Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I assure the Leas-Cheann Comhairle that it is closely related to the Bill, as he will see in a moment. The person in question made a horticultural proposal concerning less than an acre of land. He envisaged glasshouses and tunnels, for which he sought planning permission. He had a house too. However, the authorities said that it was inconsistent with the type of development that one could allow in such an area, though it was agriculturally zoned. I do not know what the local authority was talking about. The man was refused planning permission. He had proposed to grow tomatoes and all the usual greenhouse vegetables, as well as poultry. He had been doing that since he was a child. He was born in rural Ireland and, having temporarily been away, wished to continue to live there. However, the great bureaucrats came on the scene and said that it was not for him, since the horticultural activity which he proposed to carry on was inconsistent with the area, which was within 200 m or 300 m of an urban settlement. They told him to settle down and forget his nonsense about growing vegetables and keeping poultry.

That is what is being said by the Minister and his colleagues to the unfortunate innocents whom they are bringing to the Ard-Fheis to lead astray. Previously they led the country astray and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, as a compassionate and caring man, will understand my perspective. They have codded the people of the country — the multitudes outside — and now they have finally turned on their own and are about to cod them too. That is deplorable, and I know the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will feel as sorry for them as I do. I also know that the Minister of State sitting opposite knows that what I am saying is true, and that is the saddest part.

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