Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

In this legislation, the Oireachtas is seeking best practice. We are not seeking for it to be the case that, since the standard practice in other State agencies is to do something this way, we will not question it. If the Minister of State is going to defend this practice, he should explain to us why he believes that it is beneficial during a housing emergency when we need every bit of expertise, opinion and effort to get the best possible housing outcome for people to have a legal prohibition on the chief executive of the LDA giving his or her actual view on Government policy. If the Minister of State cannot make that case beyond saying it is standard practice, he is not making a case for it at all.

Since the LDA will be a new agency, it is important that it have maximum public confidence, transparency and accountability. Barring the chief executive from giving his or her views in this way does not provide the maximum transparency, accountability or, indeed, expertise that we need in all discussions on housing.