Ms Josephine Feehily:

I do not believe the Revenue Commissioners should ever be immune from hearing feedback from Parliament. That is one of the reasons I am here. We are independent in our application of the Acts and that independence, although it has always been honoured by all Governments, was enshrined in law in recent years. However, that independence does not extend to putting ourselves into a box. We should listen and hear and I am here today to listen and hear and to reflect on anything that Members of Parliament say to us.

I regularly get contacts and we regularly get representations. I have been asked several times whether we should be subject to such communications and I have always said that I consider it appropriate for us to be communicated with by Members of Parliament, as representatives of the people in a democracy, and for us to reflect on the issues being brought to our attention. In that sense I have no issue with any politician bringing a matter to my attention - none at all.