Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In discussing this we need to be honest. The LPT yields €500 million. Any changes to it will have a knock-on effect. While there could be a suggestion that people might not be aware of the possibility of a deferral, there are many who understand their tax liability and that when a tax is levied it must be paid.

Five scenarios were put forward by the review group and their impacts were considered. The Minister has said they need to go back to the Committee on Budgetary Oversight for its views on them. I have not heard from any Opposition party as to which of the five scenarios it would opt for. Each of them has its own pros and cons. There was much media coverage about one scenario which would have had an impact on rural homes. However, I have not heard any of the Opposition spokespersons from the three main parties say which scenario they would opt for.As in other debates we have had, such as on climate change, budgetary matters, education or health, a little bit of tax honesty would be a good thing. The Minister for Finance is providing an opportunity for the Oireachtas to state its view and he will, ultimately, take it. There is a role for local authorities. Some have decided to reduce their property tax rate, which could make a small but welcome difference to a householder, but they have shoved up commercial property rates. There is some in-built hypocrisy in that.

We need an honest debate on the issue and we need to debate the scenarios put forward by the review group. It behoves every party in the Dáil and Seanad to state the way it would do it, while maintaining the tax base and being fair. If changes are to be made, the parties should say what those changes should be but the base has to be maintained. When there are deferrals there is a cost implication and local authorities will have to increase their overall rate, meaning there will be an impact on both urban and rural areas. The Minister for Finance has put this off so that people can have a say. Everybody says the Oireachtas should have a say and the Committee on Budgetary Oversight was established so that Senators and Deputies could have an input into the budget. Now is the chance for that. I look forward to hearing the views of Senators and to learning which option they would go for.