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

Quite simply, it sought to exploit people's difficulties with payment of the tax and, if not directly, certainly by implication, encouraged non-payment by the leadership that all Members of this House are required to show.

We will support the Bill on Second Stage to allow for a proper Committee Stage debate on the property tax. The property tax, in terms of its reform or abolition, must be considered in the context of budget 2014. The Minister has shown his hand. He is refusing to take account of the genuine difficulties people are facing. Deputy Pearse Doherty is correct to point out the serious imposition from 1 January next year due to the doubling of the charge. That is the issue people will have to deal with over the Christmas period. The charge will be doubled. People in the average band 3, of €150,000, paid €157. That will be €315 immediately after Christmas. That will be a major problem for people and the starting point should be to acknowledge that.

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