Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

Next Thursday the local government household charges Bill is scheduled. However, the draft schedule indicates that only five hours is allocated for not just the Second Stage, but all Stages of that Bill. Given that this has profound implications and represents the thin end of the wedge providing for two new taxes on property and water, which could amount to €1,300 for each household eventually, far more time than that is needed. A guillotine on that Bill will not be acceptable. I ask the Government to allow sufficient time for every Deputy who wants to contribute on all Stages. Despite the seriousness of the Bill, it has not yet been published. I cannot get a time for when it will be in the hands of Deputies. When will the household charges Bill be published and made available to Members?

See this speech in context