Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will respond briefly. The primary objective of this Bill is to stimulate activity on sites that are of high potential in areas of high demand. The objective, essentially, is not to put levies on sites but to stimulate activity. It is a carrot and stick approach, and this is the stick element. I believe it is fair and reasonable that due process be allowed for any owners of sites. We must remember that many of these sites may have been lying idle for many years and it takes time for local authorities to reassess their local town and city development plans, identify these sites and then engage with the various stakeholders and the owners involved. We have to allow for due process in terms of allowing sufficient time for the owners to come back to the local authorities with their plans for those sites. We all know as public representatives that it takes time from concept to design to planning permission to construction. We believe that by flagging these levies now the establishment of the register will go ahead and they will be charged from 2018 but they will apply the following year. That is a reasonable approach and it gives due process and time for the owners of these sites to come forward with proposals on how they propose to bring them back into beneficial use. We believe it is adequate and appropriate in the circumstances.

See this speech in context