Margaret Cox (Fianna Fail)

Yesterday, the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland launched its campaign for reform of local government funding. While I agree that to some extent local government will need more funding as we come to the end of the year, and will need multi-annual funding, I am concerned at the CCI's call for a site value tax on properties. This sounds like the introduction of rates on properties, a property tax by the back door. It is very important that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government comes to the House to discuss this issue. We would all agree there is a need for some kind of reform and additional funding in local government but it would not be acceptable to have a return to property tax and rates on property. I would like to discuss the matter at the earliest possible opportunity.