Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on this Private Members' Bill on the property tax or, as I call it, the home tax. This Bill seeks to repeal the local property tax and I thank and commend Deputy Pearse Doherty and Sinn Féin on bringing it forward.

I am the only Deputy from Dublin North-Central who voted against the property tax in the Dáil. The tax was an attack on the family home and on many families who are struggling to survive. There is a worsening crisis in respect of mortgage arrears, with over 100,000 families suffering in that situation. People have seen cuts to their child benefit, respite care grant and PRSI increases. Now the target is the family home. This is not a wealth tax, as some members of the Government have tried to portray it. There are no exemptions for the unemployed, disabled, flood victims or the lower paid.

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