Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This is a very interesting petition and we should welcome any petitions to the committee, but we need to be cognisant of our role. We are not here to adjudicate on particular grievances between individuals or, in this case, between a company and a local authority.

There is a sense that this might point to broader policy issues regarding the role a county council may play or the way in which it may use its authority or resources in a way which is beneficial to itself but perhaps to the detriment of another private operator. I propose that the committee write to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, which oversees the implementation of county development plans, to investigate how the individual planning consultant was hired to oversee this report on the signage in the county. It is a case of ensuring this was carried out in an appropriate manner and that the proper procedures were followed. It could be argued that this happens in every county and, therefore, we need to ensure there is a level playing field for everyone involved.