Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank both witnesses for their input and consideration in making a submission such as they have. It is part of what we had sought to bring to the table prior to Committee Stage of the legislation to allow us as broad a range of amendments as possible through input from various sectors. I wish to make a few comments on the content. I am surprised that the witnesses welcomed the elimination of town councils. I disagree with them on that point. As I have said to others, I recognise that there was some duplication and there was room for streamlining, but not to the extent proposed by the document and, now, the legislation to support that document. In respect of the fact that there will now be three municipal districts where there was previously one, I do not think there is much autonomy attached to the municipal district. They have more of a consultative role with regard to the full council than anything else. There is nothing within the legislation, so far as I can see, that would tell me otherwise. There are at present, throughout the local authority system, local area committees made up of members from a certain district and they can make recommendations to local authorities themselves for onward decision. There is nothing within the legislation to suggest that this will change greatly. The ceremonial attachment to an area will continue with the mayor and so forth, but other than that I do not see any change.

The question in respect of rates is very pertinent to the situation on the ground. I am totally supportive of and committed to a system that would overhaul the present system as we know it. We think there has to be more alignment in commercial rents. Consideration will have to be given to turnover and ability to pay. Some previous speakers this morning mentioned that the existing system is archaic. We are in agreement with that, and something has to be done, if for no other reason than to address the imbalance in many towns throughout the country where town centres have lost their sheen compared to outside developments on the edges of towns. There must be a means and a mechanism by which that is addressed. For our part, we are putting a Bill before the House to address that issue in the coming weeks, for which we hope to attract cross-party support. In the lead-up to Committee Stage of this Bill, we hope to have realistic amendments to effect change in that regard.

The rebate on rates has been raised by all contributors today. Obviously, it is a very real issue on the ground. This is tied into the last comment I made in respect of rates. There must be a recognition of the present commercial realities before any decision such as that is rammed through the House. We will be cognisant of that. I reiterate my appreciation of the delegates' contributions. I may not agree with everything they said, but it was interesting to hear what they had to say at the same time. We would hope to reflect some of their considerations when we set about amending the Bill.