Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Have the public hearings and the other measures that have been brought in improved the speed of the process? I have worked with those business people and I understand the pressures they are under. Many of them would not be able to cope with public hearings. We are elected to represent all. I have major concerns that the balance would be lost. Mr. Smyth spoke about extra resources and bringing in other types of informal arrangements. What can be done to speed up the appeals system? From what the witnesses have said, it is open to abuse because of the time period, even within the appeals process. Is there a need to examine the appeal process first and get it working efficiently before considering the public hearings?