The motion was passed by 64 votes to 31 with a total of 41 abstentions.

It first came to light on Tuesday morning in an article by the Irish Farmers Journal that agricultural land would be included in a Government plan to increase the stamp duty rate on sales of commercial land from 2% to 6%.

A 6% rate would increase the stamp duty payable on a €200,000 farm to €12,000 from €4,000.

As things stand we have three stamp duty bands.

The 0% rate for young trained farmers, the 1% rate for blood relations under the consanguinity clause and the new 6% rate for commercial property.

Attempted block

Independent TD for Roscommon / east Galway Michael Fitzmaurice tabled an amendment on Tuesday night to try and have farmers exempt from the new stamp duty rate but this was defeated.

Fitzmaurice needed Fianna Fáil to vote again on the proposal and support him but it is understood that the party was unwilling to do so.

Minister for Education, and former landowner, Richard Bruton confirmed on Tuesday night in the Dáil that farmers would be part of the new stamp duty rate. He was echoing the words of Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe during and after his budget speech.

Agriculture on the backfoot

During his briefing of the media on Tuesday afternoon, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed definitively stated that “we need to nail this one, because I’ve seen some comment on social media; the increase in stamp duty does not apply to agricultural land”.

This caused significant confusion among farmers.

Rage

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal on Tuesday night after the Dáil, deputy Fitzmaurice said he is dismayed at the decision.

“I’m disgusted where a valid amendment put forward to protect small farmers has been rejected by Fine Gael – a party that pretends to support small farmers. I’m stunned, I’m absolutely stunned by what has happened here tonight and the way small farmers trying to buy a bit of land have been treated,” Fitzmaurice said.

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