Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)

This legislation comprises 34 pages and 20 sections. The Dáil and the Seanad are entitled to debate it at proper speed and give it due consideration. Instead, it is being rushed through because today is a good day to bury bad news, because there so much other bad news. This charge affects everybody, not just the sectors that were targeted in yesterday's expenditure measures. It is a matter of extreme regret for me personally that my party is supporting it, but I support my party's position.

I had many long arguments with the former Minister, the late Brian Lenihan. I believe there was a fundamental unfairness in imposing a standard flat rate charge on every sector of society. Most disappointing, the Government elected last February and March appears to have done nothing to alleviate this fundamental unfairness. It seems no work has been done to bring in a site valuation tax but merely a promise to start that work in the new year.