Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I think it is fair to say that ratepayers were always a target of local authorities over very many years, and that is why the Government introduced the devolution of authority to local authority members to have an opportunity to reduce rates by up to 15% if they so desired. Second, that is why property taxes were introduced, not only to bring in income to government, but also to reduce the burden on commercial ratepayers who always took the brunt of an attack every year.

I expect that the heads of that Bill will come to the Government during the month of March. It is deemed to be a priority and we expect to have it put through the process in the House then.

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