Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I hear what Senator Coffey has to say and he would not resist me too strongly when I say that obviously there is a need to be concerned about the idea of any costs being passed on to buyers but it is like the debate on whether people exist for the economy or the economy for people. We can say the same about development. We have just lived through a period where people existed to suit developers whereas development should be at the service of the community and the needs of people.

Senator Coffey was right to raise the issue of flooding. The amendment of section 48(17)(c) of the principal Act, which specifically refers to the inclusion of water mains and flood relief works in section 24(a) is highly topical and welcome and ultimately focused on addressing people's needs. We are talking about developers' levies but here we are talking about the extension of the potential application of the funds to come from such levies in favour of communities and much needed amenities. It would be more than within the spirit of the Bill with regard to the needs of communities and the well-being of people given the concerns there are about obesity and that we need to encourage active lifestyles in the school curricula in terms of how much time children spend doing physical education during the school week, developing public spaces to encourage people to be active for their benefit and, ultimately, for the economic benefit of the State. If we have healthier citizens there will be less of a drain down the line on our health services and on the Exchequer.

That is why I hoped that in the spirit of the topicality of the Bill, as in the inclusion of flood relief work, this specific proposal by Senator Quinn would be taken on board. The Minister of State says it is not necessary, but that is not the test. The question he should ask himself is if such a section would do any harm. I have not heard from the Minister of State that it would. If it would not, surely a public policy objective would be achieved by stitching into the legislation this important social objective. I have not been shown how Senator Quinn's amendment would bring about undesired consequences. The Minister has not given the House a reason why the subsection should not be added.