Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

The Minister of State has mentioned an income stream for local authorities. On Second Stage, former Senator Déirdre de Búrca said that, even with the proposed charges, local authorities would have a shortfall in excess of €1.6 million. I do not know how these two items can be married because, while the Minister of State is saying there will be an income stream, there will still be a shortfall. There are double standards; the right hand does not seem to know what the left hand is doing. The former Green Party Senator told us that there would be a deficit of €1.6 million, but the Minister of State says there will be an income stream, as if extra moneys will come in to the local authorities and there will not be a shortfall. We are at sixes and sevens.