Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have a note that I did not read earlier which might be useful. Mea culpa. It might help to put the issue in context. It might be the case that a very unusual situation could arise to which the Deputy referred, in which a contractor complies with the terms of the scheme but due to force majeure the final electronic confirmation cannot be made. I am sure that in such highly unusual situations the Revenue Commissioners could deal with the matter under their care and management powers. Even in such circumstances as the Deputy outlined, it is the position of the Department that the householder will not lose out in terms of the credit being granted to them in circumstances whereby for some unforeseen reason on the part of the contractor the final stage of the process was not in place. That is a verbal commitment rather than a legal commitment, which Deputy Doherty sought in his amendment specifying ten working days. However, that is our view and I hope that will be of some assistance.

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