Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Tá áthas orm labhairt ar an rún seo inniu. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta McGrath agus a fhoireann a rinne sárobair ar an mBille seo. Members may recall that the famous UK Labour Party parliamentarian, Tony Benn, developed five questions which he proposed should be at the heart of any democratic process when it comes to holding the powerful to account. These questions apply equally to institutions that wield power over the public, such as An Taisce. I will remind the House of those five questions. What power have you got? Where did you get it from? In whose interests do you use it? To whom are you accountable? How do we get rid of you? These questions point to issues that are at the heart of our Private Members' Bill here today. Whatever our individual views on An Taisce, we should all ask in whose interests does it use its power.

The perception is that in much of rural Ireland, especially within rural industry and housing, An Taisce does not appear to wield its power for the benefit of the people in rural communities. In fact, it is quite the opposite. The sense is that there is another agenda at play because it prioritises environmental ambition over the economic and social needs of our constituents. We saw that most recently in the case of the Glanbia cheese plant, which my colleagues have referenced. All of us spoke against what was happening, which was to stop economic progress and to cause farming families more distress if An Taisce had got its way there.

Far too much power is being wielded by what are essentially untouchable organisations, NGO after NGO. Indeed, An Taisce is a notable NGO with far too much power. It stands in the way of progress. These NGOs are lavishly funded by the taxpayer to the tune of €6 billion per year. Does the Minister of State believe it is right that the Government left businesses high and dry and could not reduce the VAT rate to allow cafés and restaurants to keep their doors open and people employed when it was able to find €6 billion of taxpayers' money to throw at NGOs like An Taisce, which stands in the way of economic progress and progress being made in rural Ireland? How is that right? It is disgraceful. It is more wastage of taxpayers' money. Hopefully, the taxpayers will give the Government their answer come the general election. I believe they will give it a resounding answer. We see NGOs being lavishly funded against the wishes of the people. I know many businesses that, unfortunately, will be closing their doors after the Government prioritised NGOs over them. During recent referendums, we saw €23 million of taxpayers' money squandered because the NGOs had too much influence.

There is not enough regulation. We see the likes of An Taisce constantly doing harm and causing people, businesses and communities distress. I call this out as being wrong. I have addressed this issue often. There needs to be far more regulation of NGOs. There is an assumption that bodies like An Taisce and other excessively interventionist organisations do not really have the common interest at heart because they are detached to a large degree from the real world in which building centres of employment and rural housing is seen for what it is, namely, a great social good. They view it differently.

Tony Benn also asked, "How do we get rid of you?". This Bill is the answer to that question. We want the path cleared for rural development, both social and economic. We want the likes of An Taisce out of the way. We are sick of their constant obstruction. We do not want agencies using or abusing their considerable legal clout to hamper or obstruct housing or economic development. We are presenting a reasonable case with a reasonable solution to what we feel has become a culture of regulatory over-reach. Objecting to developments in rural areas has almost become a reflex for some organisations. It has become a hobby. It is a dangerous reflex, but they are funded to do this. It needs to be reined in. As an Independent TD in Offaly, I will continue calling for these organisations to be reined in.

There is a serious imbalance in the power relationship between those who want to progress development and those who see every rural factory as a threat to the planet, almost as if the world will stop if a factory gets built. This is crazy stuff. It is nonsense and it needs to stop. We need a clear dose of common sense to return. We need to move away from the fearful and ultracautious mindset that would have you believe the world will burn if we build a Glanbia co-op cheese plant in rural Kilkenny. I have seen too much of this nonsense in my constituency with Banagher Chilling. What is happening is standing in the way of progress and needs to be resisted. If rural TDs in government are serious about economic development, they should put their money where their mouths are and take money from NGOs and give it to businesses.

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