Affordable housing and land concentration
Sargent called for action on housing costs and concentrated land ownership, asking whether anti-cartel measures would be introduced. The Tánaiste said a report was due and that separate infrastructure legislation was advancing.
It is difficult to have an orderly Dáil when the Government shows such disorder. The Chair should bear that in mind.
I raise a matter that is related in that it is tied to corruption, namely, the lack of affordable housing. This is an issue which requires a clear plan of action. Housing costs hang an unmanageable debt around the necks of many people, represent the legacy of corruption and bad planning, and sentence many people to a life without health facilities, schools and public transport.
Yesterday on "Prime Time", we had two different Government views. Which is the Tánaiste's view? The chairman of the All-Party Committee on the Constitution, Deputy O'Donovan, advocated the Kenny report and stated that there are major problems, referring to the hoarding of land by a few super-rich developers. He said the situation is like the oil fields of Iraq, with land as the oil field of Ireland. He also said 13 Governments have hidden behind the threat of legislation being challenged in the courts and that the matter is now in the lap of the Government, with the committee calling for legislation, not a referendum.
On the other hand, we had the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, saying he thinks we need to proceed carefully because the Constitution protects property rights. Is he not confusing the rights of ownership with the rights of development? Is the Minister of State correct in saying that individuals who own land are entitled to get the full market price?
Does the Tánaiste agree there is a need to clarify this? Is it not ironic that the Taoiseach is absent today because of matters arising from corruption in the planning process, matters which caused the Mahon tribunal to be established? Of the two views expressed, which is the Tánaiste's? When will we have legislation on the matter?
Comment on this
As the Deputy is aware, the report is to be published today. I did not see "Prime Time" last night which I understand covered the matter extensively. Like others in the House, I have had the opportunity to read the report because it was given to party leaders. It is an excellent one and I hope we can act on it quickly.
Clearly, all rights are subject to the common good in this area. I respect property rights, as do most people in the country. Ownership is important, but we must also act in the common good. The Kenny report has been in existence for some time and the committee has made recommendations, on an all-party basis, on a way forward. I hope we can act collectively to carry those through sooner rather than later.
Comment on this
It is a long time back to 1973 if we are talking about sooner rather than later with the Kenny report. As someone who talks about the need to counter cartels and have competition, does the Tánaiste agree that it is normal for anti-trust measures to operate against cartels? Should measures not be introduced forthwith to prevent development plans being monopolised? The Tánaiste will know of a situation where one developer had 1,500 acres of housing sites and paid €105 million for 208 acres in Belcamp recently. Will there be legislation in this area before the Government rushes an infrastructure Bill through, given the close connection between corruption in planning and the possibility of further corruption if there is legislation which does not take the committee's recommendations into consideration? Will such legislation take precedence over the infrastructure Bill? Is it acceptable that the planning system facilitates hoarding? This situation is at least as urgent as the immigration referendum which the Government is trying to rush through in advance of everything else.
Comment on this
The infrastructure Bill is a separate matter and relates to expediting the planning process, which everyone would favour. One does not need long periods of time to get the right decision. That Bill is being acted upon. It will go to Cabinet shortly and will be advanced by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. On the other matter, the report is being published today and I hope we can consider it quickly.
