Cowen warns on Fine Gael plan

Fianna Fáil Ardfheis roundup: Minister for Finance Brian Cowen has warned Fine Gael proposals on the reform of stamp duty could lead to a slow-down in the housing market.

Speaking at the Fianna Fáil Ardfheis in Dubin today, Mr Cowen said opposition parties were "busy making promises" but added: "Little consideration seems to have been given to assessing their impact on the economy or on our society.

"The most recent example of this, it seems to me, relate to Fine Gael's proposals on stamp duty".

Mr Cowen said the Fine Gael plan to eliminated stamp duty for most first-time buyers and cut it for other home buyers over three years could lead to a collapse in house sales and prices and job losses in construction.

But in a statement Fine Gael's finance spokesman and deputy leader Richard Bruton said it was "difficult to listen to criticism from a Minister who has presided over the current grossly unfair situation and who missed the opportunity to do anything about it in his last Budget."

Mr Cowen said Fianna Fail in Government would introduce "progressive taxation reforms" which, he said, the Taoiseach would outline in his address to the conference this evening.

Earlier the Ardfheis passed a motion which stated pub owners should be held responsible for the behaviour of drunken customers.

The motion was passed at the 71st annual party gathering which is taking place in Dublin's Citywest Hotel. Up to 5,000 delegates are debating more than 200 motions covering issues spanning 14 Government departments.

The Ardfheis also passed a motion calling for longer prison terms for people convicted of sex trafficking offences. Calls for more gardai on the streets at weekends and the speedy rollout of CCTV cameras in town centres were also supported by delegates.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will set out key General Election promises during his keynote televised speech this evening.

Earlier, Minister for Social and Family Affairs Seamus Brennan said the Government had delivered the largest sustained increase in social and welfare services in history.

He said: "Our legacy to this country, and to the generations that follow, will be judged on how well we used the Celtic Tiger era of economic prosperity and opportunity.

He added: "They will judge us on how we reached out to those left behind, for whatever reason, by our buoyant economy.

"They will also judge us on how well this generation hung onto the decency, the respect and the humanity that is so central to all that is best about Ireland and about being Irish."

Protests are planned outside the event by the Anti-War Movement and families of the victims of the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire who are seeking a public inquiry.

In his address, Minister for Enterprise Micheál Martin said Ireland will continue to create new jobs in 2007, despite hundreds of recent redundancies in the manufacturing sector.

He told delegates: "We will be attracting and securing new high quality investment in 2007 despite the commentary to the contrary.

"We remain competitive because of the skills of our people, one of the most beneficial corporate tax environments in the world and a clear commitment to investment in research and Development."

With predictions of seat losses, the Mr Ahern and party colleagues will be keen to emphasise Fianna Fail's role in managing the economy and promoting social justice during the past decade in power. Last night Mr Ahern pledged in his opening address that Government departments and state bodies will radically cut carbon use in a major drive against global warming.

Additional reporting PA