Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Politicians need to be brave and need to say we need to reallocate road space for pedestrians, for vulnerable people who walk around our towns and for public transport. It is a climate challenge as well and not just a matter of how we are going to get around. We have to rethink it and politicians need to be brave and stand up and say that they support road space reallocation and public transport without adding on a "but".

I have a question for the NTA representatives on the planning process and planning system. A huge planning Bill dropped last week. I am sure everybody has had a chance to read it. We hear a narrative that the planning system is delaying infrastructural projects. It is important to clarify the difference between the planning of an infrastructure project and the development consent process, which is the planning process. Is the planning consent process delaying the putting in place of transport infrastructure?