Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is not agreed. In the strongest possible terms I oppose the manner in which the Government proposes to treat the Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill by ramming it through the Dáil and the Seanad in the space of one week. This is a 70 page Bill with 159 sections containing significant detail and giving extensive powers to Revenue to enter homes. It introduces a tax that will hit the one quarter of mortgage holders who are in arrears, as we heard yesterday, which is a clear demonstration that this is the wrong tax at the wrong time. It will also hit hard-pressed mortgage holders who are paying their way, including unemployed persons and welfare recipients. Yesterday we heard that local authority tenants would have their rents increased as a result of this property tax on local authority housing. That is not to mention those in negative equity or people who have paid massive amounts in stamp duty. The hit on Dublin families as a result of this tax will be enormous.

I do not understand why the Government is insisting on proceeding as proposed. We had a disgraceful situation yesterday on the Social Welfare Bill. Is the Government afraid of public interaction with Deputies in this Chamber or is it afraid that there is more than one Member on the Government backbenches who is prepared to stand up, have a conscience-----

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