The Revenue Commissioners will have increased powers under a review announced last night by the Minister for Finance. A five-strong review group will be appointed shortly and told to report by October 31st. Its recommendations could be brought into law in the 2004 Finance Bill, Mr McCreevy told the Institute of Taxation annual dinner.

The group should advise on "the appropriate balance between the need to secure the Revenue of the State and the rights of the taxpayer and whether there is a need for further powers, or streamlining of powers".

"There is always a need to take regular stock of the remit of such powers in order to assure the Government and the public at large that these are meeting the needs of the system and are being fully used as the Oireachtas intended.

"I believe that the opportunity presents itself now to perform a stock-taking exercise to ensure that the balance and strategic direction we have put in place is right," he said. Rejecting criticisms of his decision to close some tax loopholes, the Minister said he had "gone further in several cases in closing down abuses than my officials proposed".

"Let me be clear, I am talking here of tax abuses. Undoubtedly, the ongoing investigations of tax offences will uncover more wrong-doing."

Meanwhile, he offered more talks about the fears held by some taxation experts about Revenue plans to make it compulsory for some taxpayers to file returns electronically. "I consider it desirable that the move to electronic filing and payment should be achieved to the greatest extent possible on a voluntary basis," he said.