The Government is failing to police the growing black market economy, with the result that €6 billion is being lost annually, the small business lobby group ISME warned today.
Addressing the association's 10th annual conference, chairman Mr Robert Berney said the "black economy" accounted for up to 6 per cent of GDP annually with a resultant loss to the exchequer in unpaid taxes of €2 billion.
According to Mr Berney this would cover the benchmarking agreement. He said increased operating costs for businesses are driving the growth of the black economy. Mr Berney said this includes rising local Government charges, insurance, labour, and energy costs.
"Whether we like it or not, Ireland has become an expensive and difficult place to run an enterprise and many businesses are being forced into the shadow economy simply in order to survive. This is
having serious ramifications for legitimate companies who have their businesses and livelihoods threatened by black economy operators", he said.
Mr Berney said that the Revenue Commissioners were focused on compliant taxpayers with little
or no effort being spent in tackling non-compliant companies.
"Up until a few years ago the black economy was viewed predominantly in terms of individuals involved in doing nixers, now it would appear that complete businesses have moved out of the legitimate economy," he said.
To combat this, Mr Berney said the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, needs to clamp down on
racketeering and rogue operators and to identify companies and particular sectors operating in the shadow economy.
ISME recommended that insurance industry reform be fast-tracked and a review of proposed taxation changes such as benefit in kind and how it might influence individuals to enter the black economy.