Joe McHugh (Fine Gael)

We are all singing from the same hymn sheet regarding planning guidelines and trying to accommodate and facilitate people in rural communities. That is what we all want to do. Without people, there can be no communities. We have been requesting a debate on planning, rural housing and once-off housing for approximately 18 months.

The Minister and members of the Fianna Fáil Party stated that Fine Gael is not in favour of rural housing. That is not the truth. We are in favour of rural housing and we are trying to engage in a debate on the matter.

Planning is not an exact science. We have all served on local authorities and we know about the difficulties involved in obtaining planning permission, the fights with planners, etc. We are trying to engage in a debate in order that people in rural areas will be facilitated.

I wish to comment on the process which led to Fianna Fáil using its recent Ard-Fheis as a local election launch pad in terms of the announcement of once-off housing. When did the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting in Sligo take place?