Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

What did Senators and the Minister of State talk about?

After the three-year period expires, there will be an option under the legislation for the Minister to extend the period for a further two years. The measure will be subject to lot of scrutiny to see whether it has been effective. There will be many opportunities for the Minister to attend debates in both Houses. I have been here three times to debate the topic of housing. Therefore, I am slow to introduce the concept of an independent review unless it is absolutely necessary to do so. There will be a good understanding on the part of the Minister - whether it is me or whoever will be in my place - of whether the measure is working. It will be the prerogative of the Minister of the day to use his or her judgment in deciding whether it should be extended by a further two years. We are talking about a further two years, which means a maximum period of five years. It will then fall. There will be appropriate political scrutiny. Any Minister worth his or her salt will make a case for an extension. I sense we do not need to put in place another formal independent review process when both Houses will have an opportunity to scrutinise the measure which I suspect will happen long before the three-year period lapses. I envisage being here next year talking about whether the number of planning applications is up, whether developers are using the facilities being provided for and how Bord Pleanála and the local authorities have responded to the measure. I have a lot of sympathy for Senator Victor Boyhan's other amendment, but on amendment No. 2, I am slow at this stage to commit to having an independent formal review process as we will be able to judge the effectivenes of the new measure after it has been up and running for a period. I am not sure, therefore, that the amendment is needed. A Minister might well decide to enhance the case for an extension, but that will be a judgment call for him or her to make in a couple of years time. I do not mean to be unhelpful, but what I have outlined is fair.