Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

Section 253 of the Act already gives an authorised person power to enter a premises in relation to the enforcement of planning control. For the avoidance of any doubt, a reference to land is also being added, that is, the power to "enter a premises or on land" is now being specified in the section. Each reference to a premises in which the section is being replaced by a reference to "a premises or on land". The purpose of this amendment is to remove any doubt that the powers of entry extend to the power to enter onto land where there might not be a building, that is, in an extract of industry for the purpose of any enforcement provisions of the Planning Act. That is to say, in case it could have been considered that the word "premises" could not encompass land with no buildings on it, the word "land" is being added in each case. This is to ensure that there can be full access to all relevant places for the purpose of planning control.