A Customs and Excise officer who last year challenged a decision of the Revenue Commissioners not to re-employ him to the Limerick Revenue mobile service which he had headed since 1997, has resolved his dispute with the Revenue authorities, the High Court was told yesterday.
Mr Seosamh Mac Suibhne, a higher executive officer with the customs section, alleged during last year's High Court hearing that he had been told by a Revenue official that the powers of the Revenue authorities were being threatened by politicians and by one TD in particular whose constituency was in Mr Mac Suibhne's area.
In an affidavit, Mr Mac Suibhne had alleged that questions were asked in the Dβil in 1999 about the seizure of vehicles by the Limerick Revenue mobile service for Vehichle Registration Tax (VRT) offences. "I am led to believe that the TD who asked the questions. . .was approached and offered settlement terms to withdraw the question," he said.
He alleged there was widespread evasion of duty and the 1998 Finance Act had introduced a law meaning a converted vehicle on which VRT had not been paid could be seized. He had been told by a senior Revenue official that his actions in seizing vehicles were causing difficulties for the Revenue authorities and claimed he was told by the official to stop seizing vehicles.
Mr Mac Suibhne had got permission to seek by way of judicial review a number of orders against the Revenue authorities but when the matter came before the court yesterday, Mr Roddy Horan, for Mr Mac Suibhne, told Mr Justice Lavan that the issue had been resolved.
Mr Horan said his client wished to withdraw all allegations against the Revenue including an allegation of bias.