Deputy Eamon Ó Cuív:

That is all fine, but any Deputy who holds clinics, as I do, will see housing application forms that one would need a PhD to complete. I assume the Minister of State has seen the new building regulations for one-off houses whereby it will cost an extra €15,000 to build a house. Every day we see regulations that are made, plans get thicker and we get assurances in every Bill that comes through the House that the Minister will have regard to the doctrine of proportionality, but that is not the way it is working. I will not press the amendment but once carte blanche is given for planning, all that ever happens is that the paper gets thicker and the conditions get more comprehensive. I have seen this happen over many years in public life and I am not sure the position has changed in proportion to the plans. My view is that all this planning has knocked more forests than the sawlog industry in Ireland in providing all the paper required.