Denis Landy (Labour)

I acknowledge the presence in the Visitors' Gallery of Councillor Seanie Lonergan from Cahir, County Tipperary, and his colleague. It is nice to see local government members visiting the Chamber to see how we operate. If Senator Leyden wants to be updated on the Bill to which he referred, Senator Kelly and I would be glad to facilitate him.

I refer to the difficulties affecting the non-principal private residence charge. Senator Mooney raised this issue in the context of a debate with the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan. I ask that the Minister of State examine the issue further. A group of people in this country are unable to live in their own houses because their financial circumstances prevent them from meeting their mortgage payments. They are living in rented accommodation while trying to rent out their houses. They only own one house but they are none the less required to pay the non-principal private residence charge. These individuals have been badly affected by the Celtic tiger and are in grave financial difficulty. They have been forgotten in all the efforts this Government has made to assist those who face mortgage difficulties. I might add that the Government has been working very well in this regard. This charge has been left out of the loop and I ask the Leader to communicate with the Minister of State on the need to investigate the effect of the charge on those who can no longer afford to live in their own houses.