Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

It is a different regime but Sinn Féin's position is not consistent with what it is doing in government in another jurisdiction. It should have understood that before tabling this amendment.

Some money is required to deal administratively with some of the costs involved in respect of local authority staff if one wishes to eliminate the prospect of any re-registration charge, to which I am committed, or of any annual inspection charge. Deputy Healy-Rae should be aware I have made this perfectly clear but, he chooses not to tell people about it.

Ultimately however, I assure Deputy Healy-Rae that the €50 charge is provided for in primary legislation and ask him to consider when that has been done previously. Consequently, any change will require an amendment to the Act and cannot be done on the whim of a Minister. In the future, a majority in the House may wish to bring forward a proposal to make a change, although no such proposal will be brought to the House during my term as Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.

See this speech in context