Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The mountain fell down but thank God it did not fall on top of anyone as there would have been an even greater calamity. I am aware that matter is the subject of a court case as well.

The approach to this Bill is totally anathema to good governance and good legislation. It smacks of pure disrespect for the Opposition and everybody else. It will be wide open for legal challenges.

I am in favour of houses being built and everything else but I am not in favour of the big conglomerates building numerous houses. They can get ease of access to planning and adjust it as they go along. That is not good legislation either. We must think of the small people, na daoine beaga, who want to build a house. I know of at least 20 young couples in my county who have the wherewithal to build a house and have a site but cannot get planning to build one in the middle of a housing crisis. There are many things that could have been addressed in this Bill and they have not been.

I will leave it at that for the moment. I am very disappointed at the way this Bill has come to us. The Minister of State might give me an explanation, if he can, as to why it was the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, who was here last week dealing with this legislation. I have nothing against him but he is at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. It only added insult to injury.

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