Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)

I will make a worthwhile suggestion. Any employer who has made staff redundant could offset the 60% refund due to them against any tax liability which arises, whether PAYE or whatever. This suggestion came from a business person. The Government should hand it over, because the Revenue is still putting pressure on small businesses. This morning I heard of a contractor in the building industry. He collected money from the sub-contractor. The process is circular and the money goes back into the same pot. Will the Minister consider the suggestion? I accept the Minister is trying to deal with the matter, but it will necessitate a significant number of staff. It will require more than the number mentioned by the Minister of State to deal with the current level, especially if redundancies keep coming through. Will the Minister consider that suggestion? There could be a payment offset against liabilities or any money due to the Revenue. The Government has the money in any case, so no one would go out of business. A 60% refund could be offset against PAYE, PRSI, capital acquisitions tax, capital gains tax, income tax or whatever else. Let us engage in forward thinking and join up those computers.

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