The sixth cohort of recipients of a Degree in Taxation from a university in Ireland graduated at the University of Limerick today.  The 19 graduates, all staff members of Revenue, were conferred with the BA (Hons) in Applied Taxation.  The programme included a broad range of tax and related topics combined with a highly focussed tax research project.  A further 40 Revenue staff were conferred with the Diploma in Applied Taxation.

The President of UL, Professor Don Barry, speaking at today’s graduation said “Today we, once again, celebrate the strong academic partnership between UL and the Revenue Commissioners.  In the eight years of this partnership, the first of its kind for the Irish civil service, almost 700 Revenue Commissioner Employees have graduated with either a Diploma or Degree in Applied Taxation.” 

Revenue Chairman, Josephine Feehily said today, “The work we do in Revenue is of fundamental importance to the State and important work needs well trained, well qualified and professional staff. We must be able and willing to explore new ways of working; we need to be flexible in responding to changes in the business environment; and we need to ensure that those who evade their tax and customs responsibilities are detected and penalised to maintain public confidence in the fairness of the system. I am confident that you, our latest group of graduates, will fully utilise your new skills and play an ever increasing role in ensuring that our organisation can fulfil its role in supporting fiscal recovery.”

Tom Collins, Director of the National Centre for Taxation Studies, speaking today said, “All of us at UL are very proud of this most successful and pioneering partnership with Revenue.  Today our joint efforts have resulted in the graduation of a sixth cohort of 19 Revenue students with Degrees in Applied Taxation and a eighth cohort of 40 students with the Diploma in Applied Taxation.  We are delighted to have been associated with the educational development of such a dedicated group of students and warmly congratulate them and their families on their outstanding achievement.  UL is well recognised as a University which meets the needs of the marketplace and our partnership with Revenue is a shining example of how such a partnership can work - with the commitment and expertise of both parties. We have no doubt that this partnership will contribute to the ever increasing professionalism and business focus of Revenue, who have been the outstanding achievers in our public service in the past decade.” 

The Dean of the Kemmy Business School, Dr. Philip O’Regan, emphasised the key to this continuing and effective partnership lies in the excellent trust built up over the years between both parties to the arrangement; participation from Revenue and UL’s Kemmy Business School in shaping the evolving nature of the programmes ensures also their continuing relevance to the needs of the Irish economy.