Fiona O'Malley (Dún Laoghaire, Progressive Democrats)

Having served with him on the county council, I know what an authority he is on matters of local government and housing in particular. As constituency colleagues we share the same problems surrounding unfinished housing estates, many of which date back to the 1980s and earlier. The resources provided by the developers are not sufficient to address the problems now.

The Bill is timely and I commend the Minister's magnanimity in accepting it. One drafts legislation according to an ideal but when it does not live up to that one must revisit it. That is why it is particularly useful that Deputy Gilmore presented this Bill to the House and the Minister accepted it.

The record-breaking housing output in recent successive years strengthens the case for this legislation. We have heard how many housing estates on vast tracts of west Dublin are left incomplete. It is incumbent on us to reverse the position and give the local authorities the right to decide whether it is appropriate for a developer to build a housing estate.

In my area there is a site whose planning history dates back to the 1950s. The same people have not been involved throughout but those who have occupied it for the past 20 odd years have repeatedly ignored the planning regulations. Local councillors and Deputies must deal with the consequences of that. I welcome the proposal that planning permission may be withdrawn.

Reputation is one of the most important things we carry through our lives. One likes to think one's reputation is intact but if one gets a reputation for being cavalier about planning regulations that should stick. If one has no care or regard for the citizens who will live in the development, or for the regulations, one should be penalised in some way.

I read with interest the Minister's speech of last night. He is conscious of the legal issues arising in the sections of this Bill. While I do not share his reservations, it is good advice to seek the opinion of the Attorney General. We can only hope that the Minister's letter arrives swiftly at the Office of the Attorney General and that action is taken on this Bill.

It is rather far-fetched to suggest that banks might refuse to lend money because they are afraid someone might not get planning permission. We need to move quickly on this issue because year after year there is a record-breaking housing output. People do not want to live on building sites but in completed homes and communities, as they are entitled to do. That is why I commend this Bill and wish it safe and swift passage through the House.

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