51 Revenue students graduate with degrees and diplomas in taxation

The fifth recipients of a Degree in Taxation from a university in Ireland graduated at the University of Limerick today. The 40 graduates, all staff members of Revenue, were conferred with the BA (Hons) in Applied Taxation. The programme included a broad range of tax and related topics combined with a highly focussed tax research project. A further 11 Revenue staff were conferred with the Diploma in Applied Taxation, bringing to 451 the number of Revenue staff that have graduated to date with this technical tax qualification."

The President of UL, Professor Don Barry, speaking at today’s graduation said

"Today we, once again, celebrate the strong academic partnership between UL and the Revenue Commissioners. In the 7 years of partnership, the first of its kind for the Irish civil service, more than 600 Revenue Commissioner Employees have graduated with professional qualifications in tax - including the 51 who have just now graduated with either a Diploma or Degree in Applied Taxation.

Revenue Commissioner, Mr Liam Irwin said today,

"Revenue's role in Irish society has never been more important. As we face uncertain economic conditions and increased challenges with fewer resources, we must be flexible and efficient in the way we work in order to fulfil our role in supporting fiscal recovery. I have no doubt that the knowledge and skills acquired by our new graduates will ensure that they play an important part in fulfilling this role."

Tom Collins, Director of the National Centre for Taxation Studies, speaking today said,

"All of us at UL are very proud of this most successful and pioneering partnership with Revenue. Today our joint efforts have resulted in the graduation of a fifth cohort of 40 Revenue students with Degrees in Applied Taxation and a seventh cohort of 11 students with the Diploma in Applied Taxation. We are delighted to have been associated with the educational development of such a dedicated group of students and warmly congratulate them and their families on their outstanding achievement. UL is well recognised as a University which meets the needs of the marketplace and our partnership with Revenue is a shining example of how such a partnership can work - with the commitment and expertise of both parties. We have no doubt that this partnership will contribute to the ever increasing professionalism and business focus of Revenue, who have been the outstanding achievers in our public service in the past decade."

The Dean of the Kemmy Business School, Dr. Philip O’Regan, emphasised the key to this continuing and effective partnership lies in the excellent trust built up over the years between both parties to the arrangement; participation from the Revenue and the Business School in shaping the evolving nature of the programmes ensures also their continuing relevance to the needs of the Irish economy.

[Ends 16/01/2012]