Jimmy Harte (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I understand that tomorrow's budget will include a property tax, which is unavoidable.

I remind Fianna Fáil Senators that their party also signed up to the introduction of such a tax. The House should engage in a debate on how the relevant legislation will be presented to the people. I suggest that when citizens have paid their property tax, they should receive a breakdown from their local authority which shows the services on which their money is being spent. If someone pays ¤200, for example, his or her local authority should indicate how much is being spent on water, sewerage and other services. Following the budget, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government should come before the House to discuss how the property tax is going to be implemented and how it is going to benefit local communities.