Commercial rates legislation
Deputy Troy complained that promised legislation to address revalued commercial rates had still not appeared. Minister Eoghan Murphy said the commercial rates Bill was priority legislation and he would seek a direct update for the Deputy.
With just three Deputies remaining, I will give them 30 seconds each before calling for a response.
Comment on this
Longford-Westmeath was one of the first constituencies to have its commercial rates revalued, and many small independent retailers saw a significant increase in their rates. I attended a public meeting more than two years ago where a Government representative reassured retailers not to worry because new valuation legislation would go through the Oireachtas and they would not have to pay any of the new charges. That has not happened, though. Two years on and no legislation has been published, never mind enacted. Will the Taoiseach advise commercial ratepayers, who are facing many challenges, not least in the form of out-of-town shopping centres and online shopping, of when a fairer and more equitable valuation rate system will be in place?