Stamp duty bill is first law to pass through 30th Dáil

THE first piece of legislation from the 30th Dáil — giving stamp duty breaks to first-time buyers — was last night passed by a comfortable majority.

The move was in line with Government promises that it would legislate for this stamp duty reform on the first day of the new Dáil.

The bill was introduced by Tánaiste Brian Cowen, who reiterated that his thinking on stamp duty was that it should not disrupt the housing market.