Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am very disappointed with that reply. The Minister of State mentioned that timber was not a problem. One of the two reasons the person I am referring to was twice refused planning permission by the county council had to do with the nature and aesthetics of the structure. That means the timber. Negotiations are ongoing and he has been told that if he plasters or renders it, he might get planning permission. That is baloney. We are approaching Easter Sunday - Domhnach Cásca - when we will celebrate our freedom fighters who gave their lives in 1916. A week later, we will celebrate Liam Lynch, who lost his life only 15 miles away from the case I am raising. Despite all of that, this is what the Minister of State is telling the Irish people. We can introduce regulations allowing people to come into Ireland from a war-torn country - I have no problem with that - but we cannot introduce regulations for our own citizens. What is wrong with our Government? What is wrong with our people?

The Minister of State is wrong. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, informed me in the Dáil that he had written to Tipperary County Council asking it to relax the guidelines, but he had not. I was misled in the Dáil. He had not written to the council at all. What is wrong with our people that we cannot allow them this? I am dealing with a number of people who have removed these beautiful log cabins. I have a man from Galbally in the Minister of State's constituency in contact with me. These people are all over the country. I estimate there are up to 10,000 of them, so instead of 15,000 people being homeless, we will have 25,000. What is this Government thinking as we approach Easter week? What of the gallant men of 1916 and 1921-23? My goodness, to do this to Irish men and women in the name of dead generations. The Minister of State is from a rural constituency, so he is well aware of the issue. I mentioned the man from Galbally, but in the Tipperary man's case, he had fallen on tough times and was separated. The standard that Tipperary County Council wishes to apply in respect of local need is ridiculous and too high. The Minister of State and his officials need to consider this matter because-----

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