Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)

I will. People do not know who I am talking about. If a householder is not happy with an evaluation, he or she must go to the District Court. This provision is anathema. Most country people never go to court. If they do, it is to face speeding fines, pollution charges, a charge of failing to cut hedges or animals trespassing or other little silly matters. Someone would need to be charged with breaking the law or, for example, requesting a public service vehicle, PSV, or liquor licence. Making people go to the District Court could involve open-ended costs. There is no point, therefore, in discussing a charge of €20 or €200. Someone might need to seek assistance. I am not blaming solicitors, although the Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011 is before the House. A person might need to engage a junior counsel and, if he or she felt strongly enough about the issue, a senior counsel. He or she might need to move from the District Court to the Circuit Court and, possibly, the High Court or even farther. No one has considered this gravy train. Apart from the question of standards and the cost of upgrades, this is the elephant in the room. It is a serious issue which should be debated as calmly as possible.

I will conclude, as the Acting Chairman has been lenient.

A point was made by the Taoiseach yesterday morning and the Tánaiste this morning to the effect that the debate on Committee Stage finished early last week. No one can deny this, given the number of hours allotted. As I told the Minister yesterday, when the Vice Chairman of the committee returned to the meeting after dinner last week, having apparently received advice on the matter, he ruled out several amendments on the basis that they might involve a charge on the Exchequer. Likewise, I received a letter from the Ceann Comhairle yesterday morning indicating that my Report Stage amendment No. 36 was ruled out of order on the same basis.

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