Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will focus on strategic housing developments, in respect of which An Bord Pleanála has been given enormous power with that policy in legislation. The legislation has removed all checks and balances even in normal circumstance. Certainly, it has removed them from the democratic process in the local authorities' adherence to county development plans in terms of objections from the public, etc. Is it fair to say the provisions for strategic housing developments have worked nicely for developers insofar as they have allowed them to circumvent county development plans? Is it a fair assertion that it was more about removing regulation than fast-tracking, given what came to light over the weekend?