Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

Some very useful ideas have been mentioned and clarity has been brought to the proposition before us and the amendments. I want to discuss what this charge is all about and who will pay it. The Bill states anybody who lives in a house rented from a local authority will not pay the charge. The more likely person to fall into this category, to use it as a broad definition, would be living in a local authority house which he or she does not own and will not pay the charge. If a person does not have a local authority house and is on the housing list, is in rented accommodation under RAS or cannot afford to buy a house he or she will not pay the charge.