Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

----- and they acquired that land for a tenner. That is one of the most extraordinary land deals that has ever happened in the State. It is the most extraordinary one that I have ever seen and I have studied it very carefully.

The Minister said last night that he is considering the matter. This and other serious matters in Wicklow require more than the consideration of the Minister. They need to be investigated by an independent planning regulator and that is why we need the independent office. The Minister of State made reference to the fact that he does not want to create different agencies and offices. Neither do we, but if the Government is going to create an office, it might as well be independent. It is still just the one office. It does not need to have 100 people in it, but it does need to be independent.

If the Government is going to create the office, it should give it powers.

A Deputy referred to Priory Hall and its building standards. Sinn Féin has been 100% clear on this matter. Among the first elected representatives to take up the issue were local Sinn Féin representatives. What happened at Priory Hall was a scandal and should never be allowed to recur. Those who had any role in it, be it the developer or anyone else, should be held to account. They were described as cowboys, but I would go further and describe them as buachaillí bó. Such situations have no place in a republic.

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