A new inquiry into payments to politicians is essential to restore public confidence in the tax system, according to the president of SIPTU. "The PAYE sector has been betrayed mercilessly and the law of the land flouted arrogantly," Mr Jimmy Somers said. PAYE workers were "understandably appalled and angered by the revelations" and the Government had to "move quickly and decisively to restore public confidence in the tax and political system".
"SIPTU members will not be convinced or satisfied by anything less than to see the full rigours of the law applied to all those involved in wrongdoing, without fear or favour, with full repayment of all outstanding taxes by those concerned."
Mr Somers said the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern's proposal for a public ethics commission "may have merit for the future", but a further inquiry was "essential now".
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions said the findings of the Dunnes tribunal should help confront the "cute hoor" mentality that tax dodging was socially acceptable.
"When we dodge tax we are picking the pockets of pensioners, we are depriving children with learning disabilities of the chance to learn, we are forcing patients to live in pain while they join the long queue for hip replacement."
In a statement yesterday, the ICTU said the tribunal findings represented "only the tip of the iceberg", and offshore deposits represented the sophisticated end of a widespread practice.
"The low standards in high places exposed by McCracken involve people going to enormous lengths in order to avoid paying their fair share to the cost of running the country. On a smaller scale, we hear people boasting about giving money to accountants rather than giving it to the revenue commissioners."