Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

The first-time buyers are back in the second-hand house market in a huge way and are moving back into areas to which Deputy Gilmore referred, where there were elderly populations. If the type of people who bought new houses are now buying second-hand houses, this should relax the pressure on the new house market. Let us concentrate on the big picture which is that many people have saved €12,000 because of changes in stamp duty.

Deputy Timmins referred to levies. I believe that people who own land should pay a proper charge and not walk away with the profit that accrues from the sale of the land. The notion that the Government should build on the land and provide the drains, sewers, schools and transport, and the person who owns the land should put a fortune in his or her pocket and let someone else pick up the tab is nonsense.

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