Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am in agreement with what the Deputy suggests with regard to an occupier of a premise not being lumbered with an arrears bill from somebody else before he or she takes up the tenancy. We are looking at that with a view to an amendment later in the process. With regard to the harmonisation of rates and the valuation system, I am not in a position to deal with it in this legislation because there is a Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012. That Bill is going through a long process in the Houses of the Oireachtas and there are many good provisions in it, so it will make an enormous difference to the businesses the Deputy mentioned. I hope that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, will be in a position to proceed with that. I also hope representatives of the Valuation Office could come before the full committee to have a conversation about issues relating to valuation, as they are important. There is an opportunity through the Bill that is currently before the Houses of the Oireachtas to address some of those matters.