Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Shame on them for punishing struggling homeowners. Sinn Féin has said we will repeal this legislation and publish legislation to give effect to that. It is up to TDs to support that legislation in the other House when we introduce it.

Mention was made earlier of what is happening in the North in terms of rates, and Sinn Féin was accused of hypocrisy in opposing the introduction of a property tax in the South and supporting rates in the North. We all know that the regional rate paid in the North goes towards education, health, housing, roads, water, sewerage and emergency services. Senator Norris made the point earlier that we can say that the money we raise from the property tax is going towards these services but it is not, whereas in the North it is paying for those services.