Colm Burke (Fine Gael)

That is a very small contribution. The Irish Property Owners Association is stating its members do not want to pay for services yet they enjoy all the benefits of the services. Rate payers, regardless of the local authority area in which they reside, must pay commercial rates. Those people are also carrying on commercial transactions and they must pay for services. It is appalling that a property owners' association should state in a letter that they are not prepared to pay for services from which they enjoy a huge benefit and huge rents. Their attitude is disgraceful. I have no difficulty in having the Minister in the House to discuss this issue because it is an important one about spreading the tax base. For far too long too few people have been making most of the contributions towards providing services. I would welcome a debate and I agree with my opponent that the Minister should be present.