In it together

I AM sure Environment Minister Dick Roche’s move to overturn all the zoning for thousands of houses in Laois will send a clear message to the landowners and developers, and to Laois’s Fine Gael councillors who approved the plan.

Whatever the landowners and developers used to ‘convince’ Laois’s Fine Gael councillors, Mr Roche made it clear they should have spent some effort and resources to ‘convince’ him too.

Although FG councillors may have enough influence locally to ignore their Fianna Fáil counterparts, it would be sensible to ensure these other councillors are also appropriately ‘convinced’ so the support is communicated to Mr Roche. If everyone learns their lesson all will go smoothly and Mr Roche will not have to repeat his action. All will be happier except overcharged house buyers.