Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

If legislation is to have any relevance, it should at least attempt to set out the minimum best practice. That is what Deputy Ellis has done with his amendment, which provides for not less than three refusals. The Minister of State has accepted that circumstances arise in which certain local authorities are giving less than three options. What is wrong with amending the legislation to include "not less than three"?

Like other speakers, I am growing concerned by the Minister of State's refusal to accept any amendment. One wonders whether we are engaged in a process of futility. A strong case has been made and the amendment stands on its merits. We are referring to reasonable offers. We all share the experiences that previous speakers have outlined. There are also unreasonable refusals and we need to take action in that regard. I recall a case in which a lady told me she was not taking up the offer of a local authority house because the garden was not big enough for her trampoline. While we have to stand up in such cases to say that the response is not on, Deputy Ellis made a reasonable proposal and I appeal to the Minister of State to have regard for it.

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