Ray Butler (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise the issue of commercial business rates for small and medium-sized enterprises, SMEs. Recently, I was asked to attend the local courthouse to see three businesses being dragged before the court like common criminals because they were in arrears with their local authority rates.This is happening all over the country, not just in my area but in everybody's area. As the economy improves and grows, more local authorities are putting the boot down. These businesses have survived during the past five or six years through a disastrous economic crash and should be put on pedestals for keeping their doors open. Instead, they are being crucified. We politicians have done nothing to address the issue.

The rates Bill dates back to the 1800s, and its only provision is that people must pay. We all put on the green jersey two years ago when social clubs and GAA clubs needed help with the rates issue. We introduced legislation, which was fantastic and right. I appeal for politicians in this and the other House to do something with our draconian rates legislation. Business owners who have employed people and paid their tax and VAT are being dragged before judges like paupers. We need the legislation to change and we must debate it in the House.

We need to see companies' from the past five years and see whether they have broken even or lost money. If they have broken even or lost money, we should consider helping them and, in some cases, wiping the debt. In some cases, debt has been wiped and favouritism has come into play regarding rates in certain local authorities, whereas in other cases they have gone the whole hog to collect the money. We should help these SMEs by introducing legislation. The legislation should provide for us to calculate rates based on profits rather than on the square footage of the premises. A premises in a small rural town, where five people might pass the door in one day, might pay the same rates as the Blanchardstown Centre, where thousands of people pass through the doors. It is ludicrous. I call on the Minister to come here to debate the issue and help these people who have kept their doors open and who have helped rural communities, but who are now being slaughtered and dragged down. What I see is disgraceful.