Rónán Mullen (Independent)

As I said during the debate on earlier amendments, something dramatic seems to be at work in this legislation. It seems the State is to be permitted to appropriate a significant portion of a person's property to itself. If, as a result of a change in the market value of housing, the amount being taken were to be more punitive than 15% of the value of the property at the time the State is appropriating it to itself, that would be excessive. Clearly, this is a technical and complex matter. I acknowledge what the Minister of State has said about the taxpayers' contribution and accept that the Government has to have regard to the interests of taxpayers. However, I ask her to reconsider whether what is being proposed will be more punitive than is widely understood.