Mr. Jim McCabe:

I cover two areas, one of which is Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. The Deputy is right. Although all of us have suffered over the years, the rates have gone up in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, in some instances by 20%. Like the Deputy, I cannot understand why this is the case, although I know the background, which is related to rents. I have two tenants and am also a tenant, but because I am a retailer I can talk to my two tenants and be rational. We can look ahead and work together. I have talked to them about the future and we can work as a team. However, because my landlord in my other establishment is bankrolled - in the sense of being owned by the bank - there is no discussion. Some effort must be made here. I realise it is a constitutional issue and there are problems with legislation, but in a landlord-tenant situation where the tenant can show improvements have not been made and things have not gone well during a particular period, both landlord and tenant can and should work together. However, when there is pressure at the back of it all, from a bank or an institution, it is very difficult because then there is also pressure on the landlord. It is very difficult to have movement in that area. Looking ahead, the landlord-tenant situation should be similar to a business in which people work together for the future. That is not happening, and it should be examined.