David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

If the Minister considers what was called the Tesco tax in the North where there was a shifting of the burden away from the small retailers to the big multinationals where they would pay more proportionately than the smaller retailers, that is what we need to do in this State. We need to fundamentally review the whole issue of commercial rates and consider a progressive rate system that is based on income and not just based on assets, valuations and all of that. That is an antiquated way to look at commercial rates. There is no real fairness, ability to pay consideration or progressive nature to the rates system in this State, and that is wrong.

The amendments also seek to empower the municipal districts in respect of their rates in municipal district areas. The Minister spoke earlier of powers being given to the new municipal districts that are being set up, but that is not the case. To take the Waterford example, Waterford city has its own city council - its own autonomy - and now a new municipal district will be set up that will not have the ability to set a rate. That will be the prerogative of the new merged authority. The Minister is taking power away from some of those areas to which he said he will giving power. Some of these amendments seek to allow the municipal district areas to set rates. The Minister has trumpeted this new municipal districts and put them up on a pedestal as the great part of the reform element of this document and he is giving them new powers and we have heard how great they will be, yet they do not even have the power to set rates. If he was really interested in empowering the municipal districts-----