Dáil adjourned in property tax row

The Dáil has been adjourned twice in a row about guillotining debate on the controversial property tax legislation.

United Left Alliance TD Richard Boyd Barrett claimed the Government only guillotined legislation that was controversial and costly to the public.

But when a Bill had cross-party support and no opposition, debate was allowed to continue for days.

In sharp condemnation of the Governments strategy to finish the Bill tonight, Mr Boyd Barrett claimed the Taoiseach was making a mockery of the House.

He said the Government had promised a democratic revolution with reform of how politics and the Oireachtas operated, but things had not changed.

But Enda Kenny said the Dún Laoghaire TD had last week refused an extra two hours of debate on the issue and was now delaying debate for another hour.

Last week during a row over a guillotine on the second stage debate of the Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill, a further two hours were offered for debate on the Bill on Friday.

But the Opposition refused because the vote would not be taken until today. This evening the second stage was passed by 78 votes to 43.

The amending legislation allows for a number of deferrals, exemptions and penalties for non-compliance. It provides for a deferral on property tax for those in an insolvency or debt arrangement although they will have to pay the full amount plus interest, starting at 4 per cent, one the insolvency arrangement is completed.

The Bill exempts from tax for three years, homes affected by pyrite damage, where the market value of the property is effectively zero.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said the guillotine on the debate meant there would be three minutes to debate each amendment at committee state. There would only be two-and-a-half hours for debate.

The Cork South-Central TD said his party would not be allowed to move amendments including one to exempt householders who were in mortgage difficulty. They were guillotining debate so that the Revenue Commissioners could send out letters of demand for the property tax.

Mr Boyd Barrett repeatedly refused sit down and Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett adjourned the House twice, once for five minutes and the second time for 15 minutes.