Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)

I ask the Leader to bring the Minister for Finance to the House to discuss proposals which have appeared in the media and the report of an bord snip nua last year on the reintroduction of a property tax. There is currently a €200 charge on second homes, which is equitable and fair because if people have a second home, they should be able to afford the €200 to help infrastructure in the counties where holiday homes or investment properties abound.

The introduction of a property tax is a serious issue if we consider that people who bought a house in the past ten years, between paying for the services of solicitors and accountants, VAT paid on materials and PRSI for workers, have paid 50% in tax to the Government up front for the price of the house.