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

I thank the representatives from Dublin Chamber of Commerce for both their presentation and submission. I accept the sentiment Ms Quin has expressed. I am glad to hear that water rationing measures are to cease this evening. It has been a difficult ten or 12 days for the members of Dublin Chamber of Commerce and residents across the city. That is, however, an issue for another day, particularly in the context of the means and methods that will be used to resolve it in the long term. I hope a mechanism will be put in place to address it in the short term. We will be raising the matter with the powers that be at other fora.

Ms Quin has stated Dublin Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the local authority, played an active part in seeking cost efficiencies and so forth in recent years. I am aware that the process in this regard was difficult for both local authorities and the recipients of the services they provide. During the initial two or three year period cost savings of 20% to 25% were made by my local authority in the area of manpower. This meant that my local authority and others like it were obliged to seek to provide the same level of service with fewer personnel and less funding. I commend everyone concerned for achieving the necessary efficiencies. These efficiencies continue to be achieved by means of changes to procurement processes, etc.

What Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy said reflects the methodology and reasoning behind the parliamentary question I tabled to the Minister about this matter. I understand he previously gave a commitment to the effect that what was raised locally would be retained locally. The money raised in Dublin by means of the local property tax would amount to in the region of €50 million over and above the amount available under the existing equalisation measure. It is in the latter context that I asked the Minister to make a firm statement on what was the long-term objective in this area, irrespective of what might be the position in order for people to address the ensuing situation in the wake of the original statement on his part. I hope clarification from him will be forthcoming. I have my doubts about his remarks to the effect that the deferral will only apply next year. I expect that in 2014 he will continue to state the deferral will remain in place for a longer period. I agree that clarity and finality are required in this issue.

I fully support our guests' views on a directly elected mayor for Dublin. In the context of the Local Government Bill, my party produced a document which detailed our support for directly elected mayors who would have effective executive powers, not only in Dublin but also in the other major cities throughout the country. While I welcome the plebiscite, I do not believe it is necessary to hold one. The matter could have been dealt with in the legislation.

There is a need for a complete overhaul of rates. I am aware that a revaluation was carried out in Dublin, but I do not believe this addressed all of the issues our guests' members would have raised. We will be tabling amendments that would lead to the creation of a system which, at its core, would be cognisant of the position on commercial rents. There has been a reduction in such rents in recent years, but there has been no corresponding fall in commercial rates. This matter must be addressed. We are of the view that some weight must be attached to turnover and the ability of business owners to pay.

I request that our guests furnish the committee with amendments they believe might reflect their requirements or address the deficiencies they see in the legislation. We are all realists and expect that the Government will exercise its majority in the passage of the Bill through both Houses. However, I hope there will be consensus on a wide range of issues and that we will be in a position to seek agreement on particular amendments. To that end, I ask our guests to make available to the members of the committee suggestions they may wish to bring forward. I hope we will be able to work further with them on this matter.