Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

The Bill provides for the trading of information between local authorities and the Revenue Commissioners. The Revenue Commissioners might request information from a local authority regarding all owners of second homes in the local authority area. The local authority is then obliged to provide the Revenue Commissioners with a list of properties owned by people within its area.

A local authority may also ask the Revenue Commissioners for any notice of assessment made against individuals who have properties or second properties in its jurisdiction. That is a fierce invasion of a person's privacy. We are giving a major power to local authorities. Individuals have a right to keep their dealings with the Revenue Commissioners private. This section appears to allow such information to be given to a local authority. Thus, information about individuals, who may or may not own second homes, will be made public. An individual may have recently disposed of a second home or may not have one at the time the information is sought. I ask the Minister to clarify this matter.