Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Byrne for his kind words. I am not afraid to admit my views last year in a referendum which the Government gave a commitment to hold. I am a democrat, which I hope everybody in both Houses of the Oireachtas is. I found the debate in the House on the first piece of legislation with which I have substantively dealt to have been very productive. I hope that following Report Stage, we will leave this House with a Bill which is better in terms of child care, the issue Senator Moloney raised, sports clubs and addressing the concerns of the Irish Hotels Federation.

We are trying to strike the right balance in this amendment. I listened to the concerns expressed on Committee Stage. The intention here was always to ensure sports clubs, voluntary clubs and clubs, which were not making a profit, were exempt from rates. That had not necessarily been the case for clubs that had a bar. Once a club had a bar, it was paying rates for all of the premises. We are now trying to limit it to just the commercial activity while not doing anything to inadvertently cause difficulties for groups which were already exempt. I think this strikes the right balance and I thank Senators for their comments.