Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses. It is great to be here talking about this. God knows this is surely not a one-off situation, although I hope it is. A substantial amount of information was provided to the committee about this. There were nearly 200 pages of evidence. Going back to what Mr. Barrett was saying regarding 2012 and the enforcement notice in 2013, Westmeath County Council clearly states in its affidavit that there was no planning permission for the marina and that the marina was an unauthorised development. A case brought to court in 2016, as Mr. Barrett said, was dismissed on a technicality. I find that strange because it was already called an unauthorised development and a marina, but I am not the judge on this. Is there still an enforcement notice against that development? It was still within the seven-year period. Did the council or anybody bring a case under the planning law or under any environmental legislation? That is my first question. Can the witnesses expand on that? It is stated that planning permission was never granted and yet this development could proceed. I have had incidents where little sheds for motorbikes were taken down because those involved did not apply for permission for the solid base necessary for a metal shed. Will Mr. Barrett elaborate on that? I will have a second question later, if possible.