PAC told it cannot call whistle blower

The whistleblower civil servant who alleges former senior politicians were engaged in tax evasion will not be allowed give evidence before the Public Accounts Committee, TDs have been told.

Legal advice given to the Oireachtas committee last night suggests the tax evasion dossier given to it last week may not be covered by whistleblower’s legislation.

TDs on the committee have been advised that the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) needs to get an update on the offshore Ansbacher accounts, referenced by whistleblower Gerry Ryan, which can then be referred to PAC to be examined.

Legal advice given to PAC said it could also not examine potential criminal issues and that under the current circumstances it could not call witnesses in relation to Mr Ryan’s claims.

Oireachtas sources last night said the situation could change if the C&AG asks Revenue for an update on Ansbacher accounts. PAC would then be able to examine any subsequent ‘progress report’, as the matter would fall within its remit.

This potentially could allow it to then call whistleblower Gerry Ryan or others as witnesses to answer questions about politicians evading tax through offshore accounts.

“There is a body of work needed from the C&AG for us to proceed, but there is a general desire among us to investigate this and get to the bottom of it, ” said one member last night.

PAC’s John McGuinness TD will also refer documents received by him to the Garda Síochána on behalf of each recipient. The chairman will also write to Minister Richard Bruton requesting that the larger dossier on related matters in his possession be forwarded to the Revenue.

Earlier, the Dáil heard claims the dossier alleging tax evasion contains names of former politicians from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Progressive Democrats.

Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald said some people were “household names”.

The tax evasion claims go back decades and are potentially “explosive”.