Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am sorry, Acting Chairman. I am glad of the opportunity to address this very important issue. Budgets can often throw up issues that cause confusion and uncertainty in the markets. There was a lot of concern about stamp duty on land transfers. Deputies were inundated with questions and when we asked questions in the Dáil, there seemed to be a degree of uncertainty as to the implication of the measure, especially in cases where there might be complexity in the deal itself, as Deputy Fitzmaurice has pointed out. This caused further confusion. I am glad of any clarity that can be brought to the situation. People had deals that were put on hold and they were going from solicitors to accountants and back to their clients. They were also going to politicians to seek clarification. It caused awful confusion.

Deputy Mattie McGrath never ceases to amaze me. He is obviously a very seasoned, experienced and wise politician and he has made a terribly important point in this whole debate. Consider what would happen if the geniuses who thought it was a good idea to abolish our town councils had gotten away with their genius idea to abolish the Seanad, which was like a race to the bottom. What were they really trying to achieve? I would seriously question the political judgment of those who supported that move at the time. Any politician who had thought it a good idea to abolish town councils and then thought it was a good idea to abolish the Seanad certainly was going on some other motive. It was not for the greater good of the people on this island. We need political representation-----

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