Dr. David Duffy:

I want to first address the issue of speculation. The home builders I have spoken to say their business model is to build houses. When they acquire land or get planning permission, it is to build houses, not for speculation.

With regard to the specific question on The Sunday Business Postarticle, I would have to say, in advance of any comment, that it predates both my involvement or John Spain's involvement with PII. In answering, I can only give the Deputy my understanding. It is fair to say that, at the time, there was a recognition that there was a huge need to increase the supply of housing into the system. PII, as a broad church for the property sector, representing all the different sub-sectors and being a policy-focused organisation, was looking at making recommendations to the Department or to Government as to how housing supply could be increased at that time. All of those were published in various documents which are available on our website.

My understanding is that the fast-track planning process was one of the ideas. It featured in our 2016 publication, Policy Reform to Increase the Delivery of New Housing, but it featured in a slightly different form to the one that was finally adopted in that the model we put forward included scope for requests for further clarification or further information. I am not aware of the particular interview to which the Deputy referred. As stated said, neither of us was involved in PII at the time. It featured in our recommendations, although a slightly different form was eventually adopted by the Department.