Mr. Tom Dunne:

I support the idea that the agency should have compulsory purchase powers. That is very necessary. For example, one thing that bedevils property development or site assembly and slows it up is one often finds flaws in title. The title may prohibit a particular form of development that might need to go on the site. The agency would need power to compulsorily acquire that, otherwise the agency could get into a situation where it was held to ransom. I very much support it having compulsory purchase powers.

The compulsory purchase powers available to the State are very complex. I imagine the agency would not use them widely. Many protections are built into the system of compulsory purchase. I would not be particularly worried about the agency going off and buying stuff, using its powers to buy things that it should not buy. The agency would need the powers for the specific reason I gave. I could not imagine an agency such as this operating efficiently unless it had powers.