The Tánaiste has moved to assuage fears in his party that changes to the Local Property Tax would harm Fine Gael's chances in the Dublin Bay South by-election. Changes to the tax which will see 100,000 owners of homes built since 2013 pay the tax for the first time were confirmed today. However, Mr Varadkar did say that like the rest of the country, around 36% of people could be hit with higher taxes, most by around €90 per year. The Tánaiste told the meeting that he also believed that local authorities should have the discretion to increase or decrease the tax beyond the 15% either way currently allowed. Mr Varadkar said that the opposition can "produce a press release and call it a bill".

Source: Irish Examiner June 02, 2021 20:02 UTC