Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)

I have raised this issue at the Joint Committee on Health and Children, as the Minister of State knows, for many years. It disappoints me greatly that no progress has been made. The case for the north west having its own radiotherapy unit is much stronger than the case for the south east having such a unit, although the latter also has a strong case. That is the reality.

There are major problems with the Bill. An entire tier of democracy is being removed from the system. There are large projects that are supposed to be for the common good. Even something of great social significance, namely, social housing, is omitted from the Bill.

Another problem is that the Minister is seeding responsibility to An Bord Pleanála in respect of issues such as the compulsory acquisition of land for pipelines, etc. I wonder why that is the case. I am greatly concerned that democracy is being utterly eroded.

In the Bill, one cannot identify what will profit enterprise and that which will lead to social development and benefit the common good. They are not the same thing. My worry is that the Bill is not what it claims to be. I am particularly concerned that the Minister is washing his hands of any future controversies relating to compulsory acquisition for pipelines, refineries etc.

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