Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

On a professional basis and as a former member of Dublin City Council, he knows exactly what went wrong. He and Deputy Gogarty had the opportunity today, after making their St. Augustine remarks, to say they would support this Bill and assert the Green Party in Government, rather than operating as Pontius Pilate on accountability in the House. They know in their heart and soul that this Bill seeks to do the right thing for the taxpayer. The reason they are satisfied not to do it, however, is that they do no want investigation, accountability or redress from those who caused this problem.

I do not believe the Dublin Docklands Development Authority, which has been responsible over ten or 12 years for this problem, is the body to step back from financial ruin and resolve the issues. Those who caused the problem have great difficulty in solving it because there are so many vested interests and a pressing need to vindicate their previous actions. An independent assessment, therefore, of matters in the Dublin Docklands Development Authority is necessary. What better mechanism than the Comptroller and Auditor General, the mechanism set up by this House in 1922 to ensure these matters are fully investigated and that has stood the test of time and where Members of this House can participate as the independent accountancy and auditing arm of the State?

I agree with Deputy Cyprian Brady that there were positive developments in the community and social regeneration. The big boys in Anglo Irish Bank and the board of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority should be his target. They lost control of the organisations original objectives and used the property development and planning function for their own ends.

I want to see those who hijacked the organisation and caused these problems brought to book. I want to see redress, with those who were on the board of this company scrutinised. If they cannot be brought to book through proper structures, we are telling them they got away with again. The nod and wink philosophy particularly evident in the transactions and policies on the property development side of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority must stop.

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has a great opportunity to ensure that there will be proper investigation of financial probity and the accountability structure in this House and to allow the Dublin Docklands Development Authority and the people responsible for placing a burden of €213 million on the taxpayer to be brought to account. He should support this Bill and let it pass Second Stage. The Dublin Docklands Development Authority should function under the same structures as all other State agencies.

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