Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Section 71 provides for a stamp duty exemption on the transfer of Irish shares where they are dealt on a recognised stock exchange, particularly in the USA, Canada or elsewhere. I thought it would be appropriate when dealing with this section that I would invite the Minister to give his view and that of his Department on this measure, in the first instance, and the discrepancy between this measure and the fact that there is a 1% stamp duty liability on the Irish Stock Exchange to ensure it is listed there and on other markets. I ask the Minister to comment on issues that he may bring forward that would help to support and underpin Euronext Dublin in light in what we have seen in the last number of months, whereby a number of Irish companies have been delisted and are listing in the USA. Is the Minister concerned about these matters? It is important that our economy has a successful equities market and that we encourage indigenous growth and development. Is the Minister considering policy considerations that would help to assist that in the context of Irish shares that are listed on our own Stock Exchange?