Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We will have to delve into that. The situation grows more unsatisfactory the more we discuss it. Ms O'Donoghue is telling me that some of the poor people who, for example, have been in receipt of disability allowance have been subjected to attachment orders whereas no attachment order has been issued in respect of anyone under the redundancy and insolvency scheme. There is a disparity in the Department's approach. It seems to go after the little guy and not the big guy. It is confirming this through its inaction in respect of the fund. If the Department sought to get €5,000 back from someone because of a years old overclaim of disability payment only to have that person tell it that there was an ongoing process and that the situation would be reviewed when it ended in five or six years' time, the Department would not wait. It does, however, wait when a company says that a receivership or insolvency has been put in place. Why does the Department not move aggressively and get its money first? Has the Department the authority to made an attachment order on a company that is going through an insolvency process or is being managed by a receiver?