Robinson Snub on Conacre Ruling
12 May 2008
Jim Allister MEP has hit out at Finance Minister Peter Robinson’s refusal to take up the plight of Northern Ireland land owners, in respect of a recent ruling by Special Commissioners on inheritance tax liability and land let in conacre.
The Traditional Unionist MEP said,
“Last month, I wrote to Finance Minister Peter Robinson, urging him to make strenuous representations to London for the necessary legislative change required to overturn a recent ruling that found conacre land may come within the scope of inheritance tax. While this matter in itself is not strictly devolved, nonetheless, a local Minister could carry much weight in representing local interests on this issue.”
“I regret to say, the only response the Finance Minister gave to my request was to say his Department does not have a direct role in this area, while referring the matter on to Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew. By his actions, I can only deduce that Minister Robinson does not care much for those genuinely family-owned farms which could disappear within a generation as a result of this landmark ruling.”
ENDS
