Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I was thinking about going down to the Shannon and looking at sites there. I will see what it is like there before we have a site value tax. Much benefit could arise from such a tax but we must examine it closely. A person or a family might own a plot of land of three, four or five acres, which might be valuable. A plot of land measuring 100 sq. m. would be extremely valuable. That person should not be penalised for disposing of it. The man in the tent in Ballybrit should not be the person to capitalise from it. Unfortunately, that is what happens. Many people who disposed of property found its value dramatically appreciated as soon as it left his or her ownership. That is peculiar to this country.

I would like to take the time to discuss many aspects of the legislation again. I would like to entertain the Minister and I am sure he would love to entertain me. I hope the property registration authority is effective. It is another quango and I am sick of them. Every time I come into this house to speak on a Bill, another quango has been formed. The Minister will not be able to answer questions. One almost has to get a screwdriver to get information about the Courts Service by way of parliamentary question. The degree to which accountability extends to this House is decreasing with every passing day.

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