Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have great respect for Standing Orders, but with the Cathaoirleach's indulgence, I hope he will allow me to acknowledge the death of a great Kerry hero, Páidí Ó Se, who is being buried today. It is no boast that he was a personal friend of mine because he was a personal friend of everybody in County Kerry and loved and respected the world over. Something has left the hearts of Kerry people today. Laoch mór na ríochta ab ea Páidí agus ní bheidh a leithéid ann arís.

I support the leader of my party in the Seanad, Senator Darragh O'Brien, in his comments on the property tax. The fine detail trickling down does not make for good reading. All local authorities are being hit with an unexpected charge and from what I hear from rural areas in Munster, it appears county managers are to put the charge on ratepayers. I do not know if this is a temporary matter intended to be considered later, but ratepayers are suffering enough. They pay enormous rates; they are the only ones who have been paying water charges during the years; business is not great and now it seems they will have to pay property charges for those living in local authority housing. This has to be looked at and I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, to come to the Seanad to clarify the position. Will this continue, or will local authority tenants be hit with increased rents at a time when they are suffering just like everybody else? Clarity is required.