Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)

People buy apartments all over Europe, yet it seems they cannot buy an apartment from an Irish local authority. I would like to see the legal advice from the Office of the Attorney General, stating there is a blockage on this matter, and I ask the Minister of State to bring it before the House. In the meantime, property prices have risen by 300% while people are waiting. The tenants are getting older and they may not be able to secure a 20-year mortgage schedule. It would have to be this length if one is to pay off the mortgage by the age of 65.

Has the Minister of State considered putting in place a ministerial order that can fast-track this process while the legislative framework is being worked out? If there are problems with the Attorney General's office, there is a ministerial provision that would allow this to happen. Given that the Minister of State's predecessor indicated in 2005 that this issue would be finalised in the lifetime of that Government, it is completely unacceptable that we are now being told it will be finalised in 2008.

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