Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Dublin city task force is very important, as is its report. Dublin City Council has a fundamental obligation here as well. Local authorities in general are primarily responsible for their city centres. I say that in good faith. This idea that has emanated from the report that we would simply charge every public body rates is simply another way of getting a grant from the Government. This has been a standard situation for decades all over the country and including other cities too. I am not, therefore, that well disposed to that proposal. I much prefer if there are specific issues on which the State can intervene, through housing, for example. I was at the Coombe hospital outpatients department that was opened recently on O'Connell Street. It is offering a substantial, brilliant service for women and mothers to be and so on, while at the same time creating real and substantial economic activity and footfall in the heart of Dublin city.

See this speech in context