Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Senators Tuffy and O'Rourke asked what happens when a business does not want to pay. The concept behind BID schemes is that they proceed when the majority of the business community votes for it to proceed. Once it commences all businesses in the area must pay their fair share based on valuation. There can be no room for free riders or otherwise the ethos of the proposal would be breached and the concept would founder.

The Bill is fairly comprehensive and should be successful. I look forward to further debate in this House.