Seanad debates

Thursday, 20 November 2014

Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages

 

11:40 am

Photo of Thomas ByrneThomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:


In page 5, between lines 20 and 21, to insert the following:"(b) in the definition "community hall" by deleting "other than a premises of a club"
and substituting "other than the licensed premises, of a club".".
It is good amendments Nos. 1 and 24 are being taken together because I was not going to press amendment No. 1 in light of amendment No. 24. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Harris. We have had a robust and proper debate in the Seanad. I will not refer the Minister of State back to the events of a year ago but I think he sees the value of the Seanad at this stage. We see the value of the Minister of State who has done a very good job and has shown himself to be a Minister. To be a proper and good Minister is not just to follow a line. He is actually making his own decisions and we appreciate that.
The Minister of State has come a long way from the language in the amendments on Committee Stage in regard to clubs. We thank him and his officials for the offer of a briefing during the week, which was appreciated, but, unfortunately, as other colleagues said also, we did not have time this week. That is the way these things work and we apologise.
I say all of this without prejudice to what my colleagues in the Dáil might say but as far as I am concerned, amendment No. 24 proposed by the Minister of State deals with and gets to the nub of the issue. It deals with the issue from the point of view of fairness for the community organisations and for any competitors which may be running commercial organisations. From what I can see, there is a good balance there. We are not worried now about clubs renting out their all-weather pitches or gyms to local groups. If they are doing it on a commercial basis, with maybe a manager, and they are competing with a local gym, that is different and we accept that.
I thank my colleague, Deputy Cowen, who first brought this issue to our attention. It must be said that a number of clubs in County Meath, in particular, brought this to his attention, including Ratoath GAA and Ashbourne GAA. I thank the chairman of the Meath county board, Mr. Conor Tormey, with whom I consulted in regard to this Bill. These clubs have played a key role, as have all the clubs in Meath which are affected. I also spoke to Mr. Pat O'Brien of the Meath and district soccer league and asked for advice and input.
The Minister of State has listened and has come a long way and, in fairness to him, I will certainly not press my amendments. I thank him as this achieves a balance. Let us see what the Dáil says but, as far as I am concerned, this amendment does the trick.

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