The Independent TD for Wicklow and East Carlow, Stephen Donnelly, has welcomed today’s apology by the Revenue Commissioners for how they handled the pension tax letters issue.
“This was a serious error which has caused widespread fear in Wicklow for pensioners and their families,” said Stephen Donnelly TD. “However, Revenue appeared at very short notice today before the full Finance Committee, of which I am a member, and apologised repeatedly and comprehensively for their errors, and that is to be welcomed.
“I think it should be acknowledged – because it’s not the norm in the Irish public sector for the heads of departments and offices to take full responsibility for the mistakes of their organisations.”
Stephen Donnelly TD had the opportunity to question the chair of Revenue Commissioners, Josephine Feehily, directly, this afternoon. [UPDATE – the transcript of this is here.]
“I had been contacted by people from across the county – pensioners and their families – who had phoned, emailed and called into the constituency office in Greystones to express their extreme frustration with the process by which they were informed of these possible additional tax liabilities. I brought their concerns directly to the Revenue chair, and she apologised at several stages during the proceedings and fully accepted that Revenue’s actions had been ill considered and badly executed, and had caused widespread and unnecessary fear and concern.
“Crucially, Josephine Feehily, the chair of the Revenue Commissioners, confirmed that there would be no second round of letters coming out to people who hadn’t already got them. So the important message there is: if you have not received one of these letters, it does not affect you. Hopefully, that will provide reassurance to pensioners who have not received a letter but were fearful of doing so.”
“Anybody who still has concerns should contact the Revenue Commissioners, or contact my office, or that of any of the Wicklow TDs, to see if we can help in clarifying their situation.”
There is further information available on the Revenue website, at: