Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

With respect, it will not meet my suggestion. Essentially, it provides that somebody entering an insolvency arrangement may be entitled to a deferral, even if that person's income is in excess of the limit. A gross amount of €480 per week for a family with children is a very small amount of money. Half of it alone is spent on groceries and the rest is quickly accounted for by the payment of essential household bills. The Minister set the thresholds far too low. People on that level of income are absolutely broke. They do not have a bob and they will not be able to afford to pay this property tax. If the Minister is to revisit any aspect of the tax - he appears to be not for turning on the fundamental issue - I ask him to look at the issue of the thresholds that will allow people a deferral. This will not mean the tax will not be paid. It will be paid eventually. The current threshold figures are miserly.

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