The commercial rates Bill appears to be very low in the list of priorities on the legislative programme with no pre-legislative scrutiny date determined. When does the Government expect to see this advanced? Many towns outside Dublin are trying to share in the recovery experienced in the capital. I see this particularly in my home town, Navan, where the archaic system is thwarting any entrepreneurs trying to grow their businesses. When will it be considered and advanced? Does the Tánaiste think it right that in the past year business contributions to the running of local councils have increased to €1.5 billion, 36% of the income up from 29% in 2010 because councils are forced to increase rates due to rising costs.

This is an important Bill to modernise and consolidate the approach to commercial rates and it is expected that the Bill will go before the committee for pre-legislative scrutiny soon.