Govt publishes Finance Bill for 2003
The Government has published this year's Finance Bill to legislate for changes announced in last December's Budget.
Among the measures covered by the bill are income tax changes, increases in mortgage relief, changes in stamp duty and increased credit card charges.
At the launch of the bill this afternoon, Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy also announced further measures aimed at closing tax loopholes for investors and for people who sell assets while living abroad.
The Irish Farmers Association has already criticised the bill, saying it copper-fastens the negative measures announced in the Budget and the 2003 Book of Estimates.
IFA president John Dillon said: "There is nothing in the Finance Bill to show the Government is serious about including farmers in the partnership process. The bill confirms increased taxes on farmers seeking to consolidate their farms and secure their long-term viability."
The Green Party has also criticised the bill and said it would reinforce the bad decisions taken in last December's Budget. Party spokesman Dan Boyle said the closure of tax loopholes should have been introduced years ago and only serves to highlight the amount of tax that was avoided during the Celtic Tiger boom years.
He also said that the capital gains tax exemption introduced for certain sporting bodies "is nothing more than a back door for the Bertie Bowl and must be more closely examined to ensure that public monies are not wantonly misused".
