Mr. Martin Shanahan:

As the Senator mentioned, the Apple project in Athenry did not go ahead. That was connected to the elongated time it took to receive planning permission. From an IDA perspective and from our clients' perspective, it is important to say that we all understand that there need to be appropriate checks and balances within the system. There is no question about that. What client companies seek is certainty on timelines, that is, a timeline within which they get the decision. That is not certainty of outcome. The outcome is whatever it is, and we should go through the normal processes with the normal checks and balances. The timelines, however, are elongated in Ireland, and anything that shortens those timelines would be helpful. That is the main issue. I would separate the planning process from the ensuing judicial process that happens in respect of many large projects. It is often the judicial stage that takes a long time and that projects are held up in.