The Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen, has boosted powers of the Revenue Commissioners in an effort to crack down on tax cheats.
Under the changes announced in the Finance bill, tax officials will have additional power to pursue those who have undeclared money in single premium accounts.
The changes will also make it an offence to neglect to comply with tax laws.
Meanwhile, the minister has apologised for misleading the Dáil over the exemption from income tax of earnings from stallions.
Mr Cowen told TDs that, contrary to an answer he gave earlier this week, the EU has been in touch with the Government in relation to the tax break.
He said a letter from the EU had not arrived in his department when he last spoke.
In it, a senior official said the EU had reached a preliminary conclusion that the exemption represented an aid to industry that could be contrary to the union’s competition rules.
