Kenny stands over pre-election stance on stamp duty

FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny said he stands over all proposals made by his party before the last election, including the abolition of stamp duty, and dismissed as “desperate” recent attempts by the Taoiseach to defend his record as minister for finance.

Responding to accusations by Brian Cowen that the opposition are guilty of double standards because they were in favour of the abolition of stamp duty and other policies that fuelled the housing boom, Mr Kenny said: “If Brian Cowen accuses me of wanting to assist first-time buyers, then I am guilty.”

The Taoiseach told the Dáil this week that he had abolished property-based tax incentives which had previously been introduced by Fine Gael and Labour who, he said, both wanted to see further reductions in these taxes in the run-up to the last election.