Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is a progressive tax in the sense that those who can afford it will pay more.

The Deputy referred to the challenge people face. The quarterly national accounts for the third quarter of 2012, released today, show GDP growing by 0.8% year on year and by 0.2% quarter on quarter. It is the first time since 2010 that private consumption has grown year on year. This is encouraging given that it is generally more labour intensive than export growth. It is good to see that sign of confidence returning.

Everybody understood that the Government would introduce a property tax, because of the memorandum of understanding and the requirement to widen the tax base.

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