Sargent says land speculators of today would appal Davitt

Parnell Summer School:Michael Davitt would be appalled by the new form of landlordism in Ireland today, with wealthy speculators earning obscene prices for land and putting housing out of the reach of families, the Parnell Summer School heard yesterday.

The theme of this year's event in Avondale, Co Wicklow, is Forgotten Hero: Michael Davitt and Irish Democracy.

Green Party leader Trevor Sargent asked what Davitt would say to a government that allowed a landowner to make nearly €200 million instead of €2 million after his land was rezoned from agricultural use.

"The main difference between Davitt's time and today is the consequence of being unable to pay for your own home," he said. "Today, there is no constabulary with bayonets and swords and the people are not generally barefoot.

"However, I have no doubt that in many households, payments are falling behind but the banks are not repossessing the houses in question. In a way, Davitt has shown the banks today that eviction can sometimes be more trouble than it's worth."

He pointed to the 1973 Kenny report on the price of building land, which recommended a windfall tax on development land. It also said local authorities should be able to acquire development land at its existing value plus 25 per cent. Yet 33 years later, the Kenny report was unimplemented, he said.

Mr Sargent said he spoke to the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, before the Dáil summer recess about implementing the report, and Mr Ahern gave a positive response. "I have my doubts that it will be done but I live in hope."

Pat Rabbitte, the Labour Party leader, said Davitt would be "enraged" at how the native authorities were being derelict in their duty to ensure the orderly development of people-friendly communities.

"Instead we have deserted villages, imploding cities, new poverty traps, bleeding of the public purse by private interests and unaffordable housing."

IFA president Pádraig Walshe said one of the legacies of Davitt was that farmers would strongly oppose any move by the Government to restrict their right to sell land freely.

While fixity of tenure was one of the "three Fs" fought for by Michael Davitt, farmers had no right to fixity of tenure now, he said, as the preponderance of 11- month rental agreements meant that tenants could be dislodged on a yearly basis.

Fine Gael education spokeswoman Olwyn Enright said Michael Davitt's role in history had not been given the attention it deserved.