Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am with the Minister on this. I am not being unrealistic or unreasonable. I am not talking about Temple Bar or bustling city centres where tourists are tripping over each other. Rather, I am talking about places like Ballyboughal, Oldtown, Garristown. The Minister needs to alloew th local authorities in the RPZs to use common sense, but which can be open to challenge. In the case of applications for permission, it is a public process where people can make observations and objections. I find it unusual that the Minister would include in the Bill a section that allows for a planning application to be made in respect of which the position of the Department is a blanket refusal. I do not think the Minister can do that. There will be notable, significant exceptions. I would see the vast majority of second properties coming back into stock. I am speaking particularly of important tourist and accommodation hubs in rural areas in RPZs where there is no other accommodation.