Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

Galway West is a lovely place to visit. I am happier in Tallaght, however.

My first reaction on reading through this Bill was to think of that famous scene in the movie, "Chinatown", where the private detective played by Jack Nicholson is in the Los Angeles hall of records investigating bogus land deals. He rips out the page of a registry of land sale transaction. I am not suggesting that such deeds occur in this jurisdiction, but it is an interesting point. The Bill will remove the possibility of anyone in this country emulating Jack Nicholson in the future.

The Bill provides a statutory basis for the registration of titles and deeds on computer in the Registry of Deeds and the Land Registry. It also provides for an electronic mapping system as part of the process of introducing an electronic conveyancing system. It is interesting to note that this involves the repeal of legislation dating back, in some cases, to 1707. It is also interesting to note that a primary objective of the 1707 Act was the prevention of forgeries. That certainly puts a different light on the term "the good old days".

When most of us reflect on areas such as the Land Registry and the Registry of Deeds in the early 18th century, it conjures up clerks in wigs sitting on three-legged stools making entries in musty leather-bound ledgers with quill pens. Much of the activity in this area still reminds of us of those far-off days. It is good to see, therefore, that his Bill provides for the movement of the key areas of registration of deeds and title into the 21st century. Now it will be possible for the definition of a deed to include a reference to information stored in electronic form or, as it is also described, a non-legible form. This is capable of being converted into a legible form. This should greatly facilitate officials and members of the public in searches for records kept by the registry and more immediate access to records through electronic means.

Electronic registration and storage of information in regard to the Registry of Deeds and the Land Registry will help to make the process easier and faster, and consequently more economical. Not many people could read or write in 1707, not even those who could afford to buy land and property. Those who could draft deeds and entries in leather-bound ledgers were looked on as whizz-kids in their day. We have to move with the times and the electronic storage and retrieval of information is the way we are going. The computer is today's ledger and the computer mouse is today's quill pen.

I speak as someone who has always been brave enough to admit that in terms of modern technology I am still a child of the past. However, I am doing my best. I often get queries about Land Registry issues and matters that relate to this legislation, although not every week. In a busy urban constituency office and clinic, one deals with all types of problems, not many of which relate to this matter the House has in hand. However, I get sufficient queries in this area to appreciate that there is a need for modernisation. It is good that we are looking at this issue and I wish the Minister of State well in that regard.

Effective and efficient property regulation structures and systems are essential requirements for a successful economy. Even those who want to be in government and have to battle on for another 500 days will know that the economy is thriving.

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