Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the move the Minister made after the budget Statement, having been contacted by many Deputies and farming organisations. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice and I tabled amendments on budget night, but they were voted down. The Minister has moved on the consanguinity relief clause and removed the age limit, but uncertainty was caused. He has not clarified the position where land deals are still being finalised. That remains a matter of concern. In the light of the announcement made yesterday by Commissioner Hogan, the Mercosur deal and so on, this is a volatile time for farming. This measure was unsettling and ill thought out. While there might be cranes and a boom in Dublin, there is no boom in agriculture, given the prices of all products - milk, grain, beef, poultry and pigs. In the context of Brexit, it was an ill-judged decision. As I said on the night of the budget, it is not a good idea to bank budget promises on stamp duty. We saw what happened when things went crazy during the boom before the tap was turned off following the bust. It is not reliable and, therefore, a concern.

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