Yesterday the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, stated in the Dáil that no details of the property tax would be forthcoming until the budget. However, the first or second item on RTE's "Six One News" was another Government leak indicating that the tax would be deducted at source from workers' wages.

Will the Deputy, please, table a parliamentary question?

That at least explodes the myth that it is a broadening of the tax base. I have asked the Taoiseach many times, in regard to the Thornhill report, if working people and pensioners are to be troubled every week with new leaks about this new economic attack on them. Will the Government publish the Thornhill report and in the coming two weeks will the Taoiseach make time available in the Dáil for a debate on it and for the Minister to state precisely the Government's plans for the property tax, rather than have people subjected to these cynical leaks?

I have heard much speculation about this matter. The Government will make its decision on the property tax. It is a budgetary matter and will be mentioned on the day of the budget. The Thornhill report will be published subsequently and we will all have an opportunity to debate it comprehensively.

Paddy likes to know.

Anything the Deputy attributes to spokespersons or any other allegation is nothing more than that. The Government will make a decision and everybody will be perfectly clear on the matter.

Is the Taoiseach going to publish the report?

Of course not.

The decision was that property tax would apply from July next year. The Revenue Commissioners were asked to put in place the mechanics for it to work. The Thornhill report will be published when the Government makes its decision.