Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

There is a proposal to introduce legislation for a €200 property tax on holiday homes before the summer recess. The Deputy Leader's party leader, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy John Gormley, has said that this will collect approximately €40 million for city and county councils throughout the country. He said it represents a significant broadening of the revenue base for local authorities. Is the Minister extremely naive? Does he realise the difficulties city and county councils currently have in collecting rates, not to mind having to collect a new property tax? I see this as a cop-out by the Minister. It is naive and insulting that he does not realise how stretched councils are for funding. It is a means of giving less in the local government fund. The Minister should address these issues before he attends this House to present the legislation on the new holiday homes tax.

I am seeking an urgent debate on the car industry and how we can save it. Yesterday, we heard the news from Galway that 200 jobs have been lost at Tom Hogan Motors, which has dealerships nationwide. This industry has been hit hard by the recession with falling sales. It has also been hit by emission regulations, which the Minister, Deputy Gormley, introduced. In addition, it has been hit by requirements for investments in Euro glass palaces, as well as imports from the North and from Britain. We have sat idly by. What will the Minister do to save our indigenous car industry? I would like the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to look at that.