SF will not support ending of stamp duty, says McDonald
Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald has stated Sinn Féin’s opposition to Fine Gael and Labour’s proposals to abolishing stamp duty announced today.
“We do not support Fine Gael and Labour’s proposals to abolish stamp duty as developers would inevitably cash in on the potential by increasing house prices and house buyers would be no better off,” she said.
“Instead, Sinn Féin proposes to increase mortgage tax relief for first time buyers and the building of 70,000 new social housing units by 2012.”
Ms McDonald went on to accuse Fine Gael and Labour of indulging in “auction politics”, saying that by proposing massive income tax cuts while at the same time promising increased and improved public services, Fine Gael and Labour are attempting to “pull the wool over the eyes of the electorate”.
“The Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis showed us the type of auction politics to expect in this general election,” she said.
“And now in turn Fine Gael and Labour have followed suit with massive tax cutting proposals. Sinn Féin is opposed to these reckless proposals.
“The biggest concern for the Irish people is that despite the growth in our economy our public services continue to suffer.
“We have a crisis in our health services with sick people having to suffer for days on end on trolleys while waiting for a bed. There is a major housing crisis with almost 44,000 families waiting to be housed. Our children are being taught in substandard and overcrowded classrooms and we have a major drugs crisis which is overflowing into gang warfare on our streets.
“This is not a time for reckless tax cuts.”
