Joe O'Toole (Independent)

Many things are still wrong. Last week, I could no longer watch the nine o'clock news when a representative of the building industry began to articulate his concerns about first-time buyers. We have reached a pretty pass when the building industry can get headlines on the nine o'clock news by voicing concern about house buyers. The Bill demonstrates the influence, power and authority the industry wields. This will not be allowed to continue because at some stage the flow of emotion people feel on the issue will burst its banks.

The criticism of the Government regarding its decision in the Estimates to abolish the first-time buyer's grant was the first occasion on which people had the opportunity to show their anger. While I still object to the decision, I raise my hands and admit I have voiced my dislike of the first-time buyer's grant in the past. While the grant was not the most appropriate way of proceeding, many of us did not want it to be removed because it was the only such measure in place.

I have heard the Taoiseach use the phrases "the big five" or "the big six" when referring to the people who own the vast bulk of building development land in County Dublin. When the notion that such a group existed was first mooted a couple of years ago, people claimed it was pie in the sky. This is correct in terms of identifying them, but the group is a reality. In this regard, I ask people to consider how difficult it was to establish the identity of the beneficial owners of Jackson Way. Despite the efforts of the greatest powers in the land, many of us would be prepared to bet considerable sums that the beneficial owners of the company have still not been identified. I have no doubt there exists a signed and dated letter, in which the writer names a person as the beneficial owner and transfers to that person the equity of the company. The terms of the transaction would require that the document determining beneficial status only be displayed in public when necessary.

All the development land in County Dublin and other counties is in the hands of a small group of people. I will provide some examples. I live in a part of north County Dublin which has significant farmland. Well known builders and developers have a lean on property all around the area in which I reside. This may not be written down or registered in the Land Registry, but it is a deal which has been done between a farmer or landowner and a developer. It means that the developer pays the landowner a sum of money in order that he is given first call on the land if it is rezoned. This is happening all over the place and one of the worst things about it is the blatant manner in which it is done.