Cowan says Fine Gael's stamp duty proposals are 'daft'

The Finance Minister says Fine Gael's proposals to reform stamp duty are "daft" and will threaten thousands of jobs.

Brian Cowen says the main opposition party's policy is "poorly thought-through".

He claims their plans would threaten the value of everyone's house and not just those who are in the process of buying.

"It's obvious what's going to happen - it's just a badly thought through idea," he said.

"And it's being compounded now by the fact that the labour party are trying to cobble a joint policy arrangement with them on foot of that proposal, which seems to help people who are selling expensive houses," he said.