Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to briefly reiterate the essence of the Management Fees (Local Property Tax) Relief Bill 2015. The Bill proposes that where a person is liable to pay an annual management fee to a management company in respect of a property, he or she should have a partial exemption in respect of his or her local property tax in the relevant year on confirmation that the management fee has been paid. This would be a modest amount, equal to one third of the management fee, one third of the local property tax, or €300, whichever is the lowest. It is a very modest recognition of the double charge that people are paying. I acknowledge support from Independent Deputies and from Sinn Féin in this regard. Some people think we should go much further in respect of the local property tax. That is a valid opinion and a point for another day. I believe that while the tax is there, we want some amendment to it. This is a reasonable and modest proposal. It was not intended to be very broad-ranging. It was meant to be limited and confined.

I must respond to some of the issues the Minister of State raised in his script, which was obviously considered in detail. He said there were no plans to introduce the relief I am looking for and, as a result, the Government cannot support the Bill. That is very disappointing. We will have a vote on the Bill and we know the Government has the numbers. I actually thought the Government did raise some interesting and worthwhile points that should have been discussed on Committee Stage. Instead it has said it will not even allow us to discuss the Bill on Committee Stage. One such point was about landlords. That is precisely what Committee Stage debate is about in this House - tweaking and amending the legislation to deal with those issues. I worry about a Government that takes such a high-handed, arrogant approach. In an open democracy, people should be allowed continue this debate on Committee Stage. I am sure it would be possible to deal with the particular nuances. To say it will not even allow that says something about how this Government is operating.

I enjoyed the history lesson provided in the Minister of State's script.

He said the local property tax was good for local democracy because, for the first time, funds would be ring-fenced for local authorities, something we have not had since the misguided removal of domestic rates in 1977. I do not know if anybody in the House remembers that. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle may do so.

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