Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)

This measure is so broad and wide-sweeping that when the chickens come home to roost, it will affect many councillors. Regardless of whether they represent Fine Gael or the Labour Party or are Independent, they will regret the manner in which this broad and trawling legislation will affect rural Ireland. It will not affect towns or urban areas, but it will affect once-off rural housing. This legislation suggests a person can adversely affect the countryside or a place of special interest. A house which has stood for 40 years without affecting anyone will, under this law, all of a sudden adversely affect the countryside or a place of special interest. This is a serious issue and there is no point in sidestepping it. It is completely against the spirit of allowing once-off houses in rural Ireland and will affect many areas I used to represent and elsewhere. IT will sound the death knell for rural communities.