Alastair Kneale's blog

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

The ‘KPMG Tax Sham’ involving the Isle of Man reported last month by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation continues to reverberate according to further reports by the Corporation.

It is now understood up to 25 people may have used the ‘tax plan’ which Canadian Revenue authorities are pursing.

CBC also report that attempts to settle the issue quietly have broken down (link):

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

The Celtic League has pressed the OECD over the value of so called Tax Information Exchange Agreements (TIEAs) following allegations in Canadian Broadcasting Corporation news reports alleging tax evasion earlier this month news.

A TIEA is in place between the Isle of Man and Canada.

OECD letter text below:

“Pascal Saint-Amans
Director
Centre for Tax Policy Information
OECD

By email

28th September 2015

Dear Sir,

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

There’s an interesting video clip on the exchanges yesterday in the Dail over NAMA yesterday when the Isle of Man once again got a mention ‘in a bad light’. The new allegations about fixers fees being paid amounting to a staggering 45 million Euro as part of deals around the Assets bodies sale of its Northern portfolio were aired. (link):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-34349369

News From The Celic League

Northern Ireland DUP leader and First Minister, Peter Robinson (picture), has hit back robustly after allegations made earlier today about the mystery £7.5 million NAMA related deposit in an offshore bank account in the Isle of Man.

A witness at today’s Stormont Finance Committee which is enquiring into the matter had alleged some of the funds were for Mr Robinson, however Mr Robinson has described the assertions, by Jamie Bryson, as ‘scurrilous’ issuing an unequivocal rebuttal.

In a statement the DUP leader says:

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

A breaking news report in the Belfast Telegraph has Loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson (picture) alleging that a number of people including DUP leader Peter Robinson were to benefit from £7.5 million deposited in the Isle of Man as part of the NAMA deal to sell a portfolio of properties in the North of Ireland. Bryson has appeared in front of the Stormont finance committee taking evidence about the event (see link):

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

The National Union of Public and General Employees which is the second largest Trade Union in Canada has expressed its concern over the use of the Isle of Man and other tax havens by wealthy Canadian citizens wanting to evade tax.

The NUPGE National President, James Clancy said last week following allegations about KPMG Canada:

“The reason KPMG is promoting privatization is the same reason it's helping wealthy individuals use tax havens: tax havens increase its profits at the public’s expense.”

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

Canadian tax justice body christens Mann the ‘Isle of Sham’!

We have reported on the CBC - KPMG - IOM Tax evasion allegations previously.

The link below is to a well researched CBC 20 minute documentary which covers the whole saga to date.

It looks as if the affair is set to run as the allegations are now starting to embroil the Canadian government.

Full report here:

News from The Celtic League

The Celtic League have written to the DOI Director of Ports asking what monies are paid by the UK Ministry of Defence for the use by RAF training aircraft which use Ronaldsway regularly.

Hawk trainers from the RAF Valley base utilise the airport on a regular basis and additionally larger types such as Hercules transports have used the airport.

The training generally involves ‘non touch down’ approach and take-off techniques.

A copy of the brief query to Ms Reynolds is set out below:

“18th September 2015

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

Now here is something that stuffed shirted bewigged Manx Deemsters, apparently perpetually anchored in the 19th century, had better not hope catches on in the Isle of Man.

Integrity Ireland (I-I) which was set up to campaign against judicial malfeasance and ‘encourage openness, transparency and justice in Irish State institutions’ - especially in ‘policing, the legal profession and the Courts’ mounted something of a coup earlier this month in the Courtroom at Castlebar in Co Mayo (see link):

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

The Isle of Man Economic Development Minister, Laurence Skelly, has said the Island continues to weather the economic crisis delivering an upbeat message about the 4.5% economic growth achieved last year (see link):

http://www.manxradio.com/…/positive-message-from-minister-…/