Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The legislation promoted by the Government in respect of the property tax provided an option for local authorities to vary the tax up or down by 15%. However, the statutory instrument to which my colleague, Deputy Cowen, referred was published on 5 February without fanfare. It was not even accompanied by the usual press release. The effect of the statutory instrument is to make it virtually impossible for local authorities to vary the property tax in the current year. Was that a deliberate decision on the part of the then Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government?

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