MICHAEL LOWRY resigned as a Minister:
He has laid out his business affairs before the Dail. He has said he will appear before a Committee of the Dail to make further explanation.
Fine Gael believes that the tax laws must be adhered to by all citizens. There is a special responsibility on public representatives, who make the law, to respect the law. Michael Lowry has acknowledged this explicitly in his Dail statement and he has apologised publicly for his failings in this regard.
Although this acknowledgment and apology were absolutely necessary, one must also recognise that it was a difficult thing to do, requiring courage and frankness.
Michael Lowry is subject to the law of the land. He is entitled to the same protection under the law as anybody else.
Failure to disclose transactions to the Revenue in time for tax assessment purposes is wrong. While Michael Lowry has explained the circumstances, there are serious matters disclosed in his speech which are the subject of investigation by the appropriate authorities. These authorities must do their work independently in accordance with their own procedures.
The fact that exact tax liabilities are not yet determinable does not relieve taxpayers of their responsibility to declare income, and pay tax on a preliminary basis.
Michael Lowry's statement is his own, prepared with the aid of his own advisers. Naturally, as leader of the party to which he belongs, I conveyed to Michael Lowry my concern that his statement be as comprehensive as possible, and take fully into account the legitimate concerns of the public in this matter.