The executive council of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has said it "strongly supports" the new powers given to the Revenue Commissioners in the Finance Bill. It described them as "essential" to deal with large-scale tax evasion and fraud.

"Given the scale of fraud and tax evasion being revealed on an almost daily basis by various tribunals and investigations, it is blatantly obvious that there is an absolute need to strengthen the powers of the Revenue Commissioners," said ICTU deputy general secretary Ms Patricia O'Donovan.

She added that Congress was satisfied there were sufficient safeguards built into the legislation.