Deputy Burton recenty congratulated the Revenue Commissioners on their continued successful pursuit of those who evade their legally due taxes and whose names appear in the Defaulters List published today. This coincided with the publication of the quarterly list of some 120 tax defaulters who had settled with Revenue.

However, she added, “the scale of the continuing phenomenon of tax evasion is clear from the fact that defaulters have been forced to make settlements in the past three months alone amounting to almost €23m, with three settlements involving payments of more than €1m.”

“It appears that the threat of financial penalties and having ones name published in Iris Oifigiul is not sufficient to deter tax evasion and that far too many continue to be prepared to take a chance on getting away with it.

“There continues to be a significant inconsistency between the number of people who end up in court for social welfare fraud and the relatively few who find themselves in court for tax evasion.

“It has to be emphasised once again that tax evasion is not a victimless crime. The reality is that every euro evaded is another euro on the tax bill of compliant tax payers or a euro less for public services.

“Tax evaders have now been given an almost endless series of opportunities to put their affairs in order. I believe it is time for a much more vigorous approach towards persistent offenders. Unless the authorities use the powers available to initiate more court prosecutions than is currently the case, the current level of evasion will continue.”