The legislative programme includes a rates Bill, which is due to be published shortly. Currently, rate revaluations are taking place in south Dublin, Kildare and elsewhere. Some small employers have been hit with rate increases of between 50% and 100%. These are businesses that weathered the storm of recession and are just about to consider hiring new staff or restoring wage cuts that were undertaking during the recession. Instead, they are being hit with large and unjustified rate increases.

The rates system is unfair, contains significant anomalies and is bad for employers, workers and local economies. Will the Government use the opportunity of the rates Bill to provide a comprehensive overhaul of a system that is not fit for purpose?

Deputy Ó Broin raises an important point. Obviously, others have had reductions, but we do not hear about those too often. The heads of this Bill were cleared in April by Government. There has been quite a deal of discussion between the Attorney General's office and the Department. I expect that when the Bill comes before the House and is cleared for discussion, that the intent will be to have a comprehensive response to a situation that I know causes difficulties where increases in rates occur.