Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Obviously, this is the Minister's first time taking the Finance Bill in his capacity as Minister. I would like to ask when he saw the light with regard to this proposal, because these are his comments when he was in opposition:

The question is whether the Government has got it right in the intervention it is making by way of the first-time buyer's tax rebate. We do not believe it has got it right. We believe this initiative-intervention risks making the position worse. We should learn from the lessons of the past.

He continued :

Our overriding concern is that this intervention will push up the price of new homes. We have been repeatedly told that the problem is on the supply side.

When did the Minister see the light and find out that those comments he made when in opposition were actually not true?

Instead of ending the scheme, it is planned to extend it further.