Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

I ask the Acting Chairman to please tell me when I am in breach of the rules but when I want to tell the truth there is one place to say it and that is here and nowhere else. I repeat we must fundamentally change our planning process and we must make that change now because if we do not do so, this will continue on for generations. The only way to do it is to expose the rank corruption that exists in public life and to draw a line between what has happened in the past and what will happen in the future. The only way to do this is by discussing the issue here in this House and taking up the good points made by all Members.

On the question of archaeology, I was referring to the case involving the Drogheda Grammar School which was demolished in the middle of the night. The law was changed as a result of my action and that of my friend. We put our own money into it. We had no choice because we believed in what we were doing as we believe in what we are doing today.

Brú na Bóinne is a national heritage site and if not a unique world site is certainly unique in western Europe. I do not have a problem with protecting every bit of it. If local people want to build on that site, I do not have a problem if the criteria and protocols are laid down. If a local authority decides a person can build a house in a particular location it should apply criteria to the permission and site impact and lay down guidelines so that people know what will be permitted. The National Roads Authority seems to have a death wish to involve communities in strife over where roads are to be built. This was evident at the Tara site and it will now happen over Brú na Bóinne and this does not make sense. Roads should be built as far away as possible from a national heritage site, whatever the cost. In the case of the controversy over Tara, I do not understand why the National Roads Authority did not opt for a route that avoided the site. It might have been the most expensive option and it might have necessitated building an additional bridge because of the contours of the road, but it should have been done because it was the option with the least impact on the archaeological heritage of the area.

There are positive and negative aspects of the Bill. I have been seriously critical in the past of the national spatial strategy, mainly because a coach and four was put through it, with certain areas that were not designated growth centres seeing massive expansion and areas that were designated for growth undergoing no development. The Government must review the strategy without delay. For example, the greater Drogheda area, as I call it, should be taken out of the Border, midland and western, BMW, region and incorporated into the greater Dublin area. We must look realistically at where development has taken place; it will not do simply to impose the footprint of the existing strategy on the realities of modern Ireland and hope the two will fit together. I am not confident that the provisions regarding regional plans based on the spatial strategy will be effective. They have not been effective in the past because the national strategy was entirely ignored. We must begin all over if we are to get it right. Above all there must be transparency and accountability in the planning process.

I thank the Minister of State for listening to my contribution. There must be fundamental and absolute change. More of the same is not acceptable.

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