James Bannon (Fine Gael)

Will the Leader invite the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to this House to debate rural planning? In Sligo three years ago, the Taoiseach promised radical changes in this area. He has lost credibility on this issue because nothing has happened to date. We heard the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, huffing and puffing about this issue at the national ploughing championships last week. One would not believe this Government has been in power for nine years. As the general election approaches, it is trying to make an issue out of something it did not deal with while in Government.