Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Fianna Fáil is also in total agreement with this amendment and will support it. As Senator Gavan said, Deputy Pat Casey spoke about this issue in the Dáil. I also believe it is important to provide for phased increases or decreases for that matter. As the Minister of State will be aware, businesses, especially smaller companies, often cannot afford large increases in rates, whether they are doubled or tripled. Rates are important to businesses and jobs and we have to make sure we protect our businesses. Changes should be phased in. I support the amendment.