Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Many of the issues we have brought up relate to county councillors and the Minister might be forgiven for thinking that we are in some way pandering to our electorate. Two of my sisters live on flood plains. One lives in fear every year because the water gets as far as her front door but has not yet crossed it. The other watches it in a field behind her house, coming close to her. There is no getting away from the fact that some of the zoning decisions were almost as criminal as were some of the planning decisions.

What the Minister is trying to do here is genuinely good stuff. He is trying to do something about housing and we want to support him. At the same time there is a genuine concern on our part that we do not bypass the people who should have the local knowledge, the local councillors. I will not dwell on the fees issue. The Minister understands why we are making that point. We are not trying to obstruct him but to assist him and to make sure the Bill passes smoothly over the next couple of days and that he can get on with the job he wants to do. He should please not take our criticisms or comments as in some way politicising this. It is genuinely trying to move things forward and to make sure that when this is all over and done with we will not be accused of dropping the ball on our side.