Responding to remarks made by the Taoiseach, Simon Harris, who has denied a u-turn on his position on increasing stamp duty on the bulk purchasing of family homes by vulture funds, Sinn Féin spokesperson on Finance Pearse Doherty TD has said:

“Fine Gael were the party that rolled out the red carpet to vulture funds, and have had thirteen years in office to rein them in.

“This is now a desperate attempt ahead of an election to try to get the electorate to forget the damage they have done, with vulture funds buying up properties under the noses of workers and families.

“In January, Sinn Féin introduced a motion to substantially increase the stamp duty paid by these funds in the Dáil. The government voted against that motion. That was the time to act, not after more family homes have been snapped up.

“This practice has continued precisely because the government have done nothing.

“After thirteen years of Fine Gael in government, home ownership has collapsed with 40% of people under 34 still living with their parents. That is Fine Gael’s record.

“The electorate will not buy this cynical attempt to make it look like Fine Gael are doing something for struggling homebuyers ahead of an election.”