Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will explain what the unintended consequences are. We all know farmers around the country with small pieces of land who are working very hard and struggling to survive and raise their families. The only way forward for them is to expand when land comes up for sale beside their farms. Many of them cannot get the money from the bank to extend their holdings in such circumstances. The issue here is the decision to increase the level of stamp duty imposed on such transactions from 2% to 6%. I acknowledge that this change will not apply to young farmers under the age of 35 who have green certs. Many farmers are not in that category, particularly in the dairy industry where farmers are expanding significantly. They will not get any exemption because they are over the age of 35. It is clear that this measure was not thought through. When it was introducing it, the Government did not realise that farmers were going to be caught. Now that it has realised that, and the backlash is under way, it is attempting to do something about it. Clearly, its attempts are not enough because they are not dealing specifically with struggling farmers who want to expand their holdings. That is the problem we need to sort out. I appeal to the Minister and the Government to do something in the upcoming finance Bill to ensure the 6% provision does not extend to farmers in this position.

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