Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her reply. I say simply this: the time for action has come. We have done all the talking. This has been going on for ten years, and that is long enough. The softly-softly approach adopted by the local authority is no longer acceptable. The local authority is deemed to have all the responsibility in this area. Therefore, it is time to bring all the bodies together and find out who is stalling, why the stalling is taking place and why it has gone on for so long. We have already waited too long. There are several property arbitrators, as the Minister of State said - at least seven - all helpers. If there is a problem or some logjam in that office, we should deal with it now. There is no use waiting for another ten years.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa has drawn particular attention to a certain part of Italy, with great acclaim and great admiration. The leaning towers of Naas have brought nothing but ridicule to us, as public representatives, and, through no fault of the people who live there, to the town itself. I do not care whose feelings get hurt in this business. Enough is enough. Time marches on. It is time now for those who have responsibility to come forward, make a clean break and let something start as and from now. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this issue again, I thank the Minister of State and I appreciate the Acting Chairman's forbearance in the course of the debate. However, I hope I do not have to bring this matter to the attention of the House again. Enough is enough. Now let us see some action from all those who are responsible and who are doing the town of Naas a great disservice.

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