Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I wish to raise two matters with the Tánaiste. First, over the past two years, my colleague, Deputy Joan Burton has been drawing to the Minister's attention a major loophole in our tax laws relating to stamp duty, under which large developers benefited to the tune of approximately €250 million in 2006. Last year, the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, in the Finance Act, moved to close off the loophole and introduced section 110 of the 2007 Finance Act. However, the Minister has never commenced section 110. Therefore, we have a situation where the law is on the Statute Book to close the loophole, but the loophole is still alive and well. When does the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance intend to introduce the statutory instrument to commence section 110 of the 2007 Finance Act to close off that loophole?

Second, I understand that the chairperson of the Revenue Commissioners, Mr. Frank Daly, is due to retire and I take this opportunity to thank him for his service and the fine job he has done. When does the Government intend to make the appointment of a new chairperson of the Revenue Commissioners?

See this speech in context