Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Wind Energy Ireland's conference is being held today and, therefore, I thank Mr. Moran and his colleagues for leaving the conference to be here to assist us with this matter, as the rest of the groups have done. As the witnesses represent the experience of developer interest in this area, it is important the committee engages with them and listens to their concerns on the planning system. We have met with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Office of the Planning Regulator and An Bord Pleanála. We have a further seven meetings arranged with a range of sectors and interest groups in planning, development and construction, and environmental groups. We will produce a pre-legislative scrutiny, PLS, report containing our recommendations based on these meetings and send it to the Department. We hope to have that report completed by the end of March 2023.

The format we will follow today is that members will have seven-minute segments within which to ask a question and receive an answer. It would be helpful if members are direct with their questions. It will also help the running of the meeting if they direct their questions to an individual or group.