Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)

I welcome the Bill. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, and other Ministers have a tough time ahead of them, particularly because the IMF deal requires that a property tax should be paid for 2012, and that it should increase in 2013. As we all know, the country is in a very dark place. It is €18 billion in debt. Significant savings must be made in all Departments, particularly this year, in which €3.8 billion must be saved.

It is reasonable to ask people to pay the household charge of €100. There will be many exemptions. The charge will be based on self-assessment and the owner of a residential property must register to pay. Owners will be given until 31 March to do so, which I welcome. I thank the Minister for allowing people time to pay the charge in instalments of €25. If one puts this into perspective, one will note this amounts to a payment of €2 per week, which is reasonable enough. The charge will raise €160 million, including for local authorities. Members, including those of us who sat on councils, know the importance of local authority services. It is important for everybody that our streets remain clean and that there be proper lighting and footpaths and, above all, emergency services. I am thankful much of the money raised will go towards these.

While the charge is to be the same for everyone at first, the Government will proceed to applying it according to the size of one's dwelling or individual property. This is right and just. Those who live in bigger properties should, naturally, pay a higher property charge.

For many of us, especially the young, it seems alien to be asked to pay the charge. However, many of the older generation will remember when rates were very much part and parcel of annual domestic budgeting. The charge is a small one. Many will be able to avail of a waiver. I refer to the many people in my constituency who are in social, voluntary and charitable housing and to young people who are living in unfinished estates where the roads, footpaths and lighting need to be completed. I hope some of the revenue will be directed towards such areas.

This morning and yesterday, I heard many Members of the Opposition state there would be massive protests. I agree with massive protests. We live in a democracy, in which one has a right to protest. There was a protest that lasted four years on foot of waste charges imposed by Dublin City Council. In my constituency, people arrived on Davitt Road every Saturday morning and left mountains of bags behind them. Unfortunately, the protestors went away and left the bags to be cleaned up by many of the residents living in the area. I hope that if there are protests, they will be properly controlled and that residents will not have to deal with their aftermath. I welcome the Bill and I am grateful for the opportunity to speak.

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