Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are not limiting the right of people to make submissions on planning applications. I am sure the Deputy will engage in the pre-legislative scrutiny process that will get under way when the bill is published. The Government has taken a multipronged approach to tackling the housing crisis. On the issue of speculators and hoarding and so on, as the Deputy has described it, a zoned land tax is being introduced. There is also a vacant property tax. Yesterday, the Cabinet approved the general scheme of a land value sharing levy or tax as well. The Government is addressing all of those issues, in addition to scaling up the investment through our local authorities and approved housing bodies, putting in place new affordable housing streams to increase supply. However, there is no getting away from the fact that we do need to reform our planning system. We have a choice to make. We can come in and complain about the lack of housing-----

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