Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank all concerned for the presentation. We really appreciate their being with us. I do not want to be repetitive but the same issues concern me greatly. Interaction with Revenue still seems to be less than appropriate to meet the needs of customers, both hauliers and end customers. I suggest that we get a simple paper, perhaps from Mr. McDonnell, that sets out very clearly the issue we have and, more important, the solution or best approach. It would assist us in the report we will be preparing. We could engage again with Revenue in advance of producing our final report and try to get the matter resolved. We have heard about it from others. Quite frankly, it is not good enough that it has not been resolved at this stage. There has to be a way to ensure that moneys paid to Revenue are ring-fenced for a particular transaction and relate to the goods on one's truck in order that one pallet does not hold up an entire shipment. Surely there is a way of processing to ensure that a payment relating to the pallet on one's truck will remain related to it and somebody else will not be able to beat one to the slip, as it were, just as one is coming into port. It seems to be something from a darker age. I would not for a minute suggest that it is commensurate with the way Revenue does its business. It probably has the most sophisticated IT system of all State agencies. That relates to the fact that it does so much collecting of taxes. Surely the matter will have to be resolved in due course. I suggest that a small delegation from the committee go to the port when possible and see the system in action. This would help us in drafting our final report. Perhaps the Chairman and clerk could go.

I know the Chair has been there before but it would be useful for us to see the manifestation of these delays on site in simple terms.