Politics

No legal basis for audit of tax evasion claims, PAC told

Committee cannot examine civil servant’s claims about offshore accounts

Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee John McGuinness. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons
Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee John McGuinness. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons
Fiach Kelly
Thu Nov 13 2014 - 01:00

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has been told there is no legal basis for it to examine the tax evasion claims made by a civil servant in the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

The committee has also been given legal advice this afternoon that it cannot bring Gerry Ryan, who made the claims regarding offshore Ansbacher accounts, before it to give evidence.

A private meeting of the PAC is ongoing, but sources said deputies have also been told they cannot ask Mr Ryan for an additional 700-page document he says supports his claims.

It is also understood the committee has been told Mr Ryan’s initial dossier - which he sent to members last week - is outside its remit.

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TDs on the committee are currently discussing their options.

One source said a motion would have to be put before the Dáil to widen the committee’s remit, if it wanted to fully examine the claims.