Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 9:

In page 4, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following:
“4. Section 15 of the Principal Act is amended to read as follows:

(3) (a) As a matter of principle any relevant property, being a building or part of a building, land or a waterway or a harbour directly occupied by the State (including any land or building occupied by any Department or office of State, the Defence Forces or the Garda Síochána or used as a prison or place of detention), shall be valued and that valuation and future ratable income be published.
(b) Subject to section 16, relevant property, being a building or part of a building, land or a waterway or a harbour directly occupied by the State (including any land or building occupied by any Department or office of State, the Defence Forces or the Garda Síochána or used as a prison or place of detention), shall be rateable.”.

I am delighted to side with the Minister of State because Government amendment No. 8 involves the deletion of section 4 of the Bill, as does my amendment No. 9, so there is a moment of harmony and agreement.
The purpose of my amendment was as follows. We have an economics problem in the public sector; capital is free. Part of capital when one builds buildings is that there is an ongoing tax liability, which is what I am seeking to incorporate. Lest this agreement drifts into disagreement, I will sit down and point out to the House that the Minister of State and I both propose the deletion of section 4 of the original Bill.