The announcement today by the Revenue Commissioners of the collection by them of further large sums of money by tax evaders, confirms once again how deep the culture of tax evasion had become in Ireland.

The €32.25 million collected from 182 settlements by the Revenue Commissioners arising from their investigations into bogus non resident account holders, Ansbacher account holders, off shore funds and Revenue investigations into NIB, reveals again a class of Irish people for whom paying tax was considered an optional extra, or something for the PAYE classes.

The question has to be asked in how many cases will the defaulters now face further sanctions including being brought before the Courts.

For example, will any prosecution be brought against the three individuals who settled with Revenue for sums in excess of €1 million each? These cases should be contrasted with those who defraud social welfare for much more modest sums and are rightly prosecuted through our courts system.

The Labour Party and trade unions have frequently highlighted massive tax fraud in Ireland, but were repeatedly told by politicians, such as Charlie McCreevy, that there was no pot of gold.

Today’s figures once again confirm the scandal of tax evasion by some very wealthy people in our society. Their tax evasion denied vital services for health and education for which we are continuing to suffer the consequences.