Revenue appeals bilingual tax booklet decision

The Revenue Commissioners failed in their statutory duty when they sent out only the English language version of an information booklet on the local property tax, it has been claimed in the High Court.

The Revenue is appealing a decision by the Office of the Language Commissioner that it breached the Official Languages Act 2003 by failing to communicate bilingually when it sent 1.7 million booklets in February 2013.

Versions in both English and Irish were published. However, only the English version was sent out, unless the householder had specifically registered to conduct their business through Irish.

Ben Ó Floinn for Revenue, said the parcels were not communications with the public in general as each was addressed to a specific citizen. Séamus Ó Tuathail, for the Commissioner, said it was accepted each letter was private — but the accompanying booklet was a public communication.

The case is being heard, in Irish, before Mr Justice Colm Mac Eochaidh.