Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

The Labour Party stated it would reduce income tax by 2%. We refused to do so. It also stated that it would slash stamp duty, which would have led to house prices increasing again. We refused to take such an option. The Labour Party also wanted us to increase spending. Fine Gael wanted the VAT on houses to be decreased by 1% which, again, would only have fuelled the boom.

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