Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State for his response. It is obviously not the response I wanted, and we need to look at that. The Oireachtas has a responsibility to move with the times, and to get a blanket clarification from the Minister that there are no plans to reform the system will not send a message to the business community that we are supporting the SME sector.

Empty units throughout the country are of no use whatsoever in terms of revenue to local authorities. Revenue should do what every other sector is doing, such as the hotel sector, which is suffering inordinately owing to rates, by offering course discounts and reviews and offering to do business with people. That is how markets react and how economies thrive and survive.

I urge the Minister of State to take on board my suggestion that county and city managers be given discretion, especially when it comes to vacant premises. Ultimately, it will lead to an increase in their revenue. I am not trying to deny any local authority its revenue.

The other argument made is that if we give a break to new businesses, we are discriminating against existing businesses that are paying the full fee, but all the phone and television companies do that. Many companies provide introductory offers for the first six months or the first 12 months. The existing customers are paying the full rate, but it does not disenfranchise them. There is an onus on us to take this much more seriously.

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