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

I move amendment No. 186:

In page 39, line 9, to delete “Minister” where it firstly occurs and substitute “Oireachtas”.

This amendment is about the disposal of land held by the LDA to third parties. In effect, the Bill allows that public land in the ownership of the LDA could be sold on to third parties, developers or investment funds and that would just require ministerial consent.

I do not think public lands should be sold on to any third parties in any instance. If there is some technical reason a small bit of land would be transferred or something like that, that should be done with the safeguard of a vote of the Houses of the Oireachtas and nothing short of that. In most circumstances, it should not be happening at all. I am not happy with the idea that it could be done by ministerial consent in terms of accountability, transparency and building public confidence. That is why I have moved this amendment.