Labour Party Spokesperson on Finance Ms Joan Burton has criticised plans by the Department of Finance to hire a team of consultants to undertake a review of tax shelters and exemptions saying that this approach would be neither "open nor accountable".
"While the Labour Party has been calling for a full review of all tax shelters, we most certainly did not want this type of behind-closed-door exercise into which taxpayers can have no input," said Ms Burton.
"I am also concerned that the terms of reference in the tenders documents that were circulated by the Department of Finance on Christmas Eve are narrowly drawn and may be skewed towards delivering the result that the government wants."
Ms Burton also pointed out that given the relatively small number of Irish consultancy firms capable of carrying out such work, that the successful firm may also have been involved in advising clients as to how to take full advantage of tax shelters and exemptions and as such may have a vested interest in the outcome of the review.
She also criticised the fact that there had been no consultation with the Oireachtas Committee on Finance and the Public Service, since the Minister for Finance, Mr Cowen, announced the review in his budget speech on December 1st.
"I believe that the Committee could have played a useful role in advising on the terms of reference and could also provide a platform for taxpayers, the trade unions, business organisations and others to make their views known," she said.