Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Unfortunately, Article 43 tends to be interpreted according to the first part of the provision. In fact, there is a second part of it that refers to the common good. It is not in the common good if there are a lot of vacant properties around the place while there are people without homes. It is interesting to note that one of the locations where this is done is the USA where foreclosures have left a great deal of dereliction. Use it or lose it was the rule and public authorities were able to take over those houses. It is not something one might find in eastern Europe; it is actually in places one might not expect to find it. It is how they have dealt with some of the dereliction in the USA.