Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

What the Taoiseach said is very interesting. The follow up must be that legislation would be introduced immediately to allow the voiding of the contracts into which people have been forced already so that the management companies can be dissolved and those services can then be provided by the local authorities. The Taoiseach has a personal listening post in the form of a media watch group paid for by the taxpayer. The day before yesterday, the "Liveline" programme was chock-a-block with revelations from all over the country about the extent of this new scam. Apparently, it could have gone on for another few hours such is the extent of it. I and Independent Deputies have made, and will continue to make, this a major issue. If it is not resolved quickly, it will be a major election issue in key areas. I will talk to other parties as well. I have constituents who will be in court in the next few weeks. They have been scandalously dragged there by the developers to pay these fees. I am glad the Taoiseach agrees with the point but what can he say concretely about stopping the practice instantly, dissolving the companies which exist and about the provision of those services from the general taxation which applies to most of us already?

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