Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

There has been a trebling of the rate from 2% to 6%. The Minister has stated only 3% of total revenue accrues from stamp duty, but it is false recovery. There is only a recovery in Dublin which I am glad that he has said is in the commercial building sector, not house building. The Government cannot build houses. It has completely lost its way in that regard. The Minister needs to climb a crane to look around to see what to do about the housing crisis. This measure was ill-judged and ill-timed. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine was unclear on what was happening on the night of the budget and the day after. As a result, he gave misleading information because he did not know. It has sent the wrong signal to farmers, particularly young farmers, who are trying to consolidate. Because of Brexit farmers must consolidate, having regard to how they are being treated by the banks, prices and the World Trade Organisation talks. They cannot be static. I tabled an amendment on taxing vulture funds that were buying up land. The Minister did not accept it, but it would have generated significant revenue. He missed that opportunity and instead penalised ordinary farmers.

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