Fears of property tax affecting Christmas sales, says Government TD

The confusion over the property tax next year could damage retailers' hopes of a Christmas boom, according to the chairman of the Oireachtas Finance Committee, Ciaran Lynch.

The Revenue Commissioners and Government Ministers are insisting that nobody will be forced to pay the tax for next year before Christmas if they do not want to.

But the Labour TD says with the retail sector beginning to recover the confusion could damage hopes of a strong Christmas.

"With the Government moving the Budget into October that was very much welcomed by the retail businesses - in that it improves consumer sentiment and costumer confidence coming into the Christmas sales period, which is always the greatest sales period," he said.

"However if someone is making a property tax payment during that period it would certainly affect the sales during that time."