Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

That is the first thing. Secondly, under the current regulations it is two refusals, not one. I know the Deputy is proposing three but it currently provides for two refusals and it is in the householder's area of choice. The purpose of prescribing the appropriate period in regulations, as opposed to primary legislation, is to allow for flexibility to change should that become appropriate. It can be changed under the current system, which is by way of regulation, rather than putting it into primary legislation. I favour that because it allows us to change it if necessary. As I said, at the moment it is two refusals and it has to meet the household's needs.

See this speech in context