Mick Clifford: Fine Gael doing its best to stand up for unfortunate rich people over inheritance tax

Regardless of sentimental value, family homes are not heirlooms but assets that can be leveraged to create more wealth, and should be taxed accordingly

The principal means of inheritance is the family home.  Uniquely in the developed world, there is a considerable political consensus in this country that the property owned within a family is not an asset but some form of heirloom. A little perspective is required here. File photo

Fine Gael was out batting for the unfortunate rich people again this week. 

The Taoiseach Simon Harris was asked about lowering the threshold above which inheritance tax must be paid. Currently, one can inherit €335,000 from a parent before any tax is payable. Some in Fine Gael believe this is “unfair”.