Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Darragh O'Brien has said banking is a serious matter, on which there have been repeated calls for a debate in the House. Perhaps the Deputy Leader will arrange it in early course. The Leader has given such a commitment already and the Deputy Leader might have something further to say on it.

As with most Members on all sides of the House, I continue to be concerned about the way parking charges threaten the vitality of town centres right across the country. This is not a new problem as it has featured for a while. Local authorities should be doing much more to save town centres from destruction. Counter-productive parking charges are crippling businesses, as we know, and unless we deal with the matter, it will affect the ability of many in business in town centres to pay rates. The system is counter-productive. The sooner local authorities realise that they must match in-town and out-of-town parking charges, the better. A standardised arrangement could give them much-needed additional funding, as well as helping town centres which face appalling prospects in many instances. All Members can refer to towns that have suffered greatly as a result of what I describe. We should take up this matter with Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. I suggest this is a suitable matter for an early debate.