Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

I thank the Tánaiste for that reply. I very much concur with the thrust of his argument. The issue is to try not to create a liability for tenants who, through no fault of their own, become liable for a tax payment of which they, by and large in the ordinary course of business, would not be aware.

I draw to the Tánaiste's attention my amendment No. 53, which I doubt we will reach, about landlords giving information on their tax numbers to the HSE and local authorities so that their tax issues can be pursued centrally and, if they are liable to pay tax, that they should be properly pursued for tax. I hope the Tánaiste might come up with a change in the administrative arrangements which would benefit the Revenue Commissioners dealing with landlords in receipt of tens of millions in rent allowances, particularly from public bodies such as the HSE and local authorities. People are correctly convinced that many of the landlords are avoiding taxes and have done so for years. It is not beyond the wit of the Revenue Commissioners to put forward new arrangements which would tackle the issue at source. I thank the Tánaiste for his reply.

See this speech in context