Forget homes tax and scrap the State cars

YOU report (January 9) that a Government think-tank has called for an annual tax on homes to replace falling revenue from stamp duty.

Recently a Green party spokesman announced that the Government had plugged the loophole that allowed developers avoid paying stamp duty on huge projects thereby causing losses of millions to the State.

The reason this loophole wasn’t plugged before now is that these people provided funding for the political parties.

What is the point of plugging the loophole when there is very little building going on? Why wasn’t it plugged 10 years ago?

In the same issue you reported Europe Minister Dick Roche as having said that if the Lisbon Treaty was not ratified, one-third of EU states would lose their commissioners.

If the Government wants the treaty ratified, putting an annual tax on homes is the wrong way to go about it.

A solution to this problem might be for ministers to set an example by giving up their Mercedes, supply their own cars and pay for their own tax,insurance and petrol like the rest of the population has to do.

While they’re at it they could get rid of the Government jet and fly Aer Lingus in which they have shares, or even Ryanair.

Now that would be real patriotism.

Jack O’Loughlin

Kilcoran Park

Youghal

Co Cork