The State has collected more than €40 million as a result of investigations into matters disclosed at the Moriarty and Mahon tribunals, figures released today by the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) reveal.
According to the chapter relating to special investigations undertaken by Revenue, 45 cases are currently being investigated as a result of matters disclosed at the inquiries.
Eighteen cases are being investigated as a result of the Moriarty tribunal and three cases have been settled for a total of €7 million. Payments on account of €1.4m have also been received in respect of two cases.
Twenty-seven cases are being investigated as a result of the Mahon tribunal and four of these have been settled for €26.5 million. Payments on account of €5.5 million have also been received in respect of 12 cases.
The C&AG said that more cases are not expected from the Moriarty tribunal as it is nearing completion however, it does not know if additional cases will arise from the Mahon tribunal nor when it will conclude.
The C&AG report also refers to cases directly involving "Ansbacher-type arrangements", as well as other cases involving offshore funds and deposits.
Of the 289 cases, a total of 248 cases have been settled to date, 106 of which had total liabilities of €68.44 million. This includes a settlement of €7.5 million with a Cayman Islands-based bank.
Payments on account of €7.73 million have been received in 16 of the 41 ongoing cases.
According to the report, some of the cases are likely to go to court and therefore it is not possible for Revenue to predict either the potential yield or the time frame to completion.
The report also investigated "pick-me-up" schemes involving expenses for goods or services incurred by a political party but paid by a third party as a means of supporting the party. Such payments were not deductible for tax purposes.
The investigation found a total of 71 cases that apparently avoided tax by engaging in "picking up" expenses, which were owed by political parties. Forty six cases have been settled for a total of €562,328 including interest and penalties.
Payments totalling €226,165 in connection with ten other cases, including tribunal cases, are still to be finalised, the report found.
