Seanad debates

Tuesday, 2 December 2014

2:55 pm

Photo of Sean BarrettSean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

What is called the Dublin house price explosion of 42% in 18 months will create a property tax time bomb. I welcome reports that the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, is considering linking the property tax to the consumer price index rather than to exploding house prices, which is not any indication of ability to pay the property tax. I am glad the Minister is addressing that.

I welcome also the recall of the United Arab Emirates ambassador. It was mentioned twice in the House last week that this ambassador was fined for the ill-treatment of three staff in a case before the Employment Appeals Tribunal. He has since been recalled while the issues are being investigated by his Government. That is the way in which international relations should proceed.

The funeral of Dr. Jack Kyle, one of the great rugby players of any era, takes place this afternoon in Belfast. He was a gentleman and a humanitarian who devoted much of his medical expertise to serving people in Indonesia and in Zambia. In his interview with Ms Miriam O'Callaghan, replayed at the weekend, he was the rugby player who knew the most poetry of W.B. Yeats that I have ever heard. He was a great man well known in this neighbourhood because he would stay in the Shelbourne Hotel before big matches and train in College Park. A gentleman of Irish sport is being laid to rest today and I commiserate with his family, Caleb and Justine.

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