Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am not sure whether Sinn Féin's policy on the abolition of property tax extends to Northern Ireland, where the tax is much higher. The party leadership is happy to pay a higher rate of property tax to the Government of the United Kingdom but does not wish to pay one to the Government of the Republic of Ireland to fund services at a local level.

Dr. Thornhill's report provides a very interesting basis on which to debate and consider this tax. We cannot simply keep taxing those who are getting out of bed in the morning and going to work. We have to broaden the base. I accept the bona fidesof Deputy Fleming in putting this Bill forward. I accept his views on it, but I do think it would have significant unintended consequences. If we blow a hole in the tax yield, be it €17 million or whatever it turns out to be - Revenue is not sure - that has to be paid by somebody else. We cannot just allow money to disappear and say that services will continue. It is going to have to be passed on to somebody else.

Deputy Wallace made the point that people in housing estates with management companies are paying the same amounts and those in management companies are not getting anything extra for their management fee. That is just not true. I live in an apartment. I rent it so I do not pay the management fee. That fee includes waste collection, washing the windows, and the maintenance of the area outside my apartment in terms of carpet cleaning and all that sort of stuff. My parents live in a housing estate in Greystones. They do not get the windows washed or the bins collected. They have to pay for those out of their own pocket. There are substantial differences and we need to be honest in announcing them.

The Minister for Finance is satisfied that issues such as ability to pay are being addressed. There are exemptions in certain areas and he does not propose introducing any more. We are therefore not in a position to accept the Bill.

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