Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are not intending to do that, which is the first thing I want to say. Obviously, the Finance Bill is before the House at present.

I know Deputy Donnelly has been in consultation with the Department on a number of the issues he has raised here in recent weeks, including section 110 and other issues. Committee Stage of the Finance Bill 2016 will be taken in the House shortly, with Second Stage due to conclude today. That is the place to tease out the particular issues raised this morning in terms of the tax treatment of commercial properties. There are several initiatives under way to deal with the differential as it is now and to reduce the differential between residential and commercial property. For obvious reasons, in particular the bankruptcy which the country faced, there has been a shortage in this area in recent times. The position changed very quickly from one in which there was a lot of availability to the current shortage now being experienced. This is a reflection of the economic growth that has occurred in the country. There is a huge amount of building currently going on, much of which is to increase commercial supply. This is necessary for the continued growth that we are seeing and will, hopefully, continue to see in the economy.

The Deputy will have an opportunity on Committee Stage of the Finance Bill to tease out the various issues he has raised this morning in regard to the tax treatment of this particular issue.

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