Sir, - "Careers that scale the heights" was the headline above a recent advertisement inviting applications for, among other positions, the posts of Inspector of Taxes and Higher Tax Officer in the Office of the Revenue Commissioners. As the last batch of people to enter that office at the level of Higher Tax Officer in 1981 are all still serving at the same grade, or have moved on to more lucrative employment elsewhere, scaling heights hardly seems appropriate to a career in taxes.
Those awaiting an opportunity for internal promotion to the grade of Higher Tax Officer (which has an advertised starting salary of £11,480) are currently serving a minimum of 13 years at present grade, and are required to pass an examination on the technical aspects of many forms of taxation levied by the State. Those awaiting promotion to the grade of Inspector of Taxes (advertised starting salary £15,836) are facing a period in excess of 16 years.
The lack of promotional prospects available to our members within the Office of the Revenue Commissioners would barely qualify their jobs to be considered as careers in the normal sense of the word, much less ones from which heights can be scaled. - Yours, etc., Peter Murphy,
Branch Secretary, Tax Officials' Branch, IMPACT, Nerney's Court, Dublin 1.