Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

——other than the vague statement made by the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, in September, which conveyed the impression that he wants to abolish stamp duty. This is a matter in respect of which the Tánaiste bears some responsibility because he has been in or associated with the Government for the past nine and a half years. Almost three months after the statement to which I refer, the Progressive Democrats have yet to produce a single specific proposal for reform of a stamp duty regime that is certainly unfair in a number of its aspects. The Progressive Democrats talk, but it is the Labour Party that produces policies.

This is one of the most important plans the Labour Party has produced in recent years. Labour believes that everyone has a right to a home. Shelter is a basic human need and a basic human right. It is the responsibility of Government to ensure that the State's housing policies are arranged so that everyone has a good quality home, which is suitable to their needs, in a safe and sustainable neighbourhood and comes at a price they can afford. After 85 years of independence and with 15 years of unprecedented economic growth under our belts, that should be a realistic and achievable objective of any Government. Following ten years of the current Administration in office, we have instead ended up with a two-tier society with some people who can afford to buy many properties and large numbers who cannot afford to buy homes of their own.

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