Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS Committee (PAC) is to seek further advice on whether it can bring a whistleblower who claims former senior politicians dodged tax before it to give evidence.
The PAC met for around two hours in private session this morning to hold further discussions on a document submitted to it in recent weeks under the Protected Disclosures Act by Department of Jobs whistleblower Gerry Ryan.
Ryan claims to have uncovered evidence in 2003 and 2004 that former politicians were the beneficial owners of accounts in the Cayman Islands that were linked to the Ansbacher controversy. He says that information he uncovered was not dealt with by ministers of various governments and state agencies.
There has been conflicting legal advice over whether or not PAC can investigate the dossier and whether it can call Ryan before it.
Last week, the PAC was legally advised that it cannot immediately investigate the dossier as it does not fall within the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General. However, Ryan’s legal advice is said to dispute this.
The committee agreed this morning to call the Revenue Commissioners before it to discuss its investigation into the Ansbacher controversy and it will also seek further legal clarity on whether or not it can call Ryan and the potential pitfalls if he gives evidence.
One committee source said TDs were told by the (C&AG) that any criminal prosecutions in the matter would be unlikely given the lack of a sufficient paper evidence to mount such prosecutions.
There was reportedly dispute between Fine Gael TDs and other members of the committee over whether Ryan should be brought before it, but the source said “everyone is on the same page”.
Meanwhile, Ryan has not yet met with Jobs Minister Richard Bruton over his allegations but will do so in the next week, a spokesperson for Bruton confirmed this afternoon.
Ryan claimed that Bruton ignored his allegations and delayed submitting Ryan’s witness statement to the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation for two years.
Bruton attributed the delay to the retirement of officials dealing with the issue before the statement was eventually submitted last week.
The Minister has said repeatedly that all matters contained in Ryan’s statement are covered by documents already submitted to the relevant authorities between 2004 and 2010.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
A lot of senior politicians will be sh&tting themselves till this all blows over,
As it will with no one none the wiser what strokes they pulled.
And they say New York is rotten to the core..
Citizen’s of this State who are not covered by the official secrets act or whatever have seen this dossier – that means every citizen is entitled to see it forthwith !
It may be time to look for a High Court order for its publication !
Spot on Dermot
Can’t be one rule for some and different rule for others.
It will be really interesting to see how this develops.
Dermot
The Courts are there for people like yourself who want to challenge something of which their only knowledge is innuendo gossip and rumours.
My recommendation is that you do exactly as you suggest by presenting yourself in the High Court and seek the petition you propose.
Let us know how you get on and the costs associated with your challenge
Dermot
In vulgar language my suggestion would be to put up or shut up.
There hardly a political thread on this site on which you don’t continually pour forth like a fountain of knowledge tinged with nastiness sarcasm and abuse.
The problem is you are mostly inaccurate but heck I suppose facts shouldn’t get in the way of a good rant!
Rodgers. What is wrong fella? Feeling a bit of pressure are we? This could very well be the hammer, that strikes the final nail for your beloved party and their cronies
P.s. why does it bother you Rodgers? I mean its not like you hung around and helped your beloved fg get the country back on track. You legged it for the Canadian Dollar pal
Hugh – I love it how you come out every time I touch the nerve that runs to the heart of corruption ….. I am working on going to the high court – B.T.W. I reported Phil Hogan on suspicion of perverting the course of Justice – do you want me to keep going – wouldn’t know what other snakes might crawl out from the nest >>>>
Oh and by the way I can put forward any opinion that I want – did you know that Enda and the crew wanted to bring in laws to gaga the media – what do you think of that now Hugh ?
*gag
This is the big one Petyr – this is the delayed Armageddon for them – You know that Assange has Swiss bank accounts details which he alluded would rip the whole system apart if he published them – he’s under house arrest since !
Oh and hugh – Bertie’s Judges are still sitting on the benches – do you think that a judge should only last the length that the Taoiseach who appointed them does ?
Hugh you do realise that since Patrick Kavanagh was allowed to represent himself then there is no need for anyone to hire a barrister – ouch ! has the High Court gotten cheap all of a sudden !
Yowza !
So Bruton sits on a report for 2 years and only acts once the report is handed over to PAC? Well done Richard….
That is a resigning matter.
How is that not a resigning or firing matter?
Irish politicians don’t do accountability Seanie. No accountability means no need to resign or be fired….
That penny has dropped for me.
All Whataboutery excuses. Ie “but he din’t resign for that and it was worse” etc etc.
Tribal games.
No jumping to conclusions there Seanie, Eh?
Investigation is the easy part, the difficult part is what to do with the results.
Let’s say the investigation comes up with evidence of tax avoidance but no proof. What would you do with it?
Going to court is risky as you are unlikely to win and risk being sued. Releasing the dossier opens you up to being sued for libel if you can’t prove it. Doing nothing leaves you open to being accused of hiding it.
I’m not saying there aren’t issues, I’m saying you jumping to conclusions is part of the problem.
It has to be investigated now because of public confidence but I’m betting there is no conclusive proof. I don’t doubt the PD’s and FF and FG probably had members would avoided tax, I doubt the dossier has enough evidence to prove it.
Why don’t the journal interview him? If he’s a whistle blower and he has proof he should be able to give his opinion on his evidence without fear.
There is corruption in this State.
Same as every other one but here they are untouchable.
That makes the powers that be here a septic infection on the body politic of Ireland.
No-one is untouchable on this island Seanie – no-one !
I meant in a Court of Law or by the Guards.
Oh sorry Seanie …. but believe me – now no-one is untouchable on this island = the paradigm has changed utterly !
I hope so.
What ever the context.
“There has been conflicting legal advice over whether or not PAC can investigate the dossier and whether it can call Ryan before it”.
Rough translation :
Let’s see who is involved first, could be one of the lads.
Just imagine how awful if it was leaked.
All that truth coming out.
There will be no prosecutions so nothing will be risked.
Oh please don’t leak it, please, stop, no, etc.
Well it’s totally outside the PAC remit. The PAC examines the spending of public money which is nothing to do with tax evasion.
There are other committees….
Seriously why would the PAC examine it? Any reason at all.
Why not a cross party committee solely for this purpose? Or the finance committee (since its tax evasion )? Or get a judge from the UK perhaps?
Ever wonder why politicians in this country sell out their own people? Its because they all take money, or have relations with girls or boys, and people have something on them. Either that or they were bullied like aofhan o riordain and hate their own people.
National self loathing and low self esteem are endemic here.
People expect to be treated like dirt and they get it in spades.
this will not go away, there should be an open public forum to debate this… oh wait
“Bruton attributed the delay to the retirement of officials dealing with the issue before the statement was eventually submitted last week.”
Like the delay in prosecuting the sex pervert schoolteacher down in Clare until he was 80 years old and knocking on death’s door..
We know the story boys..too well.
I recon our politicians are so good they could pull Fossetts out of administration
Not on your nelly!! Seriously, can you see that happening?
I’m amazed the bold Mary has not blabbed it all to media. She saved one corrupt c#~t from facing justice what’s twelve or thirteen more. Morals and honesty this guy Ryan has to be a rare civil servant. Sadly our politicians have neither
Most ruling p
herpa derp
have your say