Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)

I support the amendment. The general principle is that an appeals system should be independent and seen to be independent. People should have confidence in it and should feel that the system is fair, allows them to advance their point of view and is overseen by someone without a hidden agenda. The current position suggests that will not be the case. The Bill is black and white. It guarantees that people who have worked their entire lives, bought a council house and helped to build the Celtic tiger will be forced to sell their homes. Even if Almighty God was the appeals officer he would not be fair, nor seen to be fair, nor could he be.

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