Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his assurances but how can he assure us that there was no loss to the State during the period when this loophole existed? Deputy Fitzmaurice and I tabled an amendment on budget night and appealed to the Minister and to other parties on behalf of small businesses, shop keepers and whatever. We talk about the rejuvenation of rural Ireland and of towns and villages but Deputy Fitzmaurice and I were approached by people who had been caught in the middle of a transaction. These were people who had gone to the bank and had borrowed as much as they could or people who perhaps had support from family members because the business was so weak and insecure, they would not get the loan from the bank. These people were extended beyond their limits. How are these people going to find the 4% extra for this 6% rate? They cannot.

We appealed to the Minister to give these people some window of opportunity that would allow them to conclude their deal and leave the rate increase to 1 January 2018, which we are nearing. People have approached me who had done deals and had, as I said that night, spit on the hand and shook hands but there was delay with the accountants, tax clearance or solicitors, who as we know, are often not very fast in their work, and they did not have their paper work ready with all their ducks in a row and everything done. These people were caught by that and it places a very onerous burden on people with young families looking to buy premises, especially shops that might have closed or that are going to close, filling stations or other businesses that pay rates, wages, tax, light and heat and keep a village alive. That is the difference. We wanted that window of opportunity and I was very disappointed - Deputy Fitzmaurice can speak for himself - that the Minister did not provide that window.

Compare that to this loophole lying open for the big fellas to exploit again. The Minister tells us that no revenue was lost but can he give us proof of that at the year's end? There are other documents which the Minster promised us. We are not in favour of the big people but are trying to look after the little people and their transactions. These people are also in the Acting Chairman's constituency. He has just looked at me as though he was in an awful hurry. I know there are Christmas parties on tonight but there is time enough for the parties.

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