Revenue Chairman addresses Cork Chamber of Commerce meeting
Speaking at the Cork Chamber of Commerce breakfast briefing, in the Imperial Hotel, Cork this morning (25 February) Frank Daly, Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners said that the time is right for a mature debate on the role of taxation in society. He suggested that such a debate should offer a reminder that in order to thrive business needs public goods such as infrastructure and security which are paid for by taxation.
"Tax compliance represents, not just a civic duty, but a central element of social responsibility and a core component of good citizenship", he said.
He declared that the responsibility for building a positive culture and positive attitudes to tax compliance is not just a matter for Revenue:
"Building a tax compliant culture is also the responsibility of all our citizens, of our political and religious leaders, of the media and of our schools. It is also a responsibility of yourselves here this morning as business leaders and key influencers in the community."
Noting that Revenue has had considerable success in recent years in addressing a legacy of tax evasion in certain areas, Mr Daly added that this was not just a matter of collecting tax arrears:
"These campaigns, the publicity that goes with them and the demonstrated determination of Revenue not to ignore evasion by any sector, have proved to be key drivers in a growing public intolerance of tax evasion, and an increasing public awareness of the obligations of tax compliance. This shift in attitude is central to any real and lasting culture change - it is the real bonus from the Legacy Investigations" he said.
[Ends 25/02/04]