Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I did not understand that clubs which rented out pitches were liable to rates. They are not paying rates, as far as I know. I have not received representations from them, but have received representations about the bars. What is proposed here has nothing to do with commercial. In fact, the word "commercial" is not used. The Minister has kept the exemption for sports facilities but has introduced qualifications of that. One is for the bar, which we can accept. We fully agree with it and there is no need to justify that change. The Minister will include the part of the building that is used on regular occasions for the consumption of alcohol or used directly or indirectly in the generation of income. However, in many cases that would be the entire GAA pitch or club or the entire soccer pitch. If the Minister says the building does not include pitches, I will be happy to hear it, but I doubt it because these people would be using dressing rooms and so forth. What about the local societies that use GAA clubs for meetings? Will they cause a rates issue for GAA or soccer clubs that did not arise previously? That is what is intended in this provision.
The Minister says the Valuation Office will introduce guidelines. The Oireachtas should set out the guidelines and establish what is and is not rateable. In fairness to the Minister, I have not accused him of a fraud. I have accused Fine Gael Deputies of a fraud when they issued press releases-----