Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy John McGuinness for giving me the opportunity to discuss the issue of commercial rates. I am responding to the Bill on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly.

The Bill deals with a wide variety of aspects of commercial rates and while the principle of consolidating rating legislation in one Act is not without merit, the Government is opposed to the Bill on a number of grounds.

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