Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)

The banking inquiry reports published last week made little, if any, mention of the role of local authorities.

Although local authorities must take their share of the blame for giving irresponsible and unwarranted planning permissions which fuelled the housing bubble that led to part of the crisis we now face, I can assure the House that the Government is reforming the planning system and we will ensure that such catastrophic housing bubbles will not happen again.

There is a good quote that I have used many times in my political life: "The world isn't interested in the storms you encountered, but whether or not you brought in the ship." Coming from a seafaring family I know that rough seas make good sailors. On this side of the House we are good sailors and we are bringing the ship of State safely through.

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