Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)

I will just add to that and reiterate that Revenue is very efficient. There have been weaknesses in the past but it does its job well. There is no doubt the sheriff could have got access to Highland Bakery yesterday. The low loaders and lorries were there and were taking away the machinery. Only the workers were left, who barricaded themselves in. If the sheriff gets access to that business, he will be able to recoup the money on behalf of Revenue.

The Minister, as Minister for Finance, this Parliament and this State will be down more money, as Deputy Mac Lochlainn acknowledged; some €800,000 for 42 employees. There is very little opportunity for any of those workers to find a job in County Donegal, which has 21,000 people unemployed. I realise Revenue is working with other businesses and that is fine, but there are four files on my table, as I explained to the Minister, on which they are not working. The people in question are willing to pay their liabilities but in a way that can sustain employment.

I know the Minister has limitations in this regard but I ask him to look at the role of Revenue, a role that might have been fit for purpose in better times. Perhaps it needs a direction or a change of legislation. At this time, however, when jobs are our number one priority, Revenue must take on board the impact of closing down a business. As the Minister remarked, it is not solely about recouping outstanding liabilities for the taxpayer. If there is a need for amendment in that regard, we would support it.

I know Revenue has to push the owners of companies such as this as far as it can but if it pushes them too far it will close down the company, there will be a loss of tax revenue and people will be unemployed.

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