Most approve of deal on bogus accounts

More voters approve than disapprove of the Revenue's deal for holders of bogus non-resident accounts, according to the last instalment of the Irish Times/MRBI opinion poll.

Some 47 per cent of voters approve of the deal recently announced by the Revenue giving holders of bogus non-resident accounts six months in which to regularise their affairs; 44 per cent disapprove and 9 per cent have no opinion.

Respondents were also asked about the disclosure that a witness's statement was changed during the Arms Trial in 1970, which has led to demands for an investigation. The then minister for justice and former leader of the Progressive Democrats, Mr Des O'Malley, has denied any knowledge of the alterations.

A clear majority of 56 per cent believe the inquiry should re-examine the circumstances of the Arms Crisis as a whole. Some 21 per cent think the inquiry should concentrate solely on the altered statement, while 23 per cent had no opinion.

The poll was conducted among a national quota sample of 1,000 electors at 100 sampling points throughout all constituencies on Monday and Tuesday of last week.

The level of approval for the Revenue's tax deal for bogus non-resident account-holders will come as something of a surprise to politicians.

The approval rating is highest among PD supporters (52 per cent), followed by Fine Gael (51 per cent), Fianna Fail (50 per cent), Labour (46 per cent) and Others (39 per cent). The category of Others expresses the highest disapproval at 53 per cent, followed by 47 per cent of the supporters of Labour, 45 per cent of Fine Gael, 41 per cent of PDs and 39 per cent of Fianna Fail.

The Prime Time disclosure that the statement of Col Michael Hefferon, director of military intelligence, was changed during the 1970 Arms Trial is currently the subject of an investigation by the Attorney General's Office and the Department of Justice.

With events that happened over 30 years ago, it is hardly surprising that the demands for an inquiry are lowest in the 18to 24-year-old age-group. Some 50 per cent of 18 to 24-yearolds believe there should be a broad inquiry into the Arms Crisis as a whole; 18 per cent want a narrow inquiry into the changes to the witness's statement; and 32 per cent have no opinion.

An overwhelming majority of PD supporters, 83 per cent, favour a broad inquiry into the Arms Crisis compared to 64 per cent of Labour supporters, 62 per cent of Others, 58 per cent of Fine Gael and 53 per cent of Fianna Fail. Only a quarter of Fianna Fail supporters, 24 per cent, and 14 per cent of PD supporters want an inquiry concentrating solely on the altered statement.

Meanwhile, the investigation being conducted by the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, will be completed within the next two weeks.

A spokesman for the Department of Justice said yesterday the Minister was in the process of finalising the report. It will then be brought before the Government and subsequently to the Oireachtas.

As part of the investigation gardai are checking their records and speaking to former members of the force who were involved at the time. The Attorney General, Mr Michael McDowell, has also ordered a review of the files contained in his office and those in the office of the Chief State Solicitor. He will report his findings to Mr O'Donoghue.