face from Obama.
Israels first act as an independent state was to invade Egypt in ’56
‘Spelt’ LOL! Cheers for that….
Agreed John. If the palestinians laid down their weapons, there would be no war. If Israel laid down its weapons, there would be no Israel.
@For almost bordering on real politik??? To be fair an article like this never invites a fair debate for either side. It’s emotive, tragic and a lot of players in the region (and outside) playing off each other for their own gain. As I say… Real politik or as we might say.. A political football.. Kicked around by a lot of teams where the rules change every ten minutes – with the supporters switching sides as they go along. Simplistic I know.
@ joey If I were you I would do be embarrassed to admit that by you held a PhD.
@For Connolly
“In American English, spelt primarily refers to the hardy wheat grown mostly in Europe, and the verb spell makes spelled in the past tense and as a past participle. In all other main varieties of English, spelt and spelled both work as the past tense and past participle of spell, at least where spell means to form words letter by letter or (with out) to make clear. Outside the U.S., the two forms are interchangeable in these uses, and both are common.”
LOL yourself nob.
Knob?
Yes yes BiBi, because NOT condemning them will all of a sudden make them less unlawful.
Christ, you think being handed someone elses country would be enough for the zionists.
Israel was handed nothing won 3 major problem wars and lots of little ones for the country they are in Month after Israel was established by the UN all the Arab neighbours attacked
It seems you have won your own problem war against basic punctuation.
Oh, and you may want to read a history book or two, starting with one about the Balfour declaration.
Yes after WW1 the Ottoman empire was split up by mainly Britain and France Balfour was a declaration that there would be a small space made for the Jews after the war Arabs got 96% and Israel the size of munster is 4% Arabs did not accept this and atacked Israel in 3 major wars
Anyone got a basic history book we can lend this lad??
Why is the region called Judea? What are the locals called? Hmmm.
@Charlie Wrex: Are you getting confused with Palestine and the Palestinians by any chance?
No. Maybe you are? You mentioned history books etc so you of course know that Judea was separate from Roman Syria – it wasnt until after the Jewish Revolt failed and the indigenous population decimated, that it was renamed Syria Palaestina.
@Charlie Wrex: You are aware that we are discussing the birth and inlawful expansion of Israel rather than cherrypicked points in ancient history which suit a narrative, yes?
* unlawful
Cherrypicking? Nope, just correcting your point re Palestine and Palestinians when i asked about Judea.
@Charlie Wrex: So you can explain why the ancient history of the region is relevant to the discussion about the birth and unlawful expansion of a state which was created in the 1940s?
Really? You want me to explain why the homeland of Jews is relevant to its eventual inception as a modern nation? Are you still denying/ against its place among the nations of the world?
@Charlie Wrex: You’ve put in a sterling shift today Charlie. Do take a break.
Petr, you’re the lunatic who said the multinational army assault on Israel (its stated aim was the killing of every jew it could find) the day after its inception was correct. Strangely though, you refuse to explain why genocide is fine? You will however wholesale the racism/ islamophobia card if someone so much as asks a question about Islam. As always, Petr, youre the arch moral relativist.
@Charlie Wrex: “You want me to explain why the homeland of Jews is relevant to its eventual inception as a modern nation?”
Yes, if you don’t mind. Please explain why judea (which was part of palestine and ceased to be in 135 AD, gives one people, almost 2 millennia later, the right to take the land lived on by a second people, and give it to a third people based on the way they pray.
I certainly could, if you’d address the 2nd question i asked too. Im not sure paraphrasing George Galloway is advisable though, Jammie. :)
@Charlie Wrex: What question is that?
Its a few comments up Jammie. Look again.
Not a bit old for playing games charles?
Get back to us when you’re ready to post your question. I’ll be chatting with the grown ups.
Lol. Oh dear me. Still running from the kryptonite question jammie? I’ll bite though. 1 hour ago Are you still denying/ against its place among the nations of the world?
Ah, the old zionist equivalent ‘do you still beat your wife’ question.
Oh and you post ‘Are you STILL denying’, inferring that I did at some stage.
Can you post that for us please?
I rather you answered a very basic question. If youre denying saying it grand. I havent the interest in your convolutions. Do you think Israel should have its place among the nations of the world?
@Charlie Wrex: What the fukking fuk are you still doing here? I told you to you to donate your internet devices to intelligent people in need and then go scoop out your brain two weeks ago.
Charles, your quesetion is based on a premise that I’ve asked you to back up before I answer.
Whenever you’re ready……….
My question requires a short answer. One youve been avoiding for the 3 years ive been on this site. You love deflecting. Its your thing. If its not israel, its gerry, the ira. There’s an eloquence to silence jammin, so thank you for your clear response.
Your question is based on a premise you can’t back up. Like asking the ‘do you STILL beat your wife’ question, when you have no information that the person ever did so.
Oh, and I cut my teeth making mincemeat out of paid hasbara trolls on american chat forums, so you may well be advised not to embarrass yourself further. I know the book of hasbara backwards, forwards and sideways.
Charles it’s a classic performance from him, pure vintage were jammin. No matter how long I’m away from the Journal, I know I can always tune in to see him criticizing Israel, defending his heroic IRA goons, be they the Nazi collaborating era ones or the more recent variety. And then of course protecting his no. 1 love, Gerry A.
Oh, Hi jurgen. Love the motto ‘These colours don’t run’ and the US flag.
Is that why this photo is in black and white??
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/95/Saigon-hubert-van-es.jpg
Lol. Yes, i feel embarrassed by the fact you cant answer the question ” Should Israel have its place amongst the nations of the world?” If you prefer to wind yourself up in convolutions thats up to you. You mistake your own sleek preening and self congratulations for a cowards inability to publically acknowledge Israels place in the world, either way.
Changing the question now? Tisk tisk
Sounding a lot like dermo there charlie.
The question you asked was…. “Are you still denying/ against its place among the nations of the world?”
You used the word ‘still’, so show me where I did so before.
Whenever you’re ready, or are you spoofing?
Jurgen, you seem to have an IRA shaped chip on your shoulder.
Does the idea of farmers and civilians holding a superpower to a stalemate remind you of Nam too much?
Jammie, ill be home in about half an hour thank phuk. I havent the time or inclination to go searching for our previous engagements. Instead, we’ll draw a line in the sand. I cant link my proof tonight. I will though. Can you clarify your position on Israel as a nation of the world now? You say ive misrepresented you, so you’ll be happy to represent yourself clearly now.
@Charlie Wrex: “I cant link my proof tonight. I will though. ”
Grand so, I’ll spend the rest of the Cristmas on the edge of my seat (chuckle)
NEXT
@jurgen, it is of course. It always entertains me though. It cheers me up that im diametrically opposite most of jammies positions. Merry Christmas, ill be arriving home in about 5 minutes!
Not really jammin, as North Vietnam actually achieved renunification very quickly. Whereas the IRA have accepted they could never win:(
Funny how you don’t like to talk about the IRA Nazi link up too much, except to lie about it. I would hope that you are embarassed by it given how you’re supposedly a socialist. But then, given how much you hate Israel, maybe you’re not. Wiping out Irelands Jews is a small price to pay for achieving Irish national unity right?
Yep, celebrations in the Connoly household. You might have made an excellent contributor to the IRA paper ‘War News’. Some nice little rants in there about Nazi Germany’s chosen targets.
werejammin: the eloquence of a cowards silence.
Merry Xmas to you too Charles.
Hey Charles, if you are up in Dublin can you pick up my share of the Shekels for tonight’s work. It’s such hard work interacting with the massive, unstoppable force of the scary ego that is were jammin, who ‘cut his teeth’ on US chat forums. We should get triple time!
I mean, only a paid hasbara would dare tangle with his huge intellect.
Maybe Adolf was onto something
No problem Jurgen. Looking forward to our annual catch up with the gang in Tel Aviv in the New Year! :)
@Jurgen Remak: @Charlie Wrex: Imagine this: Your home, that you’ve spent years building and all your savings on to create a safe abode for you family, is destroyed one day by a man in a bulldozer. When you ask this man why he just destroyed your home, he answers that his ancestors were promised this land thousands of years ago by God and that his ancestors lived here in the past, therefore him and his people are the only ones allowed to live on this land. Would you be OK with this explanation?
@Ronan Gallagher: Remarkably close score on this one! 6-6
It could go either way Killian.
Theres a gee’s hair in it
Fannys hair in it. Very close
As tight as a jew at hanukkah
I have very little time for the State Of Israel after some of its agents Literally stood by whilst their mercenary’s murdered 2 Irish Peace Keepers who were unarmed in cold blood. Frankly they can go and shite.
@scoop delivery: They forged Irish passports and used them to facilitate the murder of a man. The Israeli Ambassador should be booted out of Ireland.
It’s time Israel was stopped stealing land all around them.their atrocities must be stopped now, support must be withdrawn from them.
Jesus wept!!!
I’m no fan of Obama and have serious reservation about some of his and America’s policies. In particular America’s Israel first policy and how much influence Zionists have over America;s foreign policy.
That being said if this story is accurate and Obama was behind this resolution I applaud the man.
The truth is, he did this purely for the history books, knowing Trump would unravel it. That was agreed between the two of them regardless of what you read in the media. Honestly, what difference does this resolution make in practical terms. NONE. The status quo is and will remain in place, otherwise Obama would have done this 3 years ago. Open your eyes.
@Cal Mooney: You’re almost certainly right when you say this will be undone. It will however heap public attention on this issue.
@John Fergus: The only wait it can be undone is the same way it was done. That none of the UK, France, US, Russia or China veto the reversal(which is unlikely given 4 voted for the resolution) and 8 of the 15 members vote for it(which is also unlikely).
Patrick in 3.2.1..
Apart from its expansion of illegal settlements Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians is absolutely appalling. The illegal Gaza blockade, the apartheid wall, imprisonment of minors, etc etc and the US just stands aside and does shamefully nothing.
That’s been happening since 67. No news there. Obama played a blinder though pretending he wasn’t getting along with them but signed off on the biggest cash deposit just before wrapping up his 8 year stint. Everyone should read Robert Fisks, Israel The Obama Years.
None of cyber soldiers made it from the opinion piece about Gaza. This article clearly didn’t merit a notification.
@Charlie Fogarty: In fairness, they’ve probably clocked off for the day and the night shift hasn’t begun yet.
I’m a Christian, so i’m barred from getting a house in an Israeli settlement in the WB. Correct? So are local non-Jews.
Livestream due here from the UNSC http://webtv.un.org/live-now/watch/security-council-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-including-the-palestinian-question-7853rd-meeting/5195656068001
@Rosa Parks: 14 mins to go
@Rosa Parks: live now
@Rosa Parks: thanks for that. This can be very interesting, voting about to start.
@Rosa Parks: Stop spamming everyone you eejit.
US abstained, awesome!!!
Huge step for the Palestinians. Fantastic news.
@Guybrush Threepwood: Shame on the US. Samantha Power is a vile creature.
@Petr Tarasov: I agree.
New “click bait” middle east war!! starting in ……3,2,1……
Well that is 18 UN resolutions condemning Israel this year Go on UN you can make it 20 in 2016 No resolution from the UN about Saudi actions in Yemen
John they should do that too not instead of.
Resolutions without action is meaningless. A few years of UN & EU embargo on Israel should concentrate minds wonderfully.
Buffer zones are understandable given the position they are in. Settling people in those zones is a different matter.
John, you can start by “embargoing” apple in anthenry. Apple will be producing the hardware for the iPhone 8 in Israel.
Apple have no plans to produce any hardware in Athenry, so hardly relevant. …Apple will follow the money
Too little too late.
Israel ‘ are the eye,s and ear,s for America
A spiteful act by the departing Obama who allowed personal differences with Netanyahu colour his decision on the vote.
A petty small minded man.
Good riddance.
The resolution demands that
“Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory,
including East Jerusalem.”
Jewish settlements are a “flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-State solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace”.
The US envoy to the UN, Samantha Power, said the resolution reflected the “facts on the ground” that settlement growth had been accelerating.
“The settlement problem has gotten so much worse that it is threatening the two-state solution,” she said.
Criticising Mr Netanyahu, she said: “One cannot simultaneously champion expanding settlements and champion a two-state solution that would end the conflict.”
What’s Trump’s position on Israel?
@alphanautica:
He contacted Obama to try and persuade him to veto the resolution. Trump plans to move the Israeli embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem , a move which would be a huge game changer in Middle East relations.
He is a supporter of Israel.
@Alex Falcone: thanks Alex. It will will be interesting to see how Trump adjusts to understanding the complexity of his role. He clearly had no idea during the campaign.
The US taxpayer massively supports Israel financially. Which seems at odds with most of the US electorate opinion.
I liveđ there for five years, and found one lot as bad as the other.
have your say