Ms Valerie Freeman:

In regard to the appeals process, one of the requirements is that it should not be prohibitively expensive. Currently, the only way to appeal a procedure or substantive legality of a decision is to take the matter to the High Court, which is prohibitively expensive. This would not serve the purpose. I do not know how this will be worked out. It is another issue in regard to the strategic infrastructure designation. Under land based planning, An Bord Pleanála is the appeals body, which works well. If An Bord Pleanála is to be the granting body, this leaves us without a body to whom one can make an appeal. This is an issue that will have to be addressed. The various issues relating to the strategic environmental assessment directive to which I referred and which were also addressed by the Heritage Council are mandatory requirements and need to be addressed.