Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

I remind Deputy Sherlock that we must support and encourage them.

I welcome the fact that the stamp duty applicable to non-residential property is being reduced from 9% to 6% and there is also an increase in the rate of mortgage interest relief for first-time buyers. This has been coupled with a reduction in mortgage interest relief for non-first-time buyers. This rebalancing makes for a fairer system. The new home choice loan scheme will facilitate first-time buyers to return to the market. This is being piloted through the system by the Minister of State, Deputy Finneran. It is noticeable that the banks, in spite of reducing other facilities still seem anxious to target the first-time buyer in terms of promotion and advertising.

I welcome the extension to the stamp duty relief available for farmers acquiring land who are aged under 35 and have specific agricultural training. I also welcome the renewal of the 25% general farming stock relief and the special 100% stock relief for young trained farmers.

I agree with Deputy Hayes that the suspension of the installation aid scheme and the farm retirement scheme was regrettable. It was necessary in view of the expenditure contained in other schemes in the Department. A date should be set for the reintroduction of those schemes and in the case of the installation aid scheme, provisions should be made for those farmers who reach the age threshold during the time of the suspension. They should be assured now that they will be included in the scheme when it returns. I welcome the 17% increase in REPS 4. This rewards environmental investment in farming. The payments under the single farm payment have commenced today.

I note the CAP health check last week and the provision of the fund of €23 million for other areas of agriculture arising from the modulation increase. I ask that the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food would give consideration to putting some of that money into reducing the cut in the disadvantaged area payment, particularly to farmers in the west.

Deputy Ring referred to the air travel tax. Much of what he said about quangos and other agencies is true and should not be dismissed. The introduction of an air travel tax and the reduction of the proposed initial fee is welcome. The Minister has taken on board the cross-party representations made about the regional airports. Our regional airports provide a vital service. While once dismissed by certain elements in this House, they have now been embraced by all by reason of the service, the access and the support they provide to our regional economies. Any support is welcome. The lower rate of €2 will now apply to departures from any Irish airport where the destination is 300 km or less from Dublin Airport. That means the traditional Irish destinations such as Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow, for people using Ireland West Airport, will be subject to the €2 rate.

Deputy Moynihan spoke earlier about the burden of red tape. The budget contains a number of initiatives such as legislation to provide for the introduction of e-stamping and the simplification and streamlining of provisions in a range of Acts for the collection and recovery of tax and duties.

I spoke last night on the Labour Party's Private Members' motion on small business about the burden being placed on small business by our interpretation of legislation. I have only been a Member of this House for a wet week. The House passes legislation but leaves its interpretation and implementation to outside bodies. We need to take control of the implementation of legislation, as it is resulting in large administrative burdens being placed not just on small businesses but farming and people in general. A red-tape audit needs to be conducted. While the Government is committed to reducing the red-tape burden by 25%, it will not be enough and many businesses will not even survive to see that reduction. Greater urgency must be attached to this and I know the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment will do that.

The Bill provides for all second-hand vehicles to be subject to a pre-registration check by the NCT as a condition of registration. The establishment of a temporary register for foreign-registered vehicles intending to remain in the State is welcome and overdue. Motor dealers are under pressure due to the influx of second-hand cars from outside the jurisdiction. Many dealers have made large investments in their premises in the past several years. Many of them provide substantial and technical employment in areas where it would not normally be. This measure will assist them in facing these challenges.

On Private Members' business last night I spoke on the banking system. I want to reiterate to the departmental officials and the Minister for Finance that this House placed faith in the banking system by passing the Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill in the manner which it did. I increasingly believe, and as the evidence mounts day by day, that this faith has been thrown back in our faces by the manner in which some banks are dealing with small businesses.

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