Land plan may spark Coalition rift

A MAJOR rift is set to emerge between Fianna Fáil and its Progressive Democrat coalition partners over plans to tackle excessive profits being made on land speculation.

As an Oireachtas committee considers the constitutional implications of putting a cap on land prices, PD minister Tom Parlon has dramatically intervened to say he would oppose any weakening of private property rights as a means to achieve the goal of quality affordable houses.

In a hard-hitting address last week, Mr Parlon used strong ideological language to set out his implacable opposition to any alteration to property rights guaranteed in the Constitution.