Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

I agree with the remarks of Senators Alex White, Déirdre de Búrca and David Norris on the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. We have suspected fishy business, so to speak, for quite a while and a number of decisions seemed rather questionable. Senator Norris has been strong on this matter and I have agreed with him. I support today's call for a debate on the matter with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and I hope the Deputy Leader can arrange it.

It is appropriate that the Deputy Leader is taking questions today because I have one that I know he will be able to answer fully. What is the rationale behind the recent decision, if it is a decision, on Part V of the Planning and Development Act dealing with social and affordable housing, as amended in 2002? I understood that as a result of the amendment a builder or developer could give money or land in lieu of setting aside 20% of a development for social and affordable housing or provide houses elsewhere. There has been comment on this recently. I believe it will lead to segregation, something the Deputy Leader's party opposed in the past. If a developer provides money in lieu, it takes a local authority time to find suitable land on which to spend it, hence frequent long delays in the provision of social and affordable housing.

I wrote about this matter recently and am concerned that a country as small as ours can see such unevenness in the application of the rules in various local authorities. I have great faith in the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy John Gormley, and I know he means well with respect to many issues in my home county, not least Killarney House and sea eagles. I am concerned about this issue however, and know there is no better man than Senator Boyle to explain the rationale behind what is going on and where the matter is headed.