Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would call it populist politics. In opposition in 1977, Fianna Fáil promised to abolish rates because it wanted to be popular. Nothing has changed in those years since 1977. Fianna Fáil, again in opposition, is against the local property tax. We need to be open-minded and fair. We can do nothing other than introduce it and apply it as fairly as we can. The challenge facing the Government is to ensure the property tax is fair. I have come across many people with mortgage and other financial difficulties. In his opening statement this morning, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, said he was considering some of those people. I am not sure that enough of them are covered. In the next Stage of the Bill I will be asking that mortgage holders in financial difficulty be considered.

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