Ms Claragh Mulhern:

That is the issue with the current system. The intention with this is that there would be an acknowledgement that sometimes, for whatever reason, somebody might not be able to start on site until later and needs more time. Obviously, the applicant is required to go through a process where it can be considered whether the permission should be extended. In terms of public consultation, engagement, and environmental assessment, all of those sorts of considerations are very important. We want to make sure it is a robust system that is flexible enough to allow extensions where they are justified but not something that is an automatic right just because somebody may have started. It is very important to facilitate some flexibility where it is appropriate, so it is not a test; rather there are considerations that the planning authority must take into account.