Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, given this is important legislation and it is happening a little earlier in the evening than might have been anticipated, and in fairness to the Opposition TDs who want to speak on it, if you would be agreeable, could we perhaps suspend to allow them to be here? That is unless Deputy Clarke is dealing with this.

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I thank Deputies, despite the varying views on the legislation, for the opportunity to take the Bill through the Dáil this evening. A six-year exemption from local property tax, LPT, applies to certain properties that have been affected by the use of defective concrete blocks in their construction. The 2021 LPT Act provided that properties eligible for the defective concrete blocks redress scheme could claim this exemption from LPT. The exemption only applies to propertie…

I will deal with the amendment first and then respond to some of the points that Deputy Doherty made. The local property tax is an important part of our tax system, which has raised more than €6 billion in revenue since it was introduced in 2013. It has provided vital funding for our local government and local services. The Report of the Commission on Taxation and Welfare, published in 2022, acknowledged that local property tax is a broadly effective system that is well administered. The commission recommended that…

The option is also open to people to pay weekly as opposed to paying it off in a single go. On the choices that are there, to deal with the options put forward by Deputy Doherty, we differ and we will do so respectfully much of the time. On the point he made about the third rate of income tax, the third rate of income tax would be a rate of income tax that we would charge to people who would be high earners, but they are the same high earners who play a valuable role, for example in bringing foreign direct investme…

That €8.4 billion or €8.6 billion is mostly made up of corporate tax receipts which we know could be transitory and could go. In recognition of that risk, we need to ensure we have a tax system that can continue to bring in the revenue needed to pay for public services that matter so much within our country. The Deputy referred to an SNA and a nurse. I refer to the many other public servants who - the Deputy is correct - are paid considerably less than €140,000, not to mention all those in the private sector who al…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to respond. I never dismissed the fact it will be difficult for some people - indeed for many people - to pay more. Every time I have spoken on this legislation, including this evening, I have acknowledged repeatedly that while the increase over a year is 5% or 6%, which in cash terms for many people will be €20 to €23, for higher value homes it will be more than that. I have acknowledged there are many people for whom that additional amount will be hard to find. I ha…

I thank the Deputy for making clear his and the Social Democrats' support for the principles underlying local property tax and their support for the value of trying to protect and broaden the tax base. This amendment would require the Minister for Finance to lay a report before the House compiling statistical information on patterns and quantities of residential property ownership and to set out policy options or recommendations regarding the potential introduction of differential rates of LPT on residential proper…

I do not know why the Deputy went there. I was just saying I am very happy to provide him with the information he requested, which I did, and to outline the rationale for my position on his proposal, as I did. I tried to do so briefly because I think the argument I made is a clear one. I furthermore stated my view that putting a requirement in legislation is not the right way to get reports. I thought I gave a positive answer to the Deputy's queries. I know he knows the difference between an amendment and a report.…

The Deputy made reference to the Commission on Taxation and Welfare. I should point out that this commission recommended that we should not do what the Deputy is proposing. It said that "in the case of multiple property owners, a Local Property Tax surcharge should apply to properties not occupied as the principal private residence of the property owner or a registered tenant". The commission did actually look at something like that. I am sorry; I take it back. I am very happy to engage in that debate with the Depu…

I have said that I do not support the rationale for what the Deputy is doing. I do not accept that I have made the argument for him. The Deputy obviously has a different view. I am happy to look at the issue in other ways.

I move amendment No. 4: In page 3, to delete line 27, and in page 4, to delete lines 1 and 2, and substitute the following: “(a) section 7 ; (b) section 8 ; (c) section 11 .”. This section amends the exemption for properties damaged by the use of defective concrete blocks in their construction as provided for in section 10D of the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012. The purpose of this section is to ensure that exemption is up to date. I am sorry; I have been speaking to the section. I will finish and then speak…

When local property tax was introduced in 2013, the Government decided that a liability to the tax should apply to all owners of residential properties with a limited number of exemptions and no deductions. Limiting the exemptions available allows the rate to be kept low for those liable persons who do not qualify for an exemption. The proceeds of the local property tax are largely used for the general provision and maintenance of infrastructure, services and amenities in a local authority area. Accordingly, reside…

I thank the Deputy for outlining the rationale behind this amendment. I understand his point and his argument that if an estate has not been taken into charge and that leads to the local environment there not being of the same quality as in the estate beside it that has been taken into charge, then that should be reflected in the local property tax bill of the person in the estate that it is not in charge. I understand that argument and why he proposed this amendment. The reason I am not in a position to accept the…

I move amendment No. 6: In page 5, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following section: “Amendment of section 15A of Act of 2012 7. Section 15A of the Act of 2012 is amended— (a) in subsection (1), by the substitution of “€105,000” for “€50,000”, and (b) in subsection (3), by the substitution of “€105,000” for “€50,000”.”.

I move the following Revised Estimates: Vote 7 — Office of the Minister for Finance (Revised Estimate) That a sum not exceeding €50,679,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st Day of December 2025 for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Finance, including the Paymaster General's Office, for certain services administered by the Office of the Minister and for payment of certain grants and that a sum not exceeding €110,000 be g…

I move the following Second Further Revised Estimate: Vote 24 — Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Second Further Revised Estimate) That a sum not exceeding €2,613,120,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2025, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Probation Service staff and of certain other services including payments under cash limited schemes administered by th…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The local property tax is due for revaluation on 1 November of this year. I am introducing this Bill to make a number of important changes to the structure of the local property tax so that they can take effect from this date, in line with the commitment given in the programme for Government. This tax was introduced in 2012. The design of it was considered by an interdepartmental group chaired by Dr. Don Thornhill. It became payable in 2013. This was the largest ex…

I thank everyone who contributed to this debate. I took careful note of the points the 24 speakers have made. I will begin by thanking Members from the Government benches and elsewhere who voiced support for the Bill and who recognised the important role the local property tax plays in supporting public services and funding local authorities. I appreciate their support. As that support is a given I will spend much of my time dealing with the different critiques that have been made of this legislation and the local …

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dail Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes that, the Government: — condemns the renewed Israeli military offensive and plans to establish full control of the Gaza Strip; — urges all parties to return to talks aimed at securing an immediate ceasefire and hostage release deal; — recalls that Ireland repeatedly condemned the terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas and other terrorist groups on Israel on 7th October, 2023, and has consistently called for the unco…

As I already outlined in the House earlier this week, the Central Bank does not sell or oversee the sale of Israeli bonds. It is important to be clear as to the role of the Central Bank because it has been misrepresented repeatedly. To be clear again, the Central Bank's role under EU legislation is to assess the bond prospectus to ensure that it includes all the disclosure requirements of the EU prospectus regulation. Neither the issuer - in this case the State of Israel - nor the financial products become regulate…