Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste. I disagree with him. The problem is a lack of ambition and a lack of vision. That has been the consistent pattern here from what I describe as a very conservative coalition. Ireland is a rich country, but the Government presides over on that continues to feel poor.

I want to put one key question to the Tánaiste on the status of the residential zoned land tax. The ESRI did not put a tooth in it today in pointing out that land comprises about 20% of the final cost of a home. We know that the Government cannot control material costs, labour costs and other costs that go into developing homes, but it has the responsibility to use the tax system responsibly in order to disincentivise land hoarding. It can make a real difference overnight. Will it introduce the residential zoned land tax next week? Will that be confirmed in the budget? I would appreciate an update from the Tánaiste on that. That is critically important. Is the Government going to continue to put the primacy of land ownership before the public good?

See this speech in context