‘What are we going to do about the rates? Businesses are closing’

A judge has criticised the high commercial rates policy of Cork City Council at a time when hundreds of businesses face prosecution in the run-up to Christmas.

Judge Olann Kelleher had 170 rates cases on his list at Cork District Court yesterday and said he would have over 200 more in the fortnight before Christmas. The prosecutions are being taken against business for failure to pay rates in 2012.

Judge Kelleher asked if anyone was looking at the connection between high rates and the closure of shops and offices.