Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I concur with my party colleagues about the importance and rationality of this amendment. When the budget was published several issues arose about the stamp duty increase, in particular the inconsistency and lack of logic in applying a higher level of stamp duty to land consolidation movements and transactions when at the same time there was a capital gains tax relief. It did not make sense.

My colleague Deputy Cahill was to the fore from the outset in identifying that inconsistency and pushing this matter. I commend Deputy Michael McGrath who, with Deputy Cahill and me, met Department officials to highlight that. I commend the Minister of State and the Minister for seeing the rationale behind this, changing and amending it. With such fragmentation in our farming units it makes sense to try, through the taxation system, to facilitate the consolidation of farms into more united units to promote more efficient farming. This measure will assist in that.

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