Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As already stated, I have reservations about deleting section 9. However, I have heard the Deputies' arguments and I realise that there is a support for removing it in its entirety. On that basis, I will not move amendment No. 3. I have also outlined my concerns about the application to the District Court for an extension of time but I accept the spirit in which Deputies Kelleher and Quinlivan have brought forward this amendment. I clearly say I am not trying to target small companies which for genuine reasons may end up filing late but I am trying to target companies repeatedly filing late, perhaps for cynical reasons and in order to withhold information and reduce transparency. By deleting section 9, this will continue. It sometimes happens that a company waits until the CRO sends an enforcement notice and then it applies to the court, which puts a stay on any enforcement until the grant decides on whether to grant a time extension.

The CRO is introducing a new information technology system that will make it easier for us to obtain accurate figures on the profile of companies that are persistently filing late. Deputies will agree that there should be repercussions for those companies that are abusing the system. I hope the Deputies will keep an open mind and perhaps this is a matter we can keep under review. If, when we collect the data, we find there is a cohort of repeat offenders, perhaps we can revisit the matter. As public representatives, we should not stand over a position where companies use the courts to withhold information that should rightly be in the public domain much sooner. Having said that, I am happy not to move the amendment No. 3.

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