Burke contacted Revenue on Brennan’s behalf

The Flood tribunal heard today how former minister Mr Ray Burke contacted the chairman of the Revenue Commissioners in April 1989 on behalf of Meath builder Mr Tom Brennan.

At the time Mr Brennan’s firm Bardun Estates was attempting to settle its tax liabilities with the Revenue.

Mr Burke, the then Minister for Industry and Commerce, telephoned Mr Philip Curran, the Revenue chairman at the time, to see if the matter could be settled in similar fashion to a case involving Elmgrove Limited - another of Mr Brennan’s building firms.

The Chairman wrote to Mr Burke explaining that there was a fundamental difference in the legal position of the two companies.

The letter also revealed that the Revenue believed both companies had been involved in "elaborate tax avoidance schemes".

Counsel for the tribunal, Ms Patricia Dillion SC, asked Mr Burke if it was normal for him to contact the most senior person in the Revenue Commissioner’s office on behalf of a constituent.

Mr Burke said at the time he frequently made representations to the Revenue like most politicians.

He said: "I was not asking him to do any favours for anybody."

Earlier, the tribunal heard how Mr Burke sought exchange control permission for £1,000 in November 1972 for a trip to Florida. On the form Mr Burke had stated that the purpose of his trip was a property deal in Miami.

However, today Mr Burke told the tribunal that he was in fact on honeymoon. He said: "The money was very well spent as she’s still with me now."

He rejected the accusation that he had hidden the true nature of his trip or had lied on the form, saying he may well have intended to explore a business proposition.