Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

While I agree with the principle of the residential zoned land tax, is the Government aware that as currently constituted, that tax could have profound implications for many farmers. I am talking about genuine farmers many of whose families have farmed the land for generations. They are not interested in availing of the uplift in financial terms caused by rezoning. In fact, they have not asked for their lands to be rezoned, but if the legislation as currently drafted is implemented, it will inevitably result in many of those people being driven out of farming because there is no way they are going to be able to support themselves and pay the tax from the income they hope to derive from farming. Does the Government have any proposals to modify the Bill to avoid a consequence that must surely have been unintended?

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