Mr. Niall Cussen:

We have used our powers on a number of occasions down through the years. For example, on inappropriate zoning and policy decisions that we thought would create long-term serious repercussions.

I remind members of this committee that this country uses a third party planning appeals system and an independent planning appeals board. We always encourage citizens and communities to become engaged in both the policy-making and development management aspects of the planning process, and to exercise their rights to express their views about development and the quality of development. Successive chairpersons of An Bord Pleanála, in their annual reports that are share with the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the environment, have outlined some of the difficulties raised by the Senator. The annual reports are a constant source of learning for us in terms of how to improve our approach.

I can give the Senator lots of good examples of urban planning. When I was a young man studying planning Dublin city centre, particularly some of its dockland area, were areas of serious deprivation. There was a serious social housing concentration, serious dereliction, serious environmental and contamination issues. Today, the area is a vibrant centre that has over 10,000 high paid jobs, housing and a whole range of social and cultural facilities that drive the heart of the city from an economic point of view. That situation did not happen by accident but by deliberate thinking and strategising from a planning and urban design point of view. Indeed, we must take forward what we have learned. I urge members to remember that there are plenty of planning successes around the country.

My colleague, Mr. Sheridan, will comment on the seven-year rule and other points that were mentioned.