Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Senator will appreciate that I am here today to deal only with this particular Covid-related legislation. This scheme is solely administered by the Revenue Commissioners. Everybody understands that we do not want the tax office adjudicating on matters of labour law or the rights of people to seek representation through trade unions. I am aware that the intentions are good, but I suspect there will be lots of opportunities to raise this matter again. This is one of the first times I have heard somebody suggesting in the Oireachtas that the Revenue Commissioners should be involved in dealing with employment law and employment rights. Revenue has a job to do and does it very efficiently and effectively but it would be the responsibility of the Departments that deal with labour law to deal with this matter. That is all I am flagging. I am not in a position to answer for other Departments. Revenue has a job to do under this legislation and I would not like to even suggest that it should be responsible for interpreting labour law. Where would it end? There will be other opportunities, but not in this Bill, to raise these points. I know this is not the answer but I am being pragmatic about it. This Bill is for a Revenue scheme and the Senator's recommendation is not a job for Revenue.