Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would like to refer briefly to an issue that arises with local authorities and the private sector in the construction of houses. The planning process is followed by a procurement process and a construction process. The easiest part of that is the construction process, because one can set deadlines when one is building. Deputy O'Dowd spoke about planning. We are also tied up in huge procurement rules and regulations, both from the EU and from our own office of public procurement. Would it be possible to use the current crisis to expedite the whole process by removing many of these regulations in the short term?

For instance, Mr. Honohan referred to a six week period for planning. If the procurement process were to last for six weeks and the construction process a further 20 weeks, we would be producing the required units in approximately six months. Is there a legal impediment to setting aside the procurement rules or can this be done in an emergency?