Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The section was initially very simple. It said the commissioner "may make regulations providing for the carrying out of the valuation of relevant properties". This has now changed to "the Minister may make regulations providing for the carrying out of the valuation or the taking of one or more of the steps that comprise such valuation". This is a massive change that goes against what the Minister, Deputy Howlin, announced two years ago. We gave our support to this section and it was argued that it would not spread throughout the country all at once. I think the plan was to have a test county and then apply it on a county by county basis. This is a huge change and I appeal to my colleagues in Fine Gael to raise this matter with their parliamentary party. The Minister has changed the name from self-assessment to occupier assisted valuation and some of these amendments make radical changes that completely alter the face of this legislation. If the Opposition tabled such amendments, they would be ruled out of order.