Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join my party colleague Senator O'Loughlin in congratulating Noeline Blackwell on her recent award. It is appropriate and fitting given she has been a champion of women's rights for many years. She is an unsung hero in society.

The primary issue I raise relates to the revaluation of properties that are subject to commercial rates in a number of counties, including Clare. Over recent months, ratepayers have been receiving revaluation certificates. I have met many who have found the process not to be to their satisfaction. While I accept there is an appeals process, I was with one shop owner in Ennis the other day whose rates bill has increased since 2019 from about €9,000 to €50,000. That seems crazy and incredible and it will put this business out of business. That is probably the most extreme case I have heard but many more businesses have seen increases of 100%, 200% or 300%. I do not know whether the appeals process will be able to resolve the issues I have outlined, but if we are seeing that kind of an increase in rates for some businesses, there is something fundamentally flawed with the process. I am not saying it is all flawed but something is fundamentally wrong with some aspect of it.

I would like to have a debate, at the earliest possible opportunity in this House, to discuss the overall framework in which properties are being revaluated for the purpose of paying commercial rates. We know the struggle that small business is under at the moment, not just coming out of the pandemic but with the significant increases in the cost of energy and the inevitable downturn in economic activity as a result of the increased cost of living. All these issues are headwinds into which small business is facing. We do not need to impose further stress or pressure on them at this time. I ask that we have this debate at the earliest opportunity.