Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the petitioners for raising the issue. It seems like a small issue but it is quite important. I commend the secretariat on the background work done to get us the information which shows that there is a legislative loophole which has been closed in other jurisdictions. I would hope it will not impinge on something like the constitutional right to property. We have seen things like this happen in that because it is property which someone owns, matters will be difficult. However, the suggestion to ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to examine this matter and introduce a national guideline, legislation or a statutory instrument to deal with this which would give clarity to all local authorities would seem the right way to go. I am sure he will advise us on that and I agree with that recommendation.