John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)

I am not lecturing the Deputy. He has given his side of the story which is not completely accurate. If people engage with Revenue they can actually work their way out of the problem. I have found Revenue to be flexible within the framework when dealing with these situations.

On the question of attachment orders, a whole process leads up to the application of an attachment order. The company in question is written to and is engaged with by the Revenue which discusses the issue with the company. Revenue encourages the company or individual to settle before it ever becomes heavy handed. Even prior to the situation becoming, as the Deputy describes it, "a bit heavy handed", an authorised senior manager must be engaged to apply the attachment order. The figures dating back to 2005 are roughly the same, ranging around 2,200. I know this is a difficult time for businesses in terms of meeting all their obligations but any company facing a difficulty with payment of taxes should, before it becomes serious, ask their accountants to contact the Revenue Commissioners and work their way out of it.

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