Haughey will not be listed as tax defaulter

Mr Charles Haughey is not going to be included in the tax defaulters' lists published quarterly in Iris Oifigiuil.

Under law, persons who make a settlement in excess of €12,700 are named in the tax defaulters' list unless they have made a voluntary disclosure.

Earlier this week, the Revenue issued a statement disclosing that, following complex negotiations, Mr Haughey was to make a €5 million settlement.

How it was agreed that he would not be named on the tax defaulters' list, is not known.

While the fact of his settlement has been made public, being named in the quarterly lists would have involved an additional humiliation.

The settlement, approximately half of which is interest and penalties, arises from the various payments discovered by the Moriarty (Payments to Politicians) Tribunal. It is expected that the money will come from the sale of land in Kinsealy, Co Dublin.

Mr Haughey told the tribunal that his financial affairs were handled by the late Mr Des Traynor, and that he had very little knowledge of the details. The tribunal revealed that Mr Haughey filed tax returns where he only declared his PAYE income from politics and some agricultural earnings.

However, the tribunal did hear that he was aware that the late Mr P.V. Doyle was providing financial assistance in the 1980s.

Mr Haughey also requested money from Mr Dermot Desmond in 1994 and 1996.

While Mr Haughey's €5 million settlement arises from gift tax due on payments discovered by the Moriarty tribunal, it is not clear whether all of the payments disclosed have been agreed as requiring a tax settlement.

Mr Haughey was not named in Iris Oifigiuil following an earlier settlement arising from payments discovered by the McCracken (Dunnes Payments) Tribunal.