Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

After 14 years of reckless financial mismanagement of our economy, this country was in peril. This Government has a difficult job in trying to get the country working again. Taxes such as this one are very difficult to introduce. There is a very loud minority but there is also a silent majority who appreciate what needs to be done. They are sharing the pain, which is very difficult for each and every citizen.

There are no easy fixes and no soundbites that will get us back to where we were, but we must work together with a programme to get our country working again. It is not easy to introduce any tax but it must be fair and the Minister has done everything possible to ensure this property tax is fair. Many people have got into a frenzy and perhaps it is time for those in the media and on the social media to reflect the fact that we are trying to do a job in the most difficult circumstances. Tomorrow I will have 200 to 300 farmers at my door, but that is fine. I am able to face up to that because I believe I am part of a Government, with the Labour Party, that will ensure our country will be working again. I have no problem with standing up and fighting to ensure this country is back working again.

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