David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

-----raised that issue in debates on the failure of some local authorities, when it came to planning out-of-town shopping centres, to take account of their impact on town and city centres, given that these places can provide free parking. There is scope to increase taxes on some of those bigger multiples, and these taxes can be used to ease the burden on smaller retailers. The amendment seeks to provide some form of a progressive nature to rates, yet the Minister has not given us any reason for not accepting it.

The second amendment to which I wanted to come back is amendment No. 23 in respect of municipal districts. This amendment is straightforward and pragmatic. Given the Minister's view of how wonderful the new municipal districts will be, I do not understand why he cannot give them the power. It seeks to substitute the wording in the Bill with the following: "The base year adjustment shall be determined in accordance with subsections (3) and (4) by a rating authority, with agreement of the members of the Municipal District Area where the base year adjustment will apply, in respect of each year of the adjustment period for each of the specified areas of the rating authority." We are asking only for the consent of the municipal district area members, and even that is being ruled out. The Minister has not dealt with that issue either. He is not giving them the autonomy to set a rate, and this was referred to by Senator Walsh and others. The Minister can argue that in the overall authority, whether it is the new merged authority of Tipperary, Waterford, Limerick or wherever, all members can set the rate, but that is not the point. The point is the municipal districts, which the Minister states will benefit those areas, whether it is Waterford city, Galway or wherever, should have the power to set a rate. They have it at present. It is being taken away from them and it is being given to a bigger authority. Why was that not looked at? If there is a reason the power to set a rate was not given to the municipal districts, what was the reason for it? Why did the Minister not go with that option? I would interested in hearing the logic of that decision.