Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The matter of legislation on the property issue is being discussed by a number of Departments. I note what the report states, although I have not read all the documents on the property issue. The National Economic and Social Council report on housing is also due out shortly. That will be important and should be read along with the report of the All-Party Committee on the Constitution. I also note that the committee's report states several times that the issue is not the price of land but the price of housing. To be frank, I do not believe that, although it is a finding from our constitutional committee. It is extraordinary. I have read the case study the committee offers to support that statement, but that does not match with what I live with and see every day. Maybe the committee members know much more than me. As I said to Deputy Rabbitte when we discussed this previously, if this problem can be dealt with through legislation, then we should examine that option closely and move on legislation.

I remember the arguments, the cases and the briefs I read extensively about Part 5. These matters are being discussed in a number of Departments. In recent years I have read a considerable amount on these issues. The report states that, perhaps, the Kenny report was over-conservative. Many examinations of the Kenny report have been carried out during the past 30 years, all of which state that the report is far too radical. It is a totally different interpretation of it. I make those points because I have read this subject over many years.

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