Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

I welcome this Bill, which was introduced by Deputy Hogan. It is a particularly welcome measure in light of the debacle relating to the Dublin Docklands Development Authority. When it was first came into being, the Dublin Docklands Development Authority was creative, positive, forward-thinking and had the support of many in the community. Those people thought that when the authority was first established it would encourage sustainable development, attract investment to their area and substantially change that area for the better.

Anyone who remembers the state of the docklands prior to the recent developments will understand why an impoverished community would reach out and believe that there was hope for it. Much has happened in the area that is to be welcomed. However, most of this was tied to the speculative development which has not only destroyed our banking system, but brought the economy to its knees. That was not the intention and it was not why people engaged with the authority and gave it their support. The shenanigans and corruption which have been alleged and proven in respect of some of the scheming and manoeuvring of this authority are scandalous. What occurred was downright dishonest.

One need only consider the scandal relating to the site previously occupied by the Irish Glass Bottle Company in Ringsend. A ridiculous amount of money was spent on purchasing that site. It is scandalous that the Dublin Docklands Development Authority was involved in this transaction and exposed the taxpayer to the speculative property market when everyone was saying that the latter was about to slow down or collapse. I am of the view that the dishonesty relating to this matter, which has led to the virtual bankruptcy of the authority, will emerge in time. What occurred in respect of the Ringsend site has led to funding for social and local programmes being discontinued. In addition, the docklands area is now littered with empty buildings, half-constructed buildings and derelict sites on which a sod has never been turned. The fiasco is a prime example of how business is conducted in this State. When discussing this Bill it is uncanny that we have the backdrop of NAMA, which is aimed at rescuing banks and protecting developers. The demise of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority is quite apt in this context. I wish I could say we have learned our lessons but I am not sure.

The Bill before us goes some way to rescue the authority. It might put it on the path originally intended. We have had other authorities in the city which, by the way they were established, managed to bypass the normal planning laws. It was believed that this was the way forward for the greater good of a local area. I refer to the Digital Hub in my constituency, which is a victim of the property crash. Many of its plans and many of the plans through which the Government and its backers sold the idea to the local area are now in tatters. They were put on hold for the long term. We do not see cranes building up the Digital Hub as promised despite the fact that many factories seek to locate there. Even in these recessionary times they seek office space in the hub. The companies contracted to build received land in return and are legally obliged to have these plans delivered by a set date. That will not happen.

What is the situation with the Dublin Docklands Development Authority? It was given special planning powers that were used irresponsibly, allowed many developers to slip through planning and allowed them to waive the requirement for 20% social and affordable housing that was an obligation elsewhere. Developers were granted planning permission by the Dublin Docklands Development Authority, with the obligation to provide 20% of social affordable housing, but applied for an extension to the planning permission to make them exempt. This scandal must be examined. If this Bill is accepted, the Comptroller and Auditor General can investigate this to ensure the taxpayer is getting value for money and that nothing untoward will happen again. I believe it has happened.

Some of those appointed to the Dublin Docklands Development Authority had to resign very quickly because of involvement in tax schemes and tax shelters, even though they were later said to have broken no law and to have acted in good faith. The fact that these people were chosen to sit on an authority speaks volumes. That so many on the authority seemed to be under the influence of Anglo Irish Bank, with many on the bank's board, shows the backhanders and scandal that have yet to emerge in respect of all that was wrong and evil in Anglo Irish Bank. We have not seen half of it yet. If this Government is not willing to fully expose it, I hope a future Government will have the documentation to prove the extent of corruption at that level in our banking system.

Work remains to be done in the docklands area and other areas of the city. Major rejuvenation and regeneration is desperately needed in the docklands area. I hope that when we come out the other end of this economic crisis, we will see those areas targeted primarily for social and economic rejuvenation. Economic rejuvenation of these areas should be focused on the local people, those who were left behind by the Celtic tiger. Whatever happens should be planned properly, sustainable and not dependent on developers and the false money they were spending on the likes of the Irish Glass Bottle site, Jurys Hotel and other so-called prime development sites on which ridiculous figures were spent.

Hopefully, although I doubt it, we will hear the Minister of Finance explain tomorrow how he plans to regenerate areas of Dublin's inner city and inner city areas in other parts of the State. Perhaps he will tell us how he plans to rejuvenate the economy and provide a stimulus package that has been provided in other countries. It is working in other countries, or at least helping to get them out of the recession. I have seen a lack of understanding by the Government of the need to get this economy working. In order to do so, one must employ people. Time and time again in the past year and a half, we have seen a concentration on cutting pay and cutting social welfare rather than planning to invest and planning to rebuild the economy.

I welcome this Bill and I hope the Minister can accept its intent. Perhaps he can go beyond it, by ensuring that whatever authority we have in the future is properly reflective of the society in that area. The Dublin Docklands Development Authority never fully reflected the north inner city or the south inner city area. It never reflected the normal people, their wishes or their demands for the future. It did not reflect their dreams but it should have. If it had, we might have had something more sustainable and something that could remain intact so that we could see building and other work happening in the docklands area. Given its location and its access to the city and the sea, there is major potential for tourism. However, the Dublin Docklands Development Authority concentrated on ensuring that more and more apartments were built and that more office space was built even though the demand did not exist. It was clear to anyone involved in city planning that there was an oversupply of apartments and an oversupply of office space yet no one called a halt, not even the Dublin Docklands Development Authority.

We need sustainable planning and we must ensure that whatever happens in the future is properly planned, sustainable and that social housing is provided equivalent to the level of need in the area. There should be enterprise units available at low cost to local residents. There should be a proper transport plan and the Irish language should be recognised. The Dublin Docklands Development Authority never seemed to recognise the Irish language. Any of the signs erected in the area, including one that referred to An Droichead Seán Ó Cathasaigh, were in English only. I urge the Minister to adopt this Bill.

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