Whistleblower makes new Ansbacher claims

A whistleblower has named another former politician as having an Ansbacher account in a fresh document sent to politicians. Gerry Ryan, an official in the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, had sent fresh correspondence to the Public Accounts Committee.

However, following legal advice, the document was not circulated to members and the committee was told the allegations were outside their remit. It is understood Mr Ryan criticised assurances by Revenue that all of his claims were investigated. He also named another politician who he alleges had an offshore account used to evade tax in the document sent to the committee.

The decision came down to a vote with only two members – Independent TD Shane Ross and Sinn Féin TD Mary Lou McDonald – voting in favour.

The committee met in private and Fine Gael’s Patrick O’Donovan said the letter should not be sent to members because it would then be read into the Dáil chamber and produced in the media. This was said to be a direct reference to Ms McDonald who was found to have breached Dáil privilege by naming the politicians in the chamber.

Fine Gael TD John Deasy told Mr Ross and Ms McDonald if they wanted the information they should contact Mr Ryan and seek the document. Afterwards, Mr Deasy said there had been no ambiguity about the legal advice. “The legal adviser probably repeated five times that the committee had no remit to accept any part of correspondence,” he said.

Mr Ryan is a senior official in the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. He had served as the “authorised officer” under company law who investigated Ansbacher accounts in the Cayman Islands. He contended in a dossier given to the committee that a number of named former senior politicians had held such offshore accounts. This was denied by the politicians.

Revenue officials appeared before the committee and rejected the allegations.