Ollie Crowe (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am concerned. I am not fully clear myself as to whether this would involve a Circuit Court award or a High Court award or on the significant cost differences in that regard. A number of businesses have contacted me to tell me there are issues here. I am concerned that the legal costs still seem to be at a significant level. That is an issue, as far as I am concerned.

This is again my own reasoning. Is there any reason PIAB could not operate more or less like the Land Values Reference Committee does when local authorities or public utilities such as the ESB acquire lands or rights for the provision of vital infrastructure? The farmer would be entitled to compensation in such a case. The level of compensation, in the absence of default, would be determined by the competent authority, whether it is the real estate equivalent of PIAB or the Land Values Reference Committee. My understanding, however, is that there is no mediation, arbitration or judicial review, and that process seems to work well without the need to go to mediation, if the witnesses see where I am coming from.