Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

The debate on the Land Bill is an important one. Land is an intrinsic part of our history and culture. Before I go into the detail of the legislation I wish to remember the great Michael Davitt and the Land League, a movement which focused on rights for tenants and respect for people and their communities. Davitt's views are still relevant and we can learn lessons from him. He made a significant contribution to the development of the State in terms of land and tenants. We could also learn something from his approach that would assist in the peace process in Northern Ireland. He promoted inclusiveness, respect for people and their diversity and a move to democratic principles. There is an excellent opportunity for us to use this tradition to help us in the peace process.

It is important when dealing with a land issue to focus on speculators and the housing crisis. Up to 100,000 people on local authority waiting lists are directly affected. There is a connection between the price of land and affordable housing. It is important that we look at these issues and keep the focus on quality planning.

Ground rents are another matter of concern. I regret that successive Governments have not tackled this issue. I have long been a supporter of the National Association of Tenants Organisation, NATO, and the Association of Combined Residents Associations. I commend them on their work on ground rents in the past 20 years. In particular, I pay tribute to Tony O'Toole who was involved in ACRA when I began my political career. He did a great deal of work on ground rents. I wish to put on record my total support for the ACRA campaign.

The Land Commission was originally set up in 1881 as a rent-fixing body under the Land Law (Ireland) Act of that year. It subsequently developed by law into a tenant-purchase agency and assisted with the purchase by tenants of 13.5 million acres of land. Ultimately the commission embarked on a countrywide programme of land structural reform and became a great purchaser and distributor of land. Acquisition of land ceased in 1983. The Irish Land Commission (Dissolution) Act 1992, which came into operation on 31 March 1999, transferred the property of the Land Commission and functions of the lay commissioners to the Minister for Agriculture and Food.

The matters dealt with in the Land Bill concern land purchase-land reclamation annuities, the simplification of transfer of ownership and amendments to various Land Acts for simpler and more efficient administration. I welcome these provisions. The Bill proposes to discharge all land purchase annuities-land reclamation annuities amounting to €200 or less per annum, including arrears. It also provides for a land annuities-land reclamation annuities buy-out scheme for amounts greater than €200 per annum which would allow farmers to clear their existing land annuities at a discount of 25% subject to all outstanding arrears being paid in full.

These are important sections in the legislation. Section 10 provides legal authority for previous Government decisions to write-off small land purchase and land reclamation annuities.

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