Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister but I cannot welcome the provisions of the Bill. I take up Senator Quinn's point and ask why this Bill is being rushed through the House. Some time ago we were given a list of Bills which were to be dealt with before Christmas but this Bill was certainly not on the list. What is the motivation behind the Government's introducing and rushing through these amendments in this manner? I heard some speakers say the provisions of Part V of the Act were working and others say they were not. Were they seriously given a chance to work? It is intended that the two year withering rule will be scrapped, which really means that it will be extended to five years. At whose behest is it being scrapped? I suggest it is at the behest of builders and developers. If the Planning and Development Act, 2000, was not amended for another six months, it would force builders and local authorities to bite the bullet and deal with the issue as the Minister envisaged.

If the scheme under Part V of the 2000 Act is working well in some local authorities areas, as was stated, why is it not working in other local authority areas? Is it due to a lack of co-operation or to developers and others in the construction industry sitting on land while waiting on the Government to change the legislation knowing that it would do so? While I am in favour of amending any legislation that would increase the supply of houses in the marketplace, I question the Government's motivation in this regard.

The Government's policy on housing has been disastrous and described as such by many commentators. All one need do is note the increase in the number on local authority housing lists. It is a disgrace that during the past five years, a time of plenty, we were not able to provide for our young people looking for houses or the homeless. That is the record over which the Government stands.