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

It is up to a committee and its members whether they decide as a collective to make their view known, be that for or against anything. It is up to any citizen of the State to make an observation on any planning application. That is up to them. As I said earlier, I am not in a position to comment on specific planning applications or decisions and cannot do so because I am the Minister responsible for planning. Teachtaí and Seanadóirí will make up their own minds as public representatives as to what observations they wish to make on any given planning application anywhere in the country.