Seanad debates

Wednesday, 12 November 2003

10:30 am

Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

Will the Leader request the Minister for Finance to urgently come to this House to discuss the decentralisation process? Last year we were assured it would take place this autumn. I now hear rumours, from a very good source, that it is to be deferred until after the next local elections. It is disgraceful that we have been strung along in this manner. It is pathetic that Fianna Fáil and PD Senators and Deputies have published statements in local papers in this regard and yet they have done nothing about it in concrete terms.

I remind the House that motor tax increases were introduced approximately one year ago. That increase was, at the time, passed off as of benefit to us in terms of our roads. It has now emerged that not one extra penny was spent on our roads. I agree with the comments of colleagues on development charges. It is outrageous that on the anniversary of the abolition of the first-time buyer's grant we are now faced with a first-time buyer's tax. Every local authority in the country will increase its development charges by thousands of euro.

I also ask that the Leader request the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to meet with us in this House. We have learned today that €108 million will be spent on CPOs for the new Kilcullen-Waterford motorway. What is the position of the Progressive Democrats on this motorway? Is it to go ahead? I cannot obtain a reply to that question. The signals coming from the Progressive Democrats are conflicting. We are speaking here about taxpayers' money.

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