Cllr Noel McCarthy this week showed his support for a new bill, which if passed, would mean that rates left unpaid on a vacant building would not be passed onto the new tenant.

The Poor Relief Amendment Bill has been put on the table by Waterford TD Paudie Coffey who argues that restrictions like this need to be lifted, if people are expected to go into business in their areas.

Speaking at a meeting in Mallow, Cllr McCarthy said that it is totally unfair that a tenant starting out in business would have a very high bill to tackle before they even open their doors, just because the tenant before them refused to pay it.

“Local Authorities should pursue the person that left the debt. This new bill should be passed, because this will stop new businesses from opening,” he said.

Cllr Frank O’Flynn added that it is obstacles like this which put people off starting their own business, while Kevin O’Keeffe said that people should be offered incentives to go into business, instead of being asked to pay bills that they shouldn’t be responsible for.