Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

I would like to ask about secondary legislation. The Minister is aware that section 100 of the Finance Act 2007 includes a specific provision that allows a charge to be imposed on stamp duty in certain circumstances involving licensing agreements. The Minister promised during the debate on that legislation that he would close a specific loophole. A commencement order is necessary if he is to do that. As other Deputies have said, we are in the twilight days of this Dáil. Where is the commencement order? The Minister promised to close this notorious loophole, which can be availed of by developers and rich people who wish to avoid stamp duty. The loophole does not benefit young couples who are buying houses. It seems that the provision that was promised and included in the Finance Act has been set aside, presumably to facilitate Fianna Fáil's developer friends once again. When will the commencement order that, under section 100 of the Finance Act 2007, is needed to close this loophole be introduced?

See this speech in context