Tom Shehan (Fine Gael)

While acknowledging the work that the Revenue Commissioners do, I have been contacted recently with regard to the anecdotal evidence. The banking fraternity has taken direction from the Minister for Finance regarding its dealings with businesses and people in debt. Hence there are longer timeframes for repayment, restructuring is an option and people are able to retain their homes and businesses, yet the Revenue's approach seems to be very much confrontational. There is no give or ease in the organisation's approach. Banks are engaging with people and if Revenue adopted a similar approach to ensure people remain in business and gave them an opportunity by providing more time to pay and so on, they will pay.

We are in different and difficult times and if the Revenue Commissioners endorsed a different approach, businesses and jobs would be retained. If people can keep their businesses going, they will pay their dues at some stage but if they are put out of business, those dues will never be paid and more people will be on the live register. Would it be possible for the Leader to invite the chairman of the Revenue Commissioners to the House or could a direction be sent to the organisation to give people in business every opportunity? They have to pay and they will pay if they are allowed to remain in business.