Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

I oppose amendment No. 2. It seems to me that the majority of those amendments are fine and are basically technical amendments. The exception to that is amendment No. 2. Before I register that position, I seek clarity and have a question. My understanding of amendment No. 2 is that it changes the provision of the vacant property charge, in the case of a vacant property, from the owner being charged to whosoever is entitled to occupy it at that point in time. Is that correct?

What would the Minister of State say to the assertion that this would tend to benefit landlords over occupiers at any one time? Is there any compelling logic as to why that change is needed in his view?