Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is a pity that the Minister of State, Deputy D'Arcy, has left because it appears he blames the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, and claims that it is her responsibility. Nobody seems to be taking responsibility for the power to extend the deadline beyond Friday. A statutory instrument was signed by the Minister for Finance on 22 March 2019, and the responsibility was then transferred to the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, under the auspices of the Companies Registration Office. To facilitate companies registering, the system did not go live when it was due to do so and was delayed by approximately one month, not going live until 29 June. As my colleague, Deputy Brassil, noted, in recent weeks the agents responsible for registering companies online have been preoccupied with the return of tax.

I ask that common sense prevail and that the Minister talk to the Minister of State, Deputy D'Arcy, or the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, and extend the deadline beyond Friday because only 30% of businesses due to register have done so to date, which means that 70% have not and will be liable for fines of anything between €5,000 and €500,000.

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