Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Planning was always provided for. We have referred to economic and functional need. Deputy Michael Collins referred to having a business in a rural area. Planning always allows for that. If a business needs to be on the land or has to be there, planning deals with that. There may be an economic and functional need to be in a certain place. One example is farming or using the land - whatever a person is doing. It applies once a person has proved that he is making an income off the land. That was always there because Deputy Ó Cuív put it there.