Revenue collects €2.193bn from recent special investigations

The Revenue has raised €2.193 billion "as of today" from the special investigations it has conducted in recent years, the Revenue chairman told the tribunal.

Frank Daly said the laws that had allowed the Revenue to conduct these inquiries had been introduced as a result of a change in the "climate" in the State in relation to tax evasion. This change had in turn come about as a result of the revelations at the McCracken (Dunnes Payments), Moriarty, and Flood/Mahon tribunals.

He told Jerry Healy SC, for the tribunal, that since 1999, the Revenue had been able to go to the High Court and get orders allowing the Revenue to seek information from financial institutions and other parties. "This has been very successful for us" and had allowed the Revenue to conduct the special investigations of recent years.

There had been a change in attitude in society generally about tax evasion, as well as a change in attitude within financial institutions. "I don't think the culture is perfect yet, but I think we're getting there."

He said it was "incontrovertible" that financial institutions had been involved in the secretive aspects of Mr Haughey's affairs and he believed it was "highly unlikely" that could happen today. Financial institutions had "examined their conscience" and also were aware of the new powers the Revenue had - "but I never underestimate the ingenuity of tax evaders".

Earlier, Tony Barnes of IIB Bank said the Ansbacher and Hamilton Ross accounts in that bank had been closed. The two Cayman companies had settled with the Revenue and with IIB Bank in relation to Dirt owed. After the settlements had been paid, the balances in the accounts had been withdrawn.

Mr Justice Michael Moriarty said he would adjourn the tribunal to a date to be announced. The next session would be the "penultimate if not close to the penultimate" sitting.