McDowell: We can do without ?2.6bn stamp duty revenue
His extraordinary admission comes amid a growing clamour for more hospitals, schools and funding to tackle law and order issues.
PD leader Mr McDowell, whose party got a boost in a new opinion poll released last night, said he wanted action to reduce the burden of stamp duty on "the coping classes". Defending the rationale for sweeping tax changes, including the possible abolition of stamp duty, Mr McDowell said that this year the Government will get ?2.6bn in revenue from this source and that money is no longer needed.
"That's the point we want to get across. The Government doesn't need this massive flow of stamp duty from house purchases."
The Tanaiste said that while the revenue from stamp duty was not being "thrown away" and went towards borrowing, it was really no longer needed by the Government.
One Fianna Fail backbench TD described the Tanaiste's remarks as "not helpful for some of us".
"In some constituencies we are dealing with groups looking for more funding for hospitals, schools, extra gardai or whatever.
"How do you hold the Government line when the Tanaiste says the government has ?2.6bn it doesn't really need?"
Fine Gael called Mr McDowell's remarks "kite-flying" while Labour leader Pat Rabbitte said the suggestions on abolishing stamp duty were just more of the "selfish agenda" being pursued by the PDs.
The pitch on stamp duty was aimed at families who would gain a huge financial break when buying a new house or trading up, especially those in middle class and wealthy areas if it was abolished completely.
Mr McDowell's bid for new voters came before a new opinion poll showed increased backing for him and his party.
The poll puts FF and the PDs well ahead, despite increased pressure from the FG-Labour alternative.
The Government's satisfaction rating is up on the corresponding poll a year ago. And more than two-thirds of those polled believe they will get back into power.
The survey showed more than two-in-five (42pc) believe Mr McDowell as PD leader will have a positive influence on politics. Just 30pc believe he will have a negative effect.
The current series of parliamentary party 'think-ins' ends with Labour's session in Cork today. But the new figures show that Enda Kenny and Pat Rabbitte have plenty to do to oust the coalition.
Fianna Fail and the PDs have a combined 45pc share of the vote. Fine Gael and Labour together have just 34pc. Even if the Greens are added in as a third element in a 'Rainbow' the three parties only have 40pc.
That means they still trail the coalition by 5pc.
The findings will come as a particular fillip for the PDs as they stand at 6pc - 1pc up on the corresponding poll last September.
The poll shows: Fianna Fail have 39pc (up 1); Fine Gael 24pc (up 1); Labour 10pc (down 2); Sinn Fein, 9pc (down 1); Greens, 6pc (unchanged); PDs, 6pc (up 1) and Independents, 6pc (unchanged).
The poll was carried out by Lansdowne market research for the Irish Examiner.
- Gene McKenna and Brian Dowling
