Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)

I am delighted the Family Home Bill, in my name and that of Senator Marc MacSharry, is on the Order Paper and listed for debate on Second Stage. If Senators have any doubt about it, they should contact FLAC which has provided briefing notes for a number of Senators on the Government side. Its comments on the Bill are generally favourable and while it has raised some issues about it, these have been dealt with in the overall context of Fianna Fáil policy. We have also discussed the Bill with the New Beginning group which was so successful in its court case this week. I pay tribute to it because it seems to involve genuine people concerned with protecting people in their homes. For those who have concerns about the Bill, I encourage them to consider the property law book by Andrew Lyall who points out that no guidelines are available to the Judiciary in regard to how it exercises discretion in granting repossession orders. That is what the Bill does - it fills a gap. I will not be accepting any ifs, buts or what ifs. This is a good Bill and if necessary, amendments can be made on Committees Stage.

A number of issues must be addressed regarding Phil's poll tax, as it will be called. He is setting neighbour against neighbour in council housing estates. Those who have bought their houses will be landed with the charge, while those who rent theirs, whether they are working or otherwise not in receipt of social welfare payments, will be exempt. My estate does not look like it is unfinished, but there are 50 empty units. Will I have to pay the charge? We do not know. The Government raised €400 million through a pensions tax in order to provide tax relief for the likes of Rupert Murdoch and Tony O'Reilly and we have not gained any benefit from it in terms of job creation. This poll tax will not be accepted. It is an unfair tax and there will be no requirement for local authorities to improve or cut services. Meath County Council has an excellent business development section which tries to attract business to County Meath. It is doing the job of the State agencies. There are great inefficiencies in local government, but this point has not been addressed. In this instance, there is an extra cost to the public. While we are expected to pay, there is no expectation that the local authorities will improve their services, answer the telephone or cut costs.