Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I travel around the country frequently and I am struck by the number of closed shops in the main streets of many of our towns. In recent years we have heard how tough business is. As mentioned by Senator Harte, Judge Kelleher recently stated that 170 shops that had been unable to pay their rates to Cork City Council were on his list. He said that he expected a further 200 on his list before Christmas. There must be some other way to make local authorities operate. The Senator pointed out that many householders are complaining about having to pay ¤100 whereas a shopkeeper must pay ¤4,000 or ¤5,000 in rates each year. There must be a different way; I do not know what it is. Relying almost entirely on the rates of shopkeepers to run our towns and cities will result in more main streets becoming empty, taking the life and soul from those towns.

Senator Norris referred to his Privacy Bill and the other privacy Bill. Senator Norris's Bill is No. 17 on the Order Paper and has been there for months with an indication that it is to be resumed. We had a good debate on that Privacy Bill. As Senator Norris mentioned, what happened with the two newspapers yesterday and the Leveson inquiry in Britain today remind us of the actions that have been taken in the past and that we should do something about it. I urge the Minister to introduce and develop a privacy Bill. Regardless of whether it is his privacy Bill or Senator Norris's, something should be done.

In the debate on pensions, I would like to see a provision to allow people who are coming close to the end of their paid working life to withdraw a small portion of the voluntary contributions they have paid, as this could generate far more business in the community.