Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

To illustrate the utter lunacy of this taxation measure, a person out of work who happens to own his or her own home receives no exemption or waiver from it. The only relief available is that the person can ask not to pay it now but at a later date. To add insult to injury, in seeking that deferral, the State will levy an additional 4% interest charge. That is insane.

I thank Ms Feehily for setting out the details of this taxation measure. I do not envy her the task before her because, like most public servants, she is a decent and honourable servant of the State. This tax is wrong. It is bananas.