Mr. Gabriel O'Duffy:

With regard to the existing arrangements under the planning system, planning authority decisions on individual applications are made by the manager and he or she has to comply with the development plan adopted by the elected members. He or she can consider submissions made by the public, prescribed bodies, elected members, Deputies or whoever decides to put in a submission. Ultimately, he or she has to make the decision and if he or she wants to give a permission that is not in compliance with the development plan he or she has to go back to the elected members and they have to make that decision. The Bill provides that on any development that is part of a Regulation No. 598 decision, the manager can only make a decision about that element of development in his or her decision, which is in compliance with the development plan.