Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I welcome the Minister but I am not sure I can welcome the Bill. I have learnt in my time as a Senator to be highly suspicious of Bills which pop out of nowhere, especially in the run-up to Christmas. Perhaps I have a naturally suspicious mind. I have also learnt to be highly suspicious of Bills which are to be passed in a rush before Christmas. I understand we are expected to dispose of the Bill by tomorrow so that the Dáil can take the Second Stage on Thursday. What is going on?

At the beginning of the session, the Government circulated a list of 15 Bills it would publish before Christmas. This Bill was not among them. Neither was it in the list of Bills whose heads had been agreed by Government or in the list of Bills that were at an earlier stage of the legislative process. What we have is a type of virgin birth, so to speak.

In looking for guidance, I consulted An Agreed Programme for Government to see if it would shine a light on the mystery of this birth. Under the section entitled "Housing", the programme lists a series of 14 individual commitments under the general promise: "We will implement a multi-stranded approach to addressing housing needs right across the spectrum." Towards the end of the list and 13th out of 14 commitments – one would need patience to find it – is a two-pronged commitment which states:

We will review the operation of the Planning and Development Act to ensure that it is meeting the objectives for which it was enacted with particular reference to social and affordable housing.

In order to minimise the disruption to supply we will ensure that where planning applications become necessary because of the 2 year withering requirement, set maximum application and appeals timings will apply.