John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I said, I hope we will get to it during this Dáil session. It is the intention that we would do so. I fully accept the arguments that have been made. I would point out that the revaluation process has been going on for more than a decade and some people did not survive it. Our system needs to be updated, particularly in the sector we are discussing. There are also certain aspects of rates' legislation that run counter to other Government policy objectives, and in this context I am thinking of those rural towns and villages where people are sometimes encouraged to have large shops. I know of one elderly couple who run a large shop, and who have been advised that they should partition off half of the shop. This would effectively leave a chunk of the main street with a semi-idle premises. Yet, the local authority and the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Ring's Department-----

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