Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will respond to the three questions that have been put to me. First, in relation to the timing and as I have said on a number of occasions during the passage of the Bill, if the binding contract was entered into or signed prior to budget day and a conveyance is executed before the end of the year, the rate is 2%. Otherwise, it is 6%. We made that clear in the immediate aftermath of the budget. As to whether I am meeting the so-called vulture funds or companies named by Deputy Fitzmaurice, the answer is "No, I am not". On the question that was put to me for a window of opportunity, if I did what Deputy Mattie McGrath suggests, I would create a window of opportunity for tax avoidance. The whole purpose of the measure and what we are trying to do is to shut down an opportunity for tax avoidance.

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