Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I rise to ask the Leader if we could have a debate on commercial rates. Today I met some contractors and had a Commencement Matter debate with the Minister. I also met retailers whose businesses are being closed. One told me that when he visited the local authority to explain that he had difficulty finding money to pay rates, but could keep his business open, he was told to close it. When one visits any village or town in rural Ireland one will see retail space that has been closed. We have to find a way around this problem. There are solutions in the UK and Northern Ireland, from what I understand.

I thank the Cathaoirleach and others who sit in his seat for trying their damnedest at all time to give me speaking time. Yesterday, we had a very important debate on the budget. I was in the Chamber in plenty of time and sat through many presentations by different Members on both sides of the House, but the clock ran out and I never got to speak. Sadly, the Government side will never know how much I was going to praise the budget it produced yesterday, or maybe criticise one or two small points, particularly the provisions relating to lone parents, the low paid, etc. We have to find a way in which democratically elected Members of the House who are not members of groups get an opportunity to voice whatever it is they want to say. It is something that has been a bugbear of mine for some time. I have always appreciated the way the Cathaoirleach has found a way to give me time to speak. Others who have taken the Chair from time to time have done the same, but when the clock runs out that is it. We have to examine the matter.