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

I am caught for time but I wish to ask Ms Feehily one or two more questions. She will understand that the ten-year rule would cause public annoyance if people were to think the Revenue cannot prosecute after ten years. We regularly hear of the Department of Social Protection chasing people for money they wrongly claimed, even if they went abroad, they were followed up when they came back. Ms Feehily will say ten years is the norm, and while I understand the Revenue do not want to leave the books open forever, but as an elected representative my view is that just because something was well covered for ten years people should not get off scot free. That seems to be the current legal position. I advise you, Chairman, that in our recommendations I will recommend that rule should be changed. I accept that is probably a policy issue on which Ms Feehily cannot comment.