David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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146. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the discussions he or his Department have had with the Companies Registration Office in relation to extending the deadline for the submission of company returns from 25 November 2021 in view of the recent upsurge in Covid-19 cases and the disruption this is causing to accountancy businesses; the result of these discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58796/21]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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The Registrar of Companies is a statutory role and the Registrar has administrative independence in the exercise of this function. However, my Department is in ongoing contact with the Companies Registration Office in relation to a range of matters.

Throughout the Covid-19 period, the Registrar has shown considerable flexibility in relation to the arrangements for filing annual returns, in recognition of the additional challenges facing companies as well as their professional advisers in meeting filing obligations. This includes extending the filing deadlines in respect of annual returns due during 2020 and also earlier this year in February and May, and suspending prosecutions and involuntary strike-offs for failure to file annual returns.

The Registrar is mindful of the particular problems raised by some small accountancy firms in meeting the current filing deadline for Annual Returns on behalf of their clients. Following consultation with stakeholders, the Registrar has taken the decision to extend the deadline for filing for a period of two weeks until 9th December in order to assist those firms who have found themselves in serious difficulties.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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147. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider extending the date for filing returns to the Companies Registration Office to the end of February 2022; if this request will take into account the current increased in Covid-19 cases and recent advice from Government that persons should again work from home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58855/21]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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The Registrar of Companies is a statutory role and the Registrar has administrative independence in the exercise of this function.

Throughout the Covid-19 period, the Registrar has shown considerable flexibility in relation to the arrangements for filing annual returns, in recognition of the additional challenges facing companies as well as their professional advisers in meeting filing obligations. This includes extending the filing deadlines in respect of annual returns due during 2020 and also earlier this year in February and May, and suspending prosecutions and involuntary strike-offs for failure to file annual returns.

The Registrar is mindful of the particular problems raised by some small accountancy firms in meeting the current filing deadline for Annual Returns on behalf of their clients. Following consultation with stakeholders, the Registrar has taken the decision that a two week extension is appropriate and the deadline for filing has been extended to 9^thDecember in order to assist those firms who have found themselves in serious difficulties.