I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following: “Report on the accessibility of the local property tax exemption for those affected by defective concrete blocks 3. The Minister shall, within 3 months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before Dáil Éireann a report on the accessibility of the local property tax exemption for those affected by defective concrete blocks.”. This amendment calls on the Minister, within three months of the passing of this Act, to prepare and l…

I thank the Minister for clarifying that thousands of families in homes with defective blocks will have to continue to pay local property tax. That is the reality. The defective blocks are there. The fact only 1,000 have an exemption shows the restrictive measures in place. There are families living with this horror and this nightmare. Let us be clear: the local property tax will not change their world. There are bigger issues with the scheme that the Government is failing them dramatically on. There is an issue wi…

I move amendment No. 2: In page 3, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following: " Report outlining a roadmap for the removal of local property tax from principal private residences without loss of revenue to local authorities 3. The Minister shall, within 3 months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before Dáil Éireann a report outlining a roadmap for the removal of local property tax from principal private residences without loss of revenue to local authorities.". This amendment again calls on the Gov…

Mar a dúirt mé, tá an Rialtas ag cur na cánach seo ar achan teach ar fud an Stáit agus go leor i gcruachás ó thaobh costas de. The Minister rightly made the point that if you abolish the local property tax, then you have to provide the money to the local authorities. He gave a figure of €600 million. We have shown the Minister time and time again where that €600 million can be generated, but they are political choices too and I respect the fact that Fine Gael does not want to do those political choices. It does not…

This is where there is a difference of opinion. The Minister has eloquently outlined why we are not going to tax one group but, rather, will tax another group instead. In fairness, the local property tax will affect everybody. Everybody will pay more in tax this year, but the guy who has a pension pot of €2.5 million can afford the extra bit in local property tax. That is the difference. Take the example of the person who lives over the road from me, cares for their loved one, gets carer’s allowance and works the e…

It is a dangerous thing to say the public was not convinced by my argument. Those are the words the Minister used. I remind the Minister that in excess of 18,000 people voted for me. The people in Donegal were fairly convinced of my arguments. I am not sure how many people voted for the Minister as a first preference but it was not at that level. I would not go into that silly type of argument because we know a multitude of arguments are put forward in terms of the electorate. To suggest the electorate did not agre…

I move amendment No. 7: In page 5, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following: “Amendment of section 17 of Act of 2012 7. Section 17 of the Act of 2012 is amended— (a) in subsection (4), by the substitution of “0.000742” for “0.001029”, (b) in subsection (5)— (i) by the substitution of “€1,260,000” for “€1,050,000”, and (ii) by the substitution of “0.000906” for “0.001029”, (c) in subsection (6)— (i) by the substitution of “€2,100,000” for “€1,750,000” in each place where it occurs, (ii) by the substitution o…

Insurance is going up.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle as ucht an deis labhairt ar an ábhar seo. Cuireann muid in éadan na cánach maoine tithíochta seo. Tá muid ina éadan go huile is go hiomlán. Achan bhliain, léiríonn muid an dóigh le deireadh a chur leis an cháin seo. Is é an rud atá sa Bhille atá os comhair an Tí anocht ag teacht ó Fhianna Fáil, Fine Gael agus na Neamhspleáigh atá ag tabhairt tacaíochta don Rialtas ná go n-ardófar an cháin seo ar mhuintir na tíre. Níl aon teach sa tír seo a fheicfidh an cháin ag dul in …

I commend the motion. This is the type of radical reset we need in terms of housing. I do not need to repeat the words said by my colleagues. This Government is failing badly in terms of housing. I was at the Raise the Roof protest earlier and was struck by a woman who recalled the alleyways that James Connolly crawled through in the Easter 1916 Rising. She said an Irish man now sleeps in those same alleyways at a time when there are over 100,000 derelict and empty houses across the State and the Government is back…

We have all seen the news of the tragic plane crash in India of a flight on its way to London. All we can say at this time is that all of our thoughts are with all of those affected as we wait for news. It is shocking. I also want to extend my condolences to an Teachta Rose Conway-Walsh whose mother, Philomena Conway, passed away this morning. My thoughts are with Rose, all of her brothers and sisters and her whole family at this time. It is a difficult time for them. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam. Tá an Rialtas trí…

Does the Tánaiste really believe that guff and spin? We have had 14 years of Fine Gael in government and rents have never been higher. The Government is absolutely crucifying renters, and what it has done in its plan, when we cut through all of the spin, is that for every single new tenancy, and whether it is in Ardara or Drumcondra makes no difference, after 1 March the landlords will be able to set the price to whatever they want. Under existing law at present in a rent pressure zone this is not allowed. This is …

That is the reality. The Tánaiste's answer to sky-high rents is to push them even further. That is shameful.

It is why so many people feel that Ireland is no longer their home.

It is why we have 100,000 people born in this country now living in Australia. The Government has made the situation worse.

You gutted them.

Answer my question.

What about the student in Drumcondra?

Answer the question.

Of course we are.