A few years ago, a farmer here told me he had just sold 24 acres of land "for houses to be built on it". I said nothing but he obviously saw the disapproving and disgusted look on my face, and continued that he hadn't wanted to. Why did he, then? Because of punitive taxation or some similar strongarm tactics levied by our dear government (while Bertie Ahern was still in power, yes, the same Bertie Ahern who was later ousted for corruption). It's not like the farmer was going to see any fat profits out of his land sale. He did it to avoid it costing him. I can't remember the details, though the farmer did explain them to me, but basically it was the offer he couldn't refuse.

Think about it: a government-sanctioned financial disincentive to hang onto your land. This was while the Tiger was still gobbling us alive... whooops... meant to type Roaring.

Read David McWilliams' book The Generation Game. Or anything else he's written recently. He's google-able in the news feeds.