Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Where is the realisation that families are struggling? Let us examine the recent report by the Irish League of Credit Unions which showed that half of all adults are struggling to pay their bills on time, 42% of consumers have had to borrow money to pay bills in the past 12 months, and only three in ten people are able to save any money at the end of the month. People simply do not have the money. The Government can squeeze as much as it wants but one cannot squeeze a lemon dry when there is no juice inside. It is very unfair to be targeting people in this manner.

The legislation also gives exhaustive, creative and alarming powers to the Revenue Commissioners.

The taxman will now be given exceptional powers to collect the money. Where individuals do not have the ability to pay, the Revenue Commissioners can take it from their salary or social welfare payment or go a step further and take it from their bank account. It is highly irregular and unsatisfactory that the Revenue Commissioners would be given sweeping powers to do that to people who cannot afford to pay bills.

On the valuation process, we know the reason this legislation was rushed through the Dáil last night and is being rushed through the Seanad today. It is to allow the Revenue Commissioners write to 1.9 million residential property owners next Monday giving them an indicative valuation on their property. Who gives the Revenue Commissioners the right to tell Joe Bloggs that his property is worth X or Y?