Kieran O'Donnell, TD

I am delighted to see a spent convictions Bill before the Dáil. I have long had an interest in this area and recall former Deputy Barry Andrews introducing a Private Members' Bill in the last Dáil.

Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, has today (12th March 2013) announced details of the allocation of €1 million to support the development of new youth cafés.

Fine Gael TD for Dublin North, Alan Farrell, has highlighted the blatantly populist stance being taken by Fianna Fáil in relation to the property tax. Despite having signed up to the introduction of the property tax with the Troika, Fianna Fail is now opposing the tax.

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Fergus O'Dowd, for his presence. A number of key issues raised during the debate on the original Bill are being written into this legislation, mainly in regard to exemptions for the most vulnerable, deferrals for low income households and a reduction of rates for local authorities. I welcome these as improvements to the original Bill introduced last year.

I would like to acknowledge the complex task of establishing a new tax base, one that is sustainable, and one that does not affect our competitiveness and job creation. This particular tax base, in its nature is open to various anomalies, interpretations and exemptions. It requires a substantial amount of logistical and legal expertise that has evidently been applied to both this Bill and the tax as a whole, while at the same time ensuring it is fit for its purpose, which is to fund local services.

Anthony Lawlor, has for some time been calling for the establishment of a Youth Entrepreneurship Fund

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Fergus O'Dowd, for his presence. A number of key issues raised during the debate on the original Bill are being written into this legislation, mainly in regard to exemptions for the most vulnerable, deferrals for low income households and a reduction of rates for local authorities. I welcome these as improvements to the original Bill introduced last year.

I would like to acknowledge the complex task of establishing a new tax base, one that is sustainable, and one that does not affect our competitiveness and job creation. This particular tax base, in its nature is open to various anomalies, interpretations and exemptions. It requires a substantial amount of logistical and legal expertise that has evidently been applied to both this Bill and the tax as a whole, while at the same time ensuring it is fit for its purpose, which is to fund local services.

Anthony Lawlor, has for some time been calling for the establishment of a Youth Entrepreneurship Fund