Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not wish to refer to any particular case because we are dealing with a Bill in respect of the IDA and not with the local authorities.

The IDA does not pursue its property functions by way of compulsory purchase orders. The case to which Deputy Clare Daly referred earlier, the Reid case, gave rise to the first time the IDA ever attempted to do so. It is exceptionally rare and the only time the IDA would use its powers like that is where there is real and strategic importance involved.

The legislation is needed to ensure IDA Ireland can validly exercise compulsory acquisition powers in the future through the designation of the appropriate external body, An Bord Pleanála, which acts as a decision maker in all these cases.

I say again that there is no intention on the part of IDA Ireland to increase the use of compulsory purchase orders. In fact, it is true to say that while the legislation provides for an updated compulsory purchase process, the process has never been more straightforward. It is important to point out to committee members that the provisions being replaced are subject to An Bord Pleanála oversight and we know how An Bord Pleanála operates.