Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Minister agrees in principle to the tax but he disagrees with the timing. Am I right in that interpretation? Is it that it would act as a disincentive? When will the time be right for us to attack this fundamental lack of justice, as well as the rot which lies at the centre of the high-price housing and property bubble instincts that exist in this State? When will be the right time to introduce such a tax? Are we for ever to agree that the profits accruing from a council decision to rezone lands belongs to the landowner and not to society? The Green Party introduced the tax on super-normal profits and, as I recall, the main argument given when it was removed was that it had not raised any revenue. It had not raised revenue because the State was in the middle of a slump. That was the right time to introduce it. If we do not reintroduce something of that nature now then when will we do it? Will it be when another bubble develops?

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